Chapter 2 - THE ROOM THEY CALLED EMPTY.
Lucas opened the west-wing room and discovered a hidden office.
Monitors showed Emily’s bedroom, the foyer, and his study.
Files labeled her crying, refusing food, and begging not to attend therapy as DELUSIONAL EPISODES.
Every clip began after Victoria provoked her.
Those moments were missing.
Victoria called the cameras protection.
Lucas found custody papers naming her Emily’s guardian if he became unavailable. His signature appeared beneath them, copied from insurance forms he had signed before traveling.
Then Emily pointed to another monitor.
Maria Alvarez, the housekeeper Victoria claimed had stolen jewelry and fled, was locked inside the old servants’ apartment.
Maria held a note against the camera:
EMILY’S MOTHER DID NOT DIE IN AN ACCIDENT.
Lucas ordered security to open the apartment.
Every monitor suddenly went black.
Victoria smiled.
“You should have listened when I warned you about the staff.”
Lucas searched the desk and found Maria’s employee file.
Across the cover, someone had written:
POOR, FOREIGN, EASILY DISMISSED.
May you like
Maria was born in Illinois.
The lie had been prepared for anyone who asked why no one searched for her.
