Chapter 1: The House Without Her Father
“Please, I haven't eaten.””
Poppy's tiny voice barely crossed the living room.
She stood barefoot on the polished wooden floor, staring at the metal bowl beside her feet. Her light pink dress was wrinkled, her two little hair puffs were coming loose, and tears had left shiny trails down her cheeks.
Across from her, Celeste swallowed another grape.
“Then eat from there,” she said, pointing at the bowl.
Poppy looked up.
“Can I have a plate, please?””
Celeste laughed softly.
“Did you hear what I said?””
The six-year-old shook her head.
“I want to eat at the table.””
“Then perhaps you should have thought about that before making me angry.””
Celeste picked up another grape.
Behind the half-open living room door, Marta, the housekeeper, pressed one hand against her mouth.
She had worked in the Whitmore household for almost two years. She had seen Celeste lose her temper over misplaced decorations, complain about expensive meals, and throw away perfectly good food because it had been served at the wrong temperature.
But this was different.
This was a little girl.
And that little girl was begging for dinner.
“Please, Mrs. Celeste,” Poppy whispered.
“Daddy said I should always eat at the table.””
Celeste's expression hardened.
“Your father isn't here, sweetheart.””
She emphasized the last word with a cruel little smile.
“And in this house, I make the rules.””
Poppy lowered her eyes.
Celeste had married Julian Whitmore eight months earlier. To the outside world, she was the perfect second wife of a wealthy businessman. She wore designer dresses, hosted charity dinners, and smiled beautifully whenever cameras appeared.
But when Julian left for work, the house changed.
The servants learned to keep quiet.
The television was turned off.
Poppy's favorite toys disappeared into storage.
And the little girl who once ran through the hallways laughing began asking permission before doing almost anything.
That afternoon, Poppy had accidentally spilled orange juice on Celeste's expensive white rug.
She had apologized immediately.
She had even tried to clean it with a napkin.
But Celeste had taken one look at the stain and decided the child needed to learn a lesson.
No afternoon snack.
No dinner at the table.
And no calling her father.
“Daddy will be home soon,” Poppy whispered.
Celeste placed the grape stem on a small porcelain plate.
“Your daddy is busy making money. That's why you have all these beautiful things.””
“But I miss him.””
“Then stop bothering me.””
Poppy's lower lip trembled.
Celeste stood and walked toward her, her heels clicking against the floor.
“Look at me.””
Poppy slowly raised her face.
“Do you know how much that rug costs?””
“No.””
“More than your father spends on some people's annual salaries.””
Poppy stared at her.
“I didn't mean to.””
Celeste bent slightly, bringing her face closer.
“Intentions don't clean carpets, Poppy.””
Then she pointed at the bowl again.
“Now eat.””
The little girl looked down.
She didn't move.
Celeste's patience snapped.
“Don't make me repeat myself.””
At that moment, Marta quietly stepped backward into the corridor.
Her hands were shaking.
She had wanted to believe the stories about Celeste were exaggerated. She had wanted to believe the woman was simply strict.
But no loving adult would make a hungry six-year-old beg beside a pet bowl.
Marta hurried into the laundry room and locked the door.
She pulled out her phone.
Her first call went unanswered.
Her second call connected.
“Mr. Whitmore?””
Across the city, Julian sat in his corner office, reviewing a contract worth several million dollars.
He glanced at the screen.
“Marta? Is everything all right?””
The housekeeper struggled to speak.
“Sir, you need to come home.””
Julian frowned.
“Is Poppy sick?””
“No, sir. She's—”
Marta swallowed.
“Please, come back now. It's about the girl.””
Julian pushed his chair away from the desk.
“What happened?””
“I recorded something. I didn't know what else to do.””
His expression changed.
“Send it to me.””
A few seconds later, his phone vibrated.
He opened the recording.
For several moments, he didn't move.
He watched his daughter standing beside the metal bowl.
He heard her ask for a plate.
He heard Celeste tell her to eat from the floor.
Then he heard Poppy say something that made his chest tighten.
“I'm sorry. I won't spill anything again.””
Julian stood.
His chair rolled backward and struck the glass wall.
“Get the car ready,” he ordered.
His assistant, Daniel, looked up.
“Sir, the investors are waiting.””
“Cancel the meeting.””
“Should I tell them—”
“Tell them my daughter needs me.””
He grabbed his jacket.
Two security officers joined him in the corridor.
Daniel followed.
“Is there a problem at home?””
Julian didn't answer immediately.
He replayed the recording once more.
Then he turned to Daniel.
“Find out how long this has been happening.””
Daniel's face became serious.
“Understood.””
Julian entered the elevator.
His phone rang.
Celeste.
He stared at her name for two seconds before answering.
“Hello, darling,” she said sweetly.
“Are you coming home late?””
“Where's Poppy?””
A brief silence.
“She's in the living room. Why?””
“Put her on the phone.””
“She's busy.””
“Doing what?””
Celeste gave a little laugh.
“Julian, she's being difficult again. I was just teaching her some manners.””
His fingers tightened around the phone.
“What kind of manners?””
“Nothing serious. Children need discipline.””
The elevator doors opened.
Julian stepped out.
“Don't touch my daughter.””
Celeste went quiet.
“Excuse me?””
“You heard me.””
He ended the call.
Then he looked at his driver.
“Faster.””
Back at the mansion, Celeste slipped her phone into her handbag.
She looked at Poppy and smiled.
“Your father seems to be in a bad mood.””
Poppy lifted her head.
“Is Daddy coming home?””
Celeste picked up the metal bowl and pushed it closer to the little girl's feet.
“Perhaps.””
Then she added quietly:
“But don't expect him to save you from every little mistake.””
Poppy looked toward the living room door.
May you like
She didn't know that someone had already come to save her.
And she didn't know that her father was only minutes away.
