Chapter 3 - The Reveal
Daniel froze at the bottom of the grand staircase.
He looked at the heavy metal bucket resting sideways on the marble floor.
He watched the freezing water pooling across the expensive stone.
Then, his eyes finally landed on the unfamiliar housekeeper.
She was completely drenched, standing rigidly in the center of the vast foyer.
Chloe immediately ran to Daniel and threw her arms around his waist.
"She went completely insane, baby," Chloe sobbed, burying her face into his expensive suit.
"She threw the icy water everywhere and started threatening me."
"You need to call the police and have her arrested right now."
Daniel gently pushed Chloe back, his brow furrowed in deep confusion.
Something about this chaotic scene simply did not add up.
The housekeeper was the one entirely soaked in freezing water, while Chloe remained perfectly dry and immaculate.
Furthermore, a distinct, angry red handprint was visibly blooming across the housekeeper's cheek.
"Ma'am, are you alright?" Daniel asked, taking a hesitant step toward the older woman.
Chloe grabbed his arm, her manicured fingers digging into his sleeve with surprising force.
"Why are you asking her if she is alright?" Chloe demanded shrilly.
"I am the one who was just attacked in my own home!"
The housekeeper ignored the outburst and remained perfectly still.
Despite her wet, clinging uniform, her posture was flawlessly straight and commanding.
She stared coldly at the young woman clinging to her son.
Slowly, the housekeeper raised her right hand to her face.
Her fingers gripped the edges of her thick, disguising black glasses.
She deliberately pulled them away, lowering her hand to her side.
Without the heavy frames obscuring her delicate features, her sharp, piercing eyes were fully exposed.
The entire atmosphere in the grand foyer seemed to instantly shift and plummet in temperature.
Daniel gasped sharply, his jaw dropping in absolute, paralyzing shock.
"Mother?" Daniel whispered, his voice trembling over the faint sound of dripping water.
Chloe froze completely, the manufactured tears instantly vanishing from her eyes.
"Mother?" Chloe repeated, her voice cracking as all the color drained from her face.
Eleanor Vance stood tall, discarding the persona of a meek servant to radiate undeniable authority.
She calmly reached into her wet apron pocket and pulled out the small, blinking voice recorder.
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"Hello, Daniel," Eleanor said, her tone remarkably smooth and dangerously calm.
"I believe it is time we had a serious conversation about your future wife."
