Chapter 2: The Man Who Came Back
The footsteps stopped.
I turned slowly.
My phone was still pressed against my ear.
Standing in the hallway was Adrian Oleso.
He had returned early.
The man whose voice I had just heard through the phone was now standing less than ten feet away from me.
For a moment, nobody moved.
Adrian looked at my terrified expression.
Then he looked at the kitchen door.
"What is happening?"" he asked quietly.
I opened my mouth, but no words came out.
How could I explain something that sounded impossible?
How could I tell a husband that his wife was forcing a child to eat from a pet bowl?
Then Lily's voice came from inside.
"Please don't tell Uncle Adrian.""
My heart sank.
Adrian heard it.
His face changed.
He walked toward the kitchen.
"Why would she say that?""
I followed him.
"Mr. Oleso, you need to see this.""
The second he opened the door, Victoria looked up.
Her expression transformed instantly.
The cold, cruel woman disappeared.
A polite smile appeared.
"Adrian? You're home early.""
Adrian ignored her.
His eyes moved to Lily.
Then to the bowl on the floor.
Then back to Victoria.
The room became silent.
"What is this?"" he asked.
Victoria stood up slowly.
"Don't be dramatic.""
"Dramatic?""
Her smile tightened.
"She was refusing dinner. I was teaching her responsibility.""
Adrian stared at the bowl.
"You were making an eight-year-old eat off the floor.""
Victoria crossed her arms.
"You don't understand children.""
I watched Lily shrink backward.
She wasn't looking at Victoria anymore.
She was looking at Adrian.
Like she wanted to believe he would save her.
But she was afraid too.
Adrian walked closer.
"Lily.""
The girl flinched.
His expression softened.
"Come here.""
Slowly, she stood.
Her legs were trembling.
She walked toward him.
The moment she reached him, she grabbed his jacket and started crying.
"I tried to be good," she whispered.
Adrian looked like someone had punched him.
"What happened?""
Lily looked at Victoria.
Immediately, she stopped talking.
That told me everything.
Victoria noticed too.
She stepped forward.
"She's confused. She's been through a lot.""
Adrian's eyes became cold.
"Get out of the kitchen.""
Victoria laughed softly.
"Excuse me?""
"You heard me.""
For the first time since I had met her, Victoria looked unsure.
"You are taking the side of a child against your own family?""
Adrian didn't answer.
He simply picked up the bowl from the floor.
Then he placed it on the counter.
"I want to know why my niece was eating from this.""
Victoria's jaw tightened.
"Because she's not your responsibility.""
The words hung in the air.
Adrian froze.
"What did you say?""
Victoria looked away.
Too late.
She had revealed something.
I noticed Adrian's hands tighten into fists.
"Lily is my brother's daughter," he said.
"She is my responsibility.""
Victoria's expression turned bitter.
"Your brother is dead, Adrian.""
"And?""
"And she was left with me.""
Adrian looked at Lily.
"No. She was left with someone who should have protected her.""
The room went quiet.
I wanted to believe this was the moment everything would change.
But I had worked in that mansion long enough to know Victoria didn't lose easily.
She walked toward me.
"You.""
I froze.
Victoria pointed at my phone.
"Did you record anything?""
I didn't answer.
Her eyes narrowed.
"Did you?""
Adrian immediately stepped between us.
"Don't threaten my employee.""
Victoria smiled.
"Your employee?""
She looked at him.
"Interesting.""
"What does that mean?""
Victoria walked closer.
"It means you should ask yourself why she was hiding outside the kitchen with a phone instead of helping.""
My heart dropped.
She was trying to turn it around.
Adrian looked at me.
I could see the doubt.
Just for a second.
I quickly unlocked my phone.
"I recorded part of it.""
Victoria's face changed.
"What?""
I pressed play.
The kitchen filled with her own voice.
"Then eat from there.""
The recording continued.
Lily's crying.
Victoria's cold response.
Every word.
Every cruel second.
Adrian listened without moving.
When it ended, he looked at his wife.
"I want you to leave this house.""
Victoria stared at him.
"You can't be serious.""
"I've never been more serious.""
She laughed.
A quiet, dangerous laugh.
"You think one recording will destroy me?""
Adrian didn't respond.
Victoria picked up her purse.
Then she looked at Lily.
"This isn't over.""
The little girl grabbed Adrian's hand.
Victoria walked past us.
At the doorway, she stopped.
Then she turned back.
"Adrian.""
He looked at her.
"You should ask your little housekeeper why she was really interested in Lily.""
I felt my stomach drop.
Because I knew exactly what she was doing.
She was planting a question.
A suspicion.
And the worst part was...
May you like
Adrian looked at me.
Like he wanted an answer.
