Claudia folded her arms. “She’s a child. Children exaggerate.” She pointed at Elena. “And she’s a maid who wants your sympathy. You’re really going to take their word over mine?”
Daniel’s voice dropped dangerously low. “I’ll take the truth over your lies.”
“Truth?” Claudia sneered. “You have no proof.”
Daniel’s jaw tightened. “We’ll see about that.”
He strode into his study, pulling up the mansion’s security footage. Claudia followed, her confidence faltering slightly. Elena sat in the corner with Sophie on her lap, whispering softly to keep her calm.
When the footage played, silence filled the room. On the screen, Claudia stepped out of the car, glanced back at Sophie’s tear-streaked face, smirked, pressed the lock button, and walked away. No hesitation. No accident. Just cruelty.
Sophie buried her face deeper into Elena’s shoulder. “See, Daddy,” she whispered, “I told you.”
Elena gasped, horrified.
Daniel’s fist slammed onto the desk like thunder. His eyes blazed as he turned to his wife. “Get out of my house.”
Claudia’s jaw dropped. “You can’t be serious!”
Daniel’s voice cut like steel. “I am deadly serious. Pack your things. You will never come near Sophie again.”
Claudia’s composure cracked, her face twisting with rage. “You’re choosing that brat and a maid over me?”
Daniel’s chest heaved as he stepped closer. “I’m choosing my daughter’s life. And the woman you call ‘just a maid’? She’s the one who risked everything to save Sophie—while you tried to destroy her.”
Claudia scoffed. “You’ll regret this, Daniel.” She grabbed her handbag, her tone dripping venom. “Both of you will.”
“The only thing I regret,” Daniel shot back, “is marrying you.”
Her heels clattered furiously against the marble floor as she stormed upstairs. Minutes later, the echo of a suitcase dragging down the steps filled the house, followed by the slam of the front door. Silence blanketed the mansion.
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