CHAPTER 2 — THE WORD THAT COULDN’T BE TAKEN BACK
The penthouse felt different after that moment.
Not louder.
Not darker.
Just… fragile.
Ethan didn’t speak right away.
He stayed crouched in front of Lily, watching her small fingers twist into the worn fur of her rabbit as if it were the only safe thing left in the world.
“Lily,” he said softly, “look at me.”
She did—but only for a second.
Then her eyes dropped again.
Rosa stood frozen near the kitchen, her hands shaking.
“I’m sorry, sir,” she finally said. “I swear—I didn’t—”
Ethan raised one hand slightly.
Not angrily.
Just enough to stop her.
“Who said it?”
Silence.
Then Lily whispered again, smaller this time.
“Veronica.”
The name landed in the room like glass breaking without sound.
From the hallway, slow footsteps appeared.
Veronica Ashford stood at the edge of the corridor, wrapped in a silk robe, perfectly composed.
She looked at Lily first.
Then at Ethan.
Then smiled faintly.
“Oh… this again?”
Ethan didn’t move.
“What did you say to her?”
Veronica tilted her head.
“I said she can’t walk around the house barefoot. That’s all.”
A pause.
Then she added, softer—
“Children exaggerate.”
But Lily flinched at the sound of her voice.
And Ethan saw it.
Not imagination.
May you like
Not misunderstanding.
Fear.
