CHAPTER 8 — The House Begins to Tell the Truth
By evening, something had changed in the Hayes estate.
Not visibly.
Structurally.
Staff moved differently.
Phones were quieter.
Doors were left open instead of closed.
Vanessa noticed.
So did Maria.
But Daniel said nothing more.
Until that night.
Sophia was asleep in Maria’s small staff room when Daniel knocked.
Maria opened the door cautiously.
He was holding something.
A small plate.
Warm food.
“Is she okay?” he asked.
Maria nodded quickly.
Daniel stepped inside anyway.
He looked around the small room—folded clothes, a single lamp, a child’s drawings taped to the wall.
“You live like this?” he asked quietly.
Maria stiffened.
“It’s temporary,” she said.
Daniel didn’t respond immediately.
Then he placed the plate down.
“I didn’t know,” he said.
Maria looked up sharply.
“Didn’t know what?”
Daniel hesitated.
Then:
“How she was being treated when I wasn’t here.”
Silence.
Maria’s voice shook slightly.
“She only started acting differently when Vanessa arrived.”
Daniel’s expression hardened.
“That stops,” he said.
May you like
Not loudly.
Not dramatically.
