PART 2:
Not because she refused.
Because Lily still wouldn't let go.
The little girl's fingers were gripping the apron so tightly her knuckles had turned white.
Arthur quietly shifted his attention toward the side cabinet.
The baby monitor.
Its tiny green recording light blinked steadily.
He remembered switching it on that afternoon when Lily had wanted to show her dolls to the nursery camera while pretending to host a television show.
The camera overlooked more than just the nursery entrance.
Its wide-angle lens captured part of the upstairs hallway as well.
Including the hallway leading to Evelyn's bedroom.
Arthur slowly slipped one hand inside his tuxedo jacket.
His fingers wrapped around the small remote.
Not yet.
First he wanted to be certain.
Daniel spoke again.
"Just... get her out."
The sentence sounded rehearsed.
Forced.
Grace finally looked at him.
In ten years she had watched him grow from a reckless college graduate into a successful businessman.
She remembered helping him practice job interviews.
Cooking soup when he caught the flu.
Even staying awake all night waiting for him after a terrible car accident years ago.
He couldn't even meet her eyes.
That hurt almost as much as Evelyn's slap.
Evelyn gently peeled Lily's fingers away from Grace's apron.
The child immediately reached back, crying silently.
Grace took one reluctant step toward the front door.
Then another.
Each step felt heavier than the last.
She had entered this house every morning believing loyalty meant something.
Tonight she was leaving as a thief.
Or so they believed.
Arthur watched Daniel again.
The younger man's breathing had become shallow.
Tiny beads of sweat gathered along his hairline despite the cool air inside the mansion.
His gaze darted—not toward Grace.
Toward the baby monitor.
Only for a fraction of a second.
Arthur saw it.
Daniel saw the blinking green light.
And suddenly...
Fear replaced guilt.
The old butler made his decision.
Without saying a word, he removed the remote from his pocket.
A soft electronic beep echoed through the room.
Everyone turned.
The baby monitor's screen illuminated.
Static flickered.
Then the recording began.
The timestamp from earlier that afternoon appeared.
The upstairs hallway came into view.
Nobody spoke.
Grace stopped walking.
Lily wiped her tears.
Evelyn frowned.
"What is this?"
Arthur answered calmly.
"The truth."
The recording continued.
A figure quietly walked down the hallway.
Daniel.
He looked over both shoulders before entering Evelyn's bedroom.
Several long seconds passed.
Then he emerged again.
Something small rested in his hand.
He slipped it into his jacket pocket.
His expensive wristwatch was still visible on his arm.
The video jumped ahead several minutes.
The same Daniel entered the hallway once more.
This time, the watch was gone.
He stood alone, staring at the empty jewelry box in his hands before carrying it downstairs.
The recording ended.
Silence consumed the room.
No one moved.
No one even seemed willing to breathe.
Daniel slowly lowered his head.
"I..."
His voice cracked.
"I pawned Mom's jewelry."
Evelyn stared at her son as though she no longer recognized him.
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"What did you say?"
TO BE CONTINUED....
