Chapter 6

Victoria made bail the next afternoon.

Her lawyer called before she did.

He threatened lawsuits.

Defamation.

False imprisonment.

Wrongful termination.

David listened on speaker while Leo built blocks between us.

Then he said, “Send all communication to my attorney.”

The lawyer laughed.

“Mr. Whitmore, your wife has influence.”

David’s eyes went flat.

“So do cameras.”

The call ended.

An hour later, Victoria posted on Instagram.

A black-and-white photo of herself looking fragile.

The caption said:

Heartbroken by betrayal. Some people will do anything to destroy a family they envy.

By evening, gossip accounts had picked it up.

Fans defended her.

Friends commented hearts.

People called me the maid who wanted the rich husband.

I read one comment and closed the phone.

David took it gently from my hand.

“Don’t look.”

“I’ve been called worse.”

“You shouldn’t have been.”

“Shouldn’t doesn’t change much.”

He looked like that hurt him.

Good.

Some pain teaches better than comfort.

Then Martin knocked.

“Sir, there’s something else.”

He carried a small hard drive.

“I copied footage from the past months. I didn’t know what to do with it.”

David stood slowly.

“You had footage?”

Martin’s voice shook.

“Mrs. Whitmore told me if I reported her, she would have my visa reviewed. My sister works here too. I was afraid.”

David closed his eyes.

I saw him fighting anger.

Then he said, “You should have told me. But I understand fear.”

Martin handed him the drive.

“There is footage of the closet. The kitchen. The stairwell.”

Victoria’s mask had not slipped once.

It had been falling for months.

We watched only enough to know.

Victoria shoving Leo’s plate away.

Victoria grabbing his wrist.

Victoria forcing him into the closet.

Victoria rehearsing smiles before David came home.

The worst clip showed her kneeling in front of Leo.

“If you tell Daddy, he’ll send Maria away.”

Leo sobbed silently.

I covered my mouth.

David left the room.

I found him in the hallway, one hand braced against the wall.

“I put her near him,” he whispered.

I stood beside him.

“You can’t change that part.”

He looked at me.

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“What can I change?”

“Everything after.”