I nodded slowly.
Alice and Carlos wouldn’t walk away from this.
But involving the police? That would be too kind.
I’d make them pay myself.
When my daughter woke up, I rushed to her bedside.
“Tatiana!”
She blinked in disbelief. “Dad, am I dreaming? Did I die? Is that why I see you?”
Tears welled in my eyes. I pulled her into my arms. “Tatiana, it’s Daddy. I’m here. Whatever happened, tell me. I won’t let them get away with it.”
Her body trembled. Panic flashed across her face.
“Dad, I wasn’t bullied. I’m okay. Please, just don’t get involved.”
I did everything I could to calm her down and only after what felt like an eternity did she finally settle.
The doctor gave her a sedative and soon, she drifted into sleep. From the doctor, I learned that she had developed acute stress reactions and psychological trauma from the constant bullying.
My anger was indescribable.
Just then, the door to the hospital room burst open.
“Tatiana, are you alright?”
I recognized her immediately. She was the maid I’d hired before I left, one of the most honest and loyal ones.
When she saw me, tears sprang to her eyes.
“Mr. Stewart, you’re finally back. Thank goodness.”
I had so many questions and so many things I needed to understand.
She explained that three months after I left, Alice fired everyone I’d hired. She replaced them with new bodyguards, people connected to Stephen and they were nothing but street thugs.
Alice was ruthless. Not only did she fire everyone, but she also used her connections to prevent the maid and bodyguards from finding new work.
The maid had no choice but to take on odd jobs to survive.
Two years ago, she saw my daughter thrown out of the house and left to wander the streets. She took her in and they moved from place to place before finally settling in a metal container.
My daughter had been expelled from school, by Alice’s doing. She stripped her of the right to an education.
To survive, my daughter took odd jobs as well, but Alice and Carlos never stopped tormenting her.
They took her food, making it impossible for her to eat properly. They harassed her constantly, forcing her to do things she shouldn’t have had to do.
My daughter became nothing more than their plaything.
Only now did I truly grasp how low Alice could sink; it was utterly despicable.
“Dad! Daddy!”
“Don’t hurt my dad. I’ll do anything you want.”
“I’ll give up anything; I just want my dad!”