Chapter 2 - Poisoned Whispers
The hospital corridor smelled of antiseptic and silence.
Julian sat on the bench outside the emergency room with his head in his hands.
Chloe stood a few feet away, holding a paper cup of warm tea.
She walked over and offered it to him softly.
"Please drink some tea, Mr. Sterling," Chloe said quietly.
Julian looked up, his eyes bloodshot and filled with agony.
"How long has she been hurting my daughter, Chloe?" he asked.
"I don't know, sir," Chloe admitted with a heavy heart.
"I only transferred to the main estate two weeks ago."
"But every time Miss Victoria was alone with Lily, the child would hide in the closet."
Julian slammed his fist into the wall.
"I was so blind!" he roared, startling the nurses nearby.
"I thought Victoria was comforting us after Clara's death!"
"I thought she was helping Lily process her grief!"
Suddenly, Julian’s phone buzzed aggressively on his lap.
It was a call from his mother, Lady Eleanor Sterling.
Julian swiped the screen and put it to his ear.
"Julian! What is the meaning of this scandal?!" Eleanor’s voice shrieked through the speaker.
"The police just arrested Victoria at the mansion!"
"Do you have any idea what this will do to our stock prices tomorrow morning?!"
Julian clenched his teeth so hard they nearly cracked.
"Mother, Victoria burned Lily's face," Julian said coldly.
"And Lily said Victoria murdered Clara."
There was a dead silence on the other end of the line.
"That is preposterous!" Eleanor scoffed after a pause.
"The doctor said Clara died of a sudden heart arrhythmia before falling!"
"Lily is a traumatized five-year-old child who is making up horror stories!"
"You release Victoria immediately before the media gets wind of this!"
"If you don't release her, I will personally fire every servant in that house, starting with that maid!"
Julian’s eyes burned with betrayal.
"If you try to touch Chloe, Mother, I will strip you of your board seats," Julian threatened softly.
He hung up the phone before she could reply.
Chloe looked at Julian with deep concern.
"Mr. Sterling, your mother is powerful," Chloe said nervously.
"She will try to bury the truth."
"Let her try," Julian growled, standing up.
At that moment, the doctor stepped out of the treatment room.
"Mr. Sterling, your daughter's burn has been treated," the doctor reported.
"Physical recovery will take time, but the psychological trauma is severe."
"She refuses to let go of Miss Chloe."
"If Miss Chloe leaves her side, the child goes into hyperventilation."
Julian looked at Chloe with a mixture of desperate gratitude and guilt.
"Chloe... please stay with her," Julian begged.
"I will double your salary—triple it."
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"I don't care about the money, Mr. Sterling," Chloe answered firmly.
"I won't abandon Lily."
