Chapter 4: The Confrontation
Maria arrived at the estate an hour later, holding Matteo’s hand tightly. The guards who had been so cold to her the day before now held the gate open with heads bowed in shame.
In the grand foyer, Diane Sinclair stood with her suitcase packed. Her face was a mask of defiance. "You’re making a mistake, Richard. You’re trusting the word of a cleaning lady over your estate manager."
Richard walked down the marble stairs. He wasn't wearing his usual crisp suit; he was in a sweater, looking tired. "Diane, I have the footage. I saw you move the bracelet into the safe, and I saw you stage the 'theft' to cover the fact that you’ve been skimming from the household accounts for eighteen months."
Diane’s mouth opened, but no sound came out.
"The bracelet was a distraction," Richard continued, his voice echoing in the vast space. "You thought if I was focused on a 'thief,' I wouldn't look at the ledgers. You forgot that the boy you despised is the only reason I checked the cameras."
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He turned to Maria. "I am sorry. I let this place become a vacuum, and I let you be treated like a ghost."
Maria didn't smile. She looked at the marble, the tall ceilings, the cold, perfect order. "I didn't come back for an apology, Mr. Whitfield. I came back because my son needs to know that the truth matters."
