Chapter 3 - THE FIRST BRUISE
The bruise appeared on a Monday morning.
Elena was changing Leo after breakfast when she saw it near his upper arm.
Small.
Purple.
Finger-shaped.
Her stomach tightened.
"Sweetheart..."
Leo pulled his arm away.
Elena kept her voice gentle.
"What happened?"
At two years old, he couldn't explain much.
He pointed toward the hallway.
Then whispered something Elena barely heard.
"Vicky."
The bedroom door opened.
Victoria entered.
"What are you doing?"
Elena turned.
"Leo has a bruise."
Victoria barely glanced at it.
"He fell."
"When?"
"Yesterday."
"I was with him yesterday."
Victoria's eyes hardened.
"Not every second."
Elena stood.
"How did he fall?"
Victoria crossed her arms.
"Are you interrogating me?"
"No."
"It certainly sounds like it."
Leo moved behind Elena.
Victoria saw him.
Her expression changed instantly.
"Oh, Leo."
Her voice became honey.
"You poor little thing."
She crouched.
Leo backed away.
Victoria's smile tightened.
Elena saw it.
"Come here," Victoria said.
Leo shook his head.
Victoria stood slowly.
"He's becoming spoiled."
"He's scared."
"Of what?"
Their eyes met.
Elena didn't answer.
Victoria stepped closer.
"Be careful."
"About what?"
"You work here."
Elena remained still.
Victoria smiled.
"People sometimes forget their position when a wealthy family is generous to them."
There it was.
The threat beneath the perfume.
The message couldn't have been clearer.
Stay silent.
That night Mark came home after ten.
He found Leo sleeping.
Victoria told him the toddler had spent the day laughing.
Elena watched from the hallway.
She wanted to speak.
Then she imagined making the accusation without proof.
Victoria would deny everything.
Mark was in love.
And powerful families didn't always believe the employee.
Elena knew she needed evidence.
So she made herself a promise.
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From that moment forward, she would watch everything.
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