Chapter 2: The Camera Monica Forgot to Break
Richard set Lily gently on the sofa. “Rosa, take Lily to the kitchen. Give her food.”
Lily grabbed his sleeve. “Don’t let her hurt Rosa.”
Richard looked at his daughter’s frightened eyes. “No one is hurting anyone in this house again.”
Monica folded her arms. “You’re acting insane.”
Richard turned to her. “You told my daughter her mother was removed?”
“I never said that.”
Lily whispered, “You did.”
Monica pointed at her. “Children misunderstand things.”
Richard stepped closer. “My daughter is seven. She understands pain.”
Monica backed away. “Richard, think carefully. I helped raise her after Grace died.”
Rosa suddenly said, “No, sir. Miss Monica pushed everyone away who loved Lily.”
Monica shouted, “You’re fired!”
Richard didn’t even look at Rosa. “No. She’s protected.”
Monica laughed coldly. “Protected? From me?”
Richard walked to the security room beside the study. Monica rushed after him.
“You can’t just invade my privacy.”
“This is my house.”
“Our house,” she snapped.
Richard stopped. “No. I never married you.”
Her face twisted. “But you promised.”
“I promised nothing after Grace died.”
He opened the security panel. Most cameras showed black screens.
Monica smiled faintly. “See? System failure.”
Rosa entered behind them. “Sir, there is one old camera in the hall closet. Miss Monica didn’t know it still worked.”
Monica lunged at her. “You stupid woman!”
Richard grabbed Monica’s wrist. “Touch her and you leave in handcuffs.”
Rosa inserted a small memory card into the computer.
The screen flickered.
Footage appeared.
Lily was on the floor, crying, while Monica stood over her with a glass of juice.
Monica poured the juice onto the marble.
Then she said on video, “Clean it. If you tell your father, I’ll send Rosa away, and you’ll never see your mother’s room again.”
Richard’s hands shook.
Monica whispered, “That was taken out of context.”
The video continued.
Lily asked, “Did my mommy love me?”
Monica bent down and said, “Your mommy loved you too much. That is why she had to disappear.”
Richard slammed his fist on the desk. “What does that mean?”
Monica backed toward the door. “It means nothing.”
Rosa clicked another file.
The date on the screen was the night Grace died.
Richard stared.
Monica stood in the garage beside Richard’s late wife’s car.
She opened the hood and cut something with a silver tool.
May you like
Richard turned slowly.
“Monica… what did you cut?”
