Chapter 1 - THE SILENT ACCUSATION
The cold night air bit into Eleanor’s soot-covered skin.
Her lungs burned with every breath she took.
In her arms, six-year-old Arthur trembled like a leaf.
Behind them, the proud mansion of the Sterling family crumbled into ash.
Eleanor squeezed the boy closer to her chest.
She could hear the heavy footsteps of Richard Sterling approaching.
His polished Italian leather shoes stepped onto the damp lawn.
Beside him walked Victoria Sterling, wearing her immaculate silver gown.
Not a single hair on Victoria’s head was out of place.
Neither of them had a mark on their skin.
"Is he alive?" Richard asked, his voice cold and devoid of warmth.
Eleanor looked up, her vision blurred by tears and smoke.
"Yes, Mr. Sterling," she whispered through a ragged cough.
"I managed to get Arthur out before the ceiling collapsed."
Victoria stepped forward, her eyes narrowing as she glared at Eleanor.
"Why were you in the east wing in the first place, Eleanor?" Victoria demanded.
Eleanor blinked in disbelief.
"Arthur was trapped in his wheelchair, ma'am," Eleanor explained.
"You both ran outside without him!"
Richard’s jaw tightened in anger.
"Watch your tongue, maid," Richard spat out.
"We were trying to find the key to the emergency exit!"
"The emergency exit was unlocked, sir," Eleanor said quietly.
"I ran right through it to reach Arthur."
A heavy, suffocating silence fell between them.
Victoria exchanged a sharp, knowing glance with her husband.
Suddenly, sirens echoed in the distance.
Fire trucks and police cars were speeding toward the burning estate.
Victoria leaned down closer to Eleanor’s face.
"Listen to me carefully, girl," Victoria whispered maliciously.
"You will tell the police that you left a candle burning in the nursery."
Eleanor’s blood ran cold.
"What?" Eleanor gasped.
"The fire started in the master study on the ground floor!"
"You will say it was your fault," Richard commanded sharply.
"Or we will make sure you never work again."
"And more importantly, you will lose custody of your younger brother," Victoria added with a cruel smile.
Eleanor stared at the couple, horrified by their ruthlessness.
She looked down at Arthur, who was clutching her apron tightly.
May you like
The child knew the truth.
He had seen who locked his door before the fire started.
