Chapter 1 - The Hair
“Maybe now you’ll remember your place.”
Victoria held the severed lock of Leah’s dark hair beneath the chandelier as if it were a trophy.
Leah knelt on the marble with both hands protecting her pregnant belly. Tears ran down her face while black-tie guests watched from the twin staircases.
No one helped.
Victoria was a Mercer.
Leah was the maid.
In that mansion, cruelty became discipline whenever the richer woman performed it.
“Please,” Leah said. “I didn’t do anything.”
Footsteps sounded from the center staircase.
Ethan Mercer stopped at the bottom.
He saw the closed scissors in Victoria’s hand.
The hair.
The pregnant woman kneeling before his guests.
“What happened here?”
Victoria’s smile vanished.
“She was causing a scene.”
Leah lifted her tearful face.
“She cut my hair and made me kneel.”
“She’s lying!”
Ethan removed his jacket and draped it around Leah’s shoulders. He steadied her only by the upper arms.
“Stand up.”
Leah rose slowly.
“You’re under my protection now.”
Victoria stared at him.
“You are defending the help in front of our family?”
Ethan looked at the red mark near Leah’s hairline.
“No.”
His voice turned cold.
“I’m asking why my fiancée thought she had the right to humiliate a pregnant employee in my home.”
Victoria lifted her chin.
“Because she stole from your mother.”
Leah’s expression changed.
Then she opened one trembling hand.
Inside lay a small diamond comb.
May you like
Ethan recognized it instantly.
It had been buried with his older brother.
