Chapter 8 - The Wastebasket Secret
Two uniformed security guards arrived within sixty seconds, stepping out from the elevator.
"Miss Montigue," the lead guard said firmly, stepping between her and Ethan. "Please step into the elevator."
Victoria glared at Ethan with a look of pure, unadulterated hatred.
"You'll regret this, Ethan Blackwood!" Victoria screamed as the guards took her arms. "You and your pathetic little girl will rot in this tower!"
The elevator doors slid shut, cutting off her shrill voice.
Silence returned to the high-ceilinged foyer.
Elena remained kneeling on the floor, picking up the larger pieces of broken glass from her dropped tray.
Ethan walked over to her, setting Lily gently on the sofa before dropping to one knee beside the maid.
"Leave the glass, Elena," Ethan said softly, stopping her hand. "You're hurt."
Elena looked down at her right knee. A small cut had torn through her tights, blood slowly seeping into the cotton fabric from where she had slid across the tile to catch Lily.
"I'm fine, sir," Elena whispered. "I was only worried about Lily."
Lily suddenly pointed her small finger toward the brass wastebasket near the wall.
"Daddy..." Lily whimpered softly. "My music box... she threw Mommy's music box away."
Ethan froze.
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He stood up, crossed the room, and reached into the wastebasket.
He pulled out the battered wooden box, noticing the snapped brass crank and the loose gear lying beside it.
