Chapter 1 - The Scream Behind the Locked Door“Please! You’re hurting him!”
Lily Carter’s scream tore through Blackwood Manor at 11:47 on a storm-soaked Thursday night.
Fourteen-month-old Ethan Blackwood was crying on the marble floor.
His tiny fingers clawed desperately at the carpet runner while Serena Montrose—beautiful, elegant, and six weeks away from becoming Mrs. Victor Blackwood—held his wrist with both hands.
“Stop fighting me,” Serena hissed.
“He’s a baby!”
Lily rushed forward.
Serena turned.
Her expression changed instantly.
The charming smile photographed at charity galas vanished.
What remained frightened Lily more than anger.
Coldness.
“You were warned.”
Serena shoved her backward.
Lily crashed against the staircase.
Pain exploded through her shoulder.
But Ethan screamed again.
That was enough.
Lily crawled toward him.
Serena stepped between them.
“You really think Victor will believe a nanny over the woman he’s marrying?”
Lily’s breathing stopped.
Because Serena was probably right.
Victor Blackwood was one of Chicago’s most feared men.
Businessman.
Millionaire.
And, according to every newspaper that dared print the rumors, the invisible hand behind an empire nobody could prove existed.
Lily had worked in his house for seven months.
She had spoken to him perhaps twelve times.
Serena leaned closer.
“One accusation from me and your mother loses everything.”
Lily froze.
Serena smiled.
Then footsteps sounded from the dark corridor.
Slow.
Heavy.
Unhurried.
Serena’s face went white.
Victor Blackwood stepped into the foyer.
Rain covered his black coat.
Two security men followed him.
He wasn't supposed to return from New York until morning.
Victor looked at Ethan.
Then Lily.
Then Serena.
“What happened?”
Serena answered immediately.
“She attacked him.”
Lily stared at her.
Serena pointed toward Lily.
“The nanny lost control. I stopped her.”
Victor said nothing.
He crossed the room and lifted his crying son.
Then he noticed Ethan’s swollen wrist.
Something changed in his eyes.
“Marco.”
His security chief appeared.
“Call the doctor.”
Serena stepped forward.
“Victor, listen—”
He raised one hand.
Silence.
Then Victor looked toward the security camera above the stairs.
Its red light was off.
“Why isn't that recording?”
Nobody answered.
May you like
And that was when Lily realized tonight had not been an accident.
Someone had prepared for it.
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