CHAPTER 2: THE CHRISTMAS INVESTIGATION
CHAPTER 2: THE CHRISTMAS INVESTIGATION
The ballroom had emptied within minutes.
No one wanted to be present when Nathan Caldwell's patience finally broke.
Vanessa folded her arms.
"Oh, stop acting like I'm some kind of monster."
Nathan didn't answer.
Instead, he pulled out his phone.
"Call everyone," he told his assistant.
"What?"
"The chef. The nannies. The therapist. The house manager. Everyone."
Vanessa's confidence wavered.
For the first time that night, she looked nervous.
Within an hour, six employees were sitting in Nathan's study.
One by one, they told their stories.
The chef admitted he had been ordered not to prepare meals for the girls after 6 p.m.
The nanny confessed she had been fired for secretly bringing snacks to the children.
The therapist revealed that Grace had stopped speaking during sessions whenever Vanessa entered the room.
Then came the final blow.
The house manager handed Nathan a folder.
Inside were dozens of photographs.
Emma cleaning floors.
Lily washing dishes.
Sophie sleeping in a storage room.
Grace standing alone in the snow as punishment.
Nathan stared at the pictures.
His hands shook.
His daughters had been suffering for months.
And every report sent to him had been forged.
Every message.
Every photograph.
Every update.
Vanessa had intercepted everything.
The room fell silent.
Then Nathan stood.
Slowly.
Dangerously.
"Pack your things," he said.
Vanessa laughed nervously.
"You're joking."
"No."
The smile vanished from her face.
"You're throwing me out?"
May you like
Nathan looked directly into her eyes.
"You should be grateful I'm only throwing you out."
