Chapter 2

Alice's daughter was named Lily.

At first, Lily just walked around the estate with her phone out, taking pictures and posting them on social media, bragging about how she "lived in a mansion."

Then she started helping herself to my clothes and my jewelry.

I told myself it was just teenage vanity. Let her have it.

What I couldn't shake was the way she looked at me. There was always disgust in her eyes — like I was something filthy.

A few times, when I sat down to eat, she'd suddenly cover her nose and frown. "How does such a fancy place always smell like poverty? Mom, can you smell that? It's revolting."

I actually thought there might be something off in the house and hired a professional cleaning crew for a deep clean.

If anything, it only got worse.

She started laying disposable seat covers on the chair I used. She'd toss my dishes straight into the trash after I ate.

Every time I confronted her about it, Alice would pull me aside and whisper.

"Ms. Wolfe, Lily has serious germophobia. She does this to everyone — it's not personal."

For Leo's sake — for his only daughter — I let it slide.

Until I saw the note on my chair, and finally understood.

Lily thought I was the freeloader. She thought I was the maid sponging off her family.

I had every intention of making them both pay for it.

But Alice was right there in front of me, begging.

"Ms. Wolfe, I swear it won't happen again. I'll send Lily home right now. I'll never bring her back. Please — for Leo's sake — give us this one chance."

The image of Leo's body in that wreck flashed through my head. I let out a breath.

"Fine. I won't press charges."

After that, Alice kept her word. Lily didn't come back.

Alice cooked on schedule, finished her work, and left quietly. Just like before.

The house went still again, as if the whole thing had never happened.

The only odd thing was — Alice kept asking me for favors.

Small things, at first.

"Ms. Wolfe, Lily has a school recital and nothing nice to wear. Could I borrow one of your gowns? I'll return it right away."

I was juggling billion-dollar deals every day. A dress was nothing.

"Sure. Pick whatever you want from the closet."

A few days later, Alice came to me with red, watery eyes.

"Ms. Wolfe… I haven't been feeling well lately. The doctor says I need surgery. The bill is more than I can handle. Could I borrow some money? Take it out of my pay."

"How much?"

"Five… five hundred thousand dollars."

Half a million dollars.

On her salary, she'd have to save every cent for over two years to come up with that.

But I didn't think about it long. No amount of money could match what Leo had given up for me.

I wired the money that same day, and gave her paid medical leave.

A week later, she was back.

"Ms. Wolfe, Lily has a piano competition out of state. It's a long drive. Could I borrow the Maybach? Just to get her there and back."

I said yes to all of it. I thought my kindness would mean something to her.

Until that day —

The wedding was coming up. I decided to head out to the estate to check on it.

That estate was where I'd be living after I got married.

Unlike the home I lived in now, that one meant something. My late father had designed it himself.

He was an architect. When I got engaged, he was overjoyed. He poured everything he had into designing the perfect estate for his only daughter.

Every detail held a piece of his love.

The house was barely finished when he passed away.

That estate was the last gift he ever gave me.

I called Alice and asked about the Maybach.

"Alice, do you still have the car? I need it today."

There was a long pause on the other end. Then she answered, careful.

"Ms. Wolfe, the car got a flat this morning. It's at the shop. They said it won't be ready until tomorrow."

I frowned but let it go.

I hung up and took the Ferrari out instead.

When I pulled up to the estate, I froze.

The Maybach I'd lent Alice was parked right out front. Untouched.

She had told me it was at the shop.

I confirmed the plate, then walked straight to the door.

It was unlocked. I pushed it open — and what I saw inside, I couldn't believe.