PART 2 — EVERYONE WAS SILENT UNTIL HE WALKED INTO THE ROOM. THEN HE ASKED ONE QUESTION. 💔

Nobody moved.

Lily stood in the middle of the broken porcelain.

Her little hands were shaking.

Victoria immediately changed her expression.

“Daniel…”

The man at the entrance didn’t answer.

His eyes moved from the shattered cups…

to Lily…

then to the red mark on her wrist.

Finally, he looked at Victoria.

“Why was a three-year-old carrying a tray of drinks?”

Victoria forced a smile.

“She wanted to help.”

Lily shook her head.

“No.”

The room went silent.

Victoria turned sharply.

“Lily.”

The little girl flinched.

Daniel noticed.

His expression changed.

He crouched down several feet away so he wouldn’t frighten her.

“Lily, who told you to carry the tray?”

The child looked at Victoria.

Then at Marcus.

Then toward the hallway where her mother had disappeared.

She whispered:

“Aunt Victoria.”

Victoria immediately interrupted.

“She volunteered.”

Lily shook her head again.

“She said Mommy was lazy.”

Daniel’s jaw тιԍнтened.

“She said Mommy was lazy?”

Lily nodded.

“She said if I didn’t help, Mommy would get in trouble.”

A murmur moved through the guests.

Marcus suddenly stopped smiling.

Daniel stood.

“Where is Lily’s mother?”

Nobody answered.

Victoria looked toward the hallway.

“She went upstairs.”

Daniel walked toward the stairs.

Then Lily grabbed his sleeve.

He stopped.

The little girl looked terrified.

“Don’t go.”

“Why?”

She whispered something that made the room go completely silent.

“Mommy is crying.”

Daniel’s face changed.

He immediately headed upstairs.

Victoria rushed after him.

“Daniel, wait!”

He reached the bedroom door.

It was locked.

He knocked.

“Sarah?”

No answer.

He tried the handle.

Nothing.

Then he heard something from inside.

A muffled sob.

Daniel stepped back.

“Open this door.”

Victoria stood behind him.

“There’s nothing wrong.”

He looked at her.

“Then why is the door locked?”

She had no answer.

Daniel turned toward Marcus.

“Get the key.”

Marcus didn’t move.

“Now.”

Marcus reluctantly reached into his pocket.

As the key turned in the lock, Lily appeared at the bottom of the stairs.

She was crying.

“Daddy…”

Daniel froze.

He slowly turned around.

Lily pointed toward the bedroom.

Then she whispered:

“Mommy told me not to tell you.”

Daniel’s face went pale.

“Tell me what?”

Lily wiped her tears with her tiny hand.

“Aunt Victoria makes Mommy cry.”

The entire mansion went silent.

And when the bedroom door finally opened…

Daniel discovered that the broken tray downstairs was only the smallest part of what this family had been hiding. 💔