Chapter 3 - The Truth No One Could HideEthan reached the upstairs hallway in seconds.
The sight before him stopped him cold.
Lily stood barefoot outside the study, crying uncontrollably.
Her tiny hands were stained with blood.
"Where's your mother?"
She pointed toward the kitchen.
Ethan sprinted downstairs.
The kitchen door was locked.
From inside...
He heard Madison's icy voice.
"You'll never tell him."
Then—
A muffled cry.
Ethan slammed his shoulder into the door.
Once.
Twice.
On the third impact...
The lock splintered.
The door flew open.
Clara was lying on the kitchen floor, blood running down the side of her face.
Madison still stood over her.
Holding the heavy copper pan.
For several long seconds...
No one moved.
Madison slowly lowered the pan.
"Ethan..."
"It's not what it looks like."
He didn't answer.
He walked directly to Clara and helped her sit up.
Then he removed his suit jacket and wrapped it around her shoulders.
His hands shook.
"Call an ambulance," he ordered the butler, whose face had gone completely white.
Madison stepped forward.
"She attacked me."
Ethan finally looked at her.
His eyes were colder than Clara had ever seen.
"You've been hurting them."
Madison laughed nervously.
"You're believing a maid?"
Before Ethan could answer, the head of household security entered the kitchen.
"Sir..."
"We reviewed the hallway cameras."
Madison's smile disappeared.
"The entire incident was recorded."
Silence.
Then another employee spoke.
"So were the last four months."
One by one...
Housekeepers.
Gardeners.
Drivers.
The cook.
Every employee stepped forward.
They had all seen the abuse.
All been afraid to speak.
Until now.
Police officers arrived within minutes.
Madison tried one last time.
"They're lying."
The detective calmly replied,
"The cameras don't lie."
She was arrested that night on charges of assault, criminal intimidation, and abuse.
As she was led away in handcuffs, she screamed at Ethan.
"You'll regret choosing them over me!"
May you like
He answered only once.
"I chose the truth."
