Chapter 1: The Truth Hidden Behind the Marble Floor
Chapter 1: The Truth Hidden Behind the Marble Floor
The billionaire never raised his voice.
He simply walked across the marble floor.
Each slow step echoed through the mansion like a countdown.
His daughter instinctively stepped backward.
"Dad... I'm sorry."
Her trembling voice shattered his heart.
He knelt in front of her.
Ignoring the expensive suit.
Ignoring the shocked servants.
Ignoring everyone.
His hands gently lifted her chin.
"What happened?"
She tried to smile.
"It was my punishment."
His eyes darkened.
"Punishment... for what?"
She hesitated.
"I accidentally broke one of Mother's crystal glasses."
The stepmother immediately stood.
"It wasn't like that, Richard."
"She has to learn responsibility."
"I simply asked her to help with the house."
Richard slowly stood.
His cold eyes met hers.
"You call this helping?"
He pointed toward his daughter's bleeding hands.
Her knees were red from hours against the marble.
The bucket beside her contained water stained with blood.
Every servant lowered their heads.
No one dared breathe.
Richard turned toward the butler.
"Who ordered this?"
Silence.
Then an elderly maid finally whispered,
"Mrs. Eleanor dismissed everyone who tried to help Miss Emily."
Richard nodded once.
"Call every employee into the foyer."
Within minutes the entire household stood in perfect rows.
Richard's voice remained frighteningly calm.
"Anyone who lies leaves this house today."
One by one...
The truth poured out.
Emily had been forced to scrub the floors every morning.
She wasn't allowed to eat with the family.
Her bedroom had been turned into a storage room.
Sometimes she slept in the laundry area.
Every confession made Eleanor's face lose more color.
Richard looked at his daughter.
"You lived like this..."
"For how long?"
Emily lowered her head.
"Since you started traveling."
His heart nearly stopped.
For three years...
His little girl had suffered in silence while he built an empire.
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And he had never noticed.
That was the greatest failure of his life.
