Nadine looked up, feigning innocence. “Oh, that? I thought it was fake. Honestly, Emerald, with all the clutter you left around, how was I supposed to know what mattered? I was just trying to clear space.”
“Clear space?” I hissed. “This is my house. You have no right—”
“Enough.”
Leandro’s voice cut through like a whip. He stepped into the room, his gaze cold, dismissive. “Stop fighting over nonsense. Emerald, clean this mess. I’m hosting a party tomorrow, and I want everything to be spotless.”
I stared at him, blood rushing to my head. “Clean? After what she’s done? After everything you’ve—”
“I’m not asking,” he said sharply. “I’m ordering you. Do it.”
Something inside me snapped. My fever, my wounds, the humiliation—I could no longer stay quiet. “No. I won’t. I’m not your maid, Leandro. Not anymore. If you want this house spotless, clean it yourself.”
Before he could reply, the butler entered, pale and shaken, carrying a small package wrapped in plain paper.
“It… it just arrived, sir.”
Leandro snatched it, tore it open—and froze.
A small bloodied bundle fell to the floor. My breath caught. A child’s arms. Look exactly as Gwen.
My scream ripped through the air. “Gwen!” My knees buckled as tears blinded me. Deep down, I knew it wasn’t her—it couldn’t be. She was safe. But I pretended anyway, let the hysteria consume me. Maybe, just maybe, if I showed him how broken I was, Leandro would finally feel guilty. Maybe he would realize this wasn’t a game.
Leandro cursed, face hardening. He pulled out a note attached to the package. The words were simple, merciless:
One hundred million. Last chance. Or the child dies.
A phone chimed, and seconds later, a video played on his screen. Gwen—my Gwen—bound, crying, her tiny voice begging for her mommy. A masked man’s voice thundered, “Money. Or we’ll cut more.”
My stomach twisted. I reached out to grab the phone, but Leandro pulled it away.
And then he had the audacity to sigh. “Look at this. Another one of your schemes, Emerald. Admit it—you’re behind this. These men are probably yours.”
My eyes widened. “What? Are you insane? You think I’d mutilate my own daughter?”
Nadine’s sweet, poisonous voice slipped into the space between us. “Well… didn’t you mention to me once that you needed money for your family? Maybe this is your father’s doing. And you’re helping him.”