Sarah set the stack of linens down on a marble side table[cite: 1]. Her hands shook as she looked at David, her eyes filling with tears as she glanced over at little Lily[cite: 1]. She had worked for the Sterling family for over fifteen years, long before David's first wife had passed away, and she couldn't stay silent any longer[cite: 1].
Victoria: Sarah, remember your place in this estate![cite: 1] One word of nonsense and I will have you fired without a severance package![cite: 1]
David: You don't fire anyone in this house, Victoria![cite: 1] I run this estate![cite: 1] Sarah, speak to me![cite: 1]
Sarah: Mr. Sterling...[cite: 1] it hasn't been a game.[cite: 1] Mrs. Victoria has been treating little Lily like a servant ever since you left for Chicago two weeks ago![cite: 1]
Victoria: You lying old hag![cite: 1] How dare you slander me![cite: 1]
David: Let her finish, Victoria![cite: 1]
Sarah: Every morning after you left, Mrs. Victoria took Lily's clothes and locked them in the attic.[cite: 1] She forced her to wear that grey uniform, scrub the baseboards, and clean the guest bathrooms![cite: 1] If Lily cried or complained, Mrs. Victoria locked her in the pantry without lunch![cite: 1]
David felt the blood drain from his face[cite: 1]. He turned slowly to look at Lily, his heart breaking into a thousand pieces[cite: 1].
David: Lily...[cite: 1] is this what she's been doing to you?[cite: 1]
Lily bowed her head, fresh tears spilling down her cheeks as she gave a small, quiet nod[cite: 1].
Lily: She said...[cite: 1] she said if I told you, you wouldn't love me anymore and you'd send me away...[cite: 1]
David let out a choked, painful breath, dropping back to his knees and pulling his daughter into his arms[cite: 1]. He buried his face in her hair, his shoulders shaking with silent sobs[cite: 1].
David: Oh baby...[cite: 1] I'm so sorry...[cite: 1] I'm so, so sorry I left you with this monster...[cite: 1]
Victoria: David, she's exaggerating![cite: 1] I was just giving her chores![cite: 1] A child needs discipline![cite: 1] You spoil her too much, and she needed to learn the value of hard work![cite: 1]
David: She is eight years old, Victoria![cite: 1] You shoved her and made her clean your shoes![cite: 1]
Victoria: I am her stepmother![cite: 1] I have a right to raise her how I see fit![cite: 1] You gave me authority over this household when we signed our prenuptial agreement![cite: 1]
David stood up from the floor, his face dark with a cold, terrifying calm[cite: 1]. He stepped past Lily and walked straight toward Victoria[cite: 1].
Victoria: David, don't look at me like that![cite: 1] We are getting married in two months![cite: 1] My father's firm is funding your new logistics expansion in New York![cite: 1]
David: There is no wedding, Victoria.[cite: 1] And your father can take his funding and throw it into the ocean.[cite: 1]
Victoria: You wouldn't dare cancel the engagement![cite: 1] Your company will lose millions![cite: 1]
David: I would lose every single dollar I own before I let a cruel woman like you stay near my daughter for another second.[cite: 1]
Victoria's face twisted into an ugly, furious sneer as she pointed her manicured finger at David[cite: 1].
Victoria: You ungrateful fool![cite: 1] I gave up my life in Manhattan to move into this mansion with you and your broken little girl![cite: 1] You think you can just kick me out?![cite: 1] My father owns thirty percent of the voting stock in your board![cite: 1]
David: Sarah, take Lily upstairs to my private master bedroom right now.[cite: 1] Lock the door from the inside.[cite: 1]
Sarah: Right away, Mr. Sterling.[cite: 1] Come, sweetie.[cite: 1]
Sarah took Lily's small hand, leading the crying girl up the grand marble staircase[cite: 1]. The moment the bedroom door clicked shut on the second floor, David turned his attention back to Victoria[cite: 1].
David: Pack your bags, Victoria.[cite: 1] You have ten minutes to get off my property.[cite: 1]
Victoria: I am not leaving![cite: 1] I have a legal right to stay in this residence until the formal separation papers are drawn up by a judge![cite: 1]
David: You don't have a right to stay anywhere near my family.[cite: 1] And you certainly don't have a right to stay after what my security team found yesterday.[cite: 1]
Victoria froze, her red lips parting slightly as her confident expression began to flicker[cite: 1].
Victoria: What... what are you talking about?[cite: 1]