Chapter 2: The Secret Behind the Mansion Walls
The woman standing in the crowd was Helena Roth.
She had been one of Corisande’s closest friends.
They had attended charity events together.
They had appeared in magazines together.
She was exactly the kind of person Corisande needed on her side.
Which was why her betrayal felt like a knife.
“You’re lying,” Corisande said immediately.
Helena looked uncomfortable.
But she didn’t step back.
“No, I’m not.””
The guests exchanged confused looks.
Corisande laughed.
A desperate laugh.
“Everyone, please. This is ridiculous.””
She turned toward the crowd.
“My stepdaughter is upset. She’s angry. She’s trying to hurt me because she doesn’t like rules.””
Maelis almost laughed.
Rules.
That was the word Corisande always used.
Rules.
Not cruelty.
Not punishment.
Not abuse.
Rules.
Corisande had always been good at changing names.
A locked bedroom became “discipline.””
Skipping meals became “teaching responsibility.””
Threats became “parenting.””
Helena looked at Maelis.
“I remember that day.””
Maelis’s expression changed slightly.
She remembered too.
She had been eleven.
She had worn a long-sleeved sweater in summer because she didn’t want anyone to see the marks on her arms.
Corisande had been angry because Maelis accidentally broke a vase.
A vase that had belonged to Corisande’s mother.
Maelis had apologized.
She had cried.
She had offered to clean it.
But Corisande had decided an apology wasn’t enough.
That night, she had locked the door.
No dinner.
No water.
No phone.
Nothing.
Until someone knocked.
Helena.
She had been visiting.
And she had seen.
“Why didn’t you say anything?”” Maelis asked quietly.
The question hurt Helena more than anger would have.
She looked down.
“I should have.””
Corisande immediately stepped forward.
“Helena, think carefully.””
The warning in her voice was obvious.
Everyone heard it.
Helena looked at her.
And for the first time, she didn’t seem afraid.
“I have been thinking carefully for three years.””
The room became tense.
Corisande’s husband, Adrian Vale, had not arrived yet.
Everyone knew he was away on business.
Everyone knew he trusted Corisande.
Or at least, they thought he did.
Corisande looked around.
“You’re all going to believe a child over me?””
Nobody answered.
That silence terrified her.
Because silence was different now.
Before, silence protected her.
Now, silence was judging her.
Maelis watched the woman who had controlled her entire life begin to lose control of the room.
But instead of feeling victorious, she felt exhausted.
She had not wanted revenge.
She had wanted someone to believe her.
That was all.
A waiter approached nervously.
“Miss Vale?””
Everyone turned.
The young man looked at Maelis.
“I’m sorry, but… I need to tell you something.””
Corisande’s face tightened.
“What?””
The waiter hesitated.
“I was told not to speak about this.””
“By who?”” Helena asked.
The waiter looked directly at Corisande.
Nobody breathed.
“I was told that if Maelis ever tried to tell people what happened here, I should say she was lying.””
The room exploded with whispers.
Corisande’s mouth opened.
Then closed.
Because there was no easy explanation.
No perfect smile.
No elegant speech.
No charity story.
Just a room full of witnesses.
Maelis stared at the waiter.
“How long have you known?””
The young man looked ashamed.
“Almost two years.””
“Why didn’t you help me?””
His eyes dropped.
“Because I was scared.””
That answer hurt.
But Maelis understood.
Fear had controlled everyone around Corisande.
Not just her.
Corisande suddenly grabbed her purse.
“This conversation is over.””
Nobody moved.
She walked toward the door.
Then stopped.
Because a voice came from behind her.
“Actually, I think it’s just beginning.””
Everyone turned.
The mansion doors opened.
Adrian Vale stood there.
Maelis’s father.
Corisande’s husband.
The man who had believed his wife’s story for years.
He looked at the crowd.
Then at the broken glass.
Then at Maelis.
His face changed.
“Someone tell me what happened.””
Corisande immediately rushed toward him.
“Adrian, thank goodness you’re here. Your daughter attacked me.””
Maelis looked at her father.
For one second, she hoped.
She hoped he would see.
She hoped he would finally ask the right question.
But then Adrian looked at Corisande’s fallen dress.
And his expression hardened.
“Maelis?””
The way he said her name made her heart sink.
Because it sounded like a question.
Not concern.
A question.
As if he was asking whether she was guilty.
Corisande smiled faintly.
She thought she had won.
But then Adrian noticed something.
Something nobody else had seen.
The old security camera near the dining room.
Its red light was still blinking.
Recording.
Adrian looked up.
And his face slowly changed.
“Why,” he said quietly, “is the camera turned on tonight?””
Corisande stopped breathing.
Because she knew.
The camera didn’t only record what happened tonight.
May you like
It recorded everything.
And Adrian had just realized the mansion might have been keeping secrets from him for years.
