Later that evening David waited until Brenda went upstairs to shower in peace.
He walked quietly into the home office near the front entry of the house.
The room was filled with tax papers, work schedules, and personal financial documents.
David opened the bottom drawer of the heavy oak desk near the window pane.
He pulled out a thick black notebook that Brenda always kept strictly locked away.
The key was hidden inside a decorative box sitting on top of the shelf.
David turned the page and felt his jaw drop in total disbelief instantly.
Line after line of handwritten text listed daily tasks assigned directly to young Lilly.
The dates went back almost four full months to when David started night shifts.
Tasks included scrubbing floorboards, washing heavy rugs, and sorting large inventory boxes daily.
David: What on earth has Brenda been doing in this house at night?
He flipped to the back section of the thick black book with rapid fingers.
There were lists of online sales payments made under a newly registered business name.
Brenda was selling handmade home decorations online to buyers across the whole country.
She was using Lilly as free labor to pack, label, and clean products continuously.
Every night while David worked at the station, Lilly was forced to work hard.
If Lilly complained, Brenda told her that David was struggling with huge debt.
She lied to a small child to force her into total fearful obedience every day.
David felt a burning wave of anger rush through his whole body quickly.
He snapped a photograph of every single page using his personal mobile phone camera.
He carefully locked the heavy notebook back inside the lower desk drawer safely.
David walked up the carpeted stairs with firm steps toward the main bedroom door.
Brenda came out of the bathroom drying her blonde hair with a towel.
Brenda: Why are you pacing around the house like a ghost tonight, David?
David: I am trying to understand why my daughter believes we are completely broke.
Brenda froze instantly and dropped the soft white towel onto the floorboard below.
Brenda: I have no idea what you are talking about right now, David.
David: Do not lie to me after what I just discovered in your office.
Brenda: She misinterprets simple adult conversations about our monthly household expenses.
David: You told a nine year old child she had to earn her keep.
Brenda's calm expression turned cold and sharp within a split second of time.
Brenda: I am trying to build a future for this entire family together.
David: You are exhausting my daughter to build an unauthorized home business empire.
Brenda: You are barely home, so somebody has to teach her real discipline.
David stepped closer to Brenda and looked directly into her cold dark eyes.
David: Your version of discipline ends right now in this house tonight, Brenda.
Brenda sneered slightly and walked past him without showing any real regret.
David walked into Lilly's bedroom to make sure she was sleeping peacefully now.
He pulled the warm blanket over her small shoulders with total loving care.
He knew he needed solid proof before taking his next official legal steps.