Chapter 2 - THE WOMAN BEHIND THE SMILE By afternoon, the mansion had become unnaturally quiet.
Maria folded laundry downstairs when she heard Leo crying.
She immediately ran upstairs.
At the nursery door stood Victoria.
In her hand was a hot iron.
Steam curled toward the ceiling.
Maria stopped.
"Mrs. Victoria... what are you doing?"
Victoria slowly turned.
"Go back downstairs."
"Leo is crying."
"He cries all the time."
Victoria entered the nursery.
On the changing table lay a handmade silk blanket.
It had belonged to Leo's late mother.
Maria knew how precious it was.
Victoria picked up the iron.
"Let's see how much Ethan cares about his dead wife's things."
Maria's heart pounded.
"Put that down."
Victoria smiled coldly.
"Or what?"
Maria stepped forward.
"I'll tell Mr. Ethan."
Victoria laughed.
"He'll believe his wife before he'll believe a servant."
She lowered the iron.
Maria lunged forward and pulled the ironing board away.
Victoria screamed.
"How dare you!"
Leo began crying harder.
Maria lifted him from the crib.
Victoria stepped toward her.
"Give me the baby."
"No."
"You don't understand who you're dealing with."
Maria held Leo tightly.
"I understand enough."
For a moment, the two women stared at each other.
Then Victoria whispered:
May you like
"You just made yourself my enemy."
Maria's blood ran cold.
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