Chapter 4 - The Whispers in the Dark
The next two weeks brought a tense calm to the Everhart estate.
While Julian made it clear to Victoria Sterling that her presence was neither needed nor wanted, Victoria was not a woman who accepted defeat. She began making frequent "surprise visits" to the mansion, always under the guise of dropping off business papers from her father or bringing expensive, age-inappropriate gifts for the twins.
Every time Victoria visited, her real target was Carmen and Ana.
She complained to Winifred about dust on the banisters that didn't exist. She intentionally dropped crystal glasses on the floor and demanded Carmen clean them up immediately. Worst of all, she treated Ana like a contagious disease, ordering the guards to keep the little girl away from the main living quarters whenever she was in the house.
One rainy Thursday afternoon, Julian was stuck in Manhattan for an emergency board meeting.
Victoria arrived at the mansion unannounced. Finding Julian gone, she decided to take advantage of his absence. She marched straight up to the nursery, where Carmen was folding fresh laundry while Ana, Milo, and Elle were drawing with crayons on large sheets of paper.
"Out," Victoria commanded, standing in the doorway with her arms crossed.
Carmen stopped folding a towel and stood up respectfully. "Miss Sterling, Mr. Everhart is in the city. He won't be back until eight."
"I know where Julian is," Victoria snapped. "I said out. I want to spend time with my future stepchildren without the help getting in the way."
Ana looked up from her drawing. She saw the mean look on Victoria’s face and instinctively moved closer to Milo and Elle, holding their small hands in hers.
"Miss Sterling, the children are resting," Carmen said gently but firmly. "Mr. Everhart asked me not to disrupt their routine."
Victoria took three aggressive steps into the room, her high heels pounding against the hardwood floor. She grabbed Carmen by the upper arm, her manicured nails digging painfully through the fabric of Carmen's sleeve.
"Listen to me, you cheap little gold-digger," Victoria hissed, her polished persona vanishing into raw malice. "Do you think I don't see what you're doing? You think because your brat calmed these ruined kids down, you can slide into Julian’s bed and take his millions? You are a maid. A illegal nobody from a Mexican slum."
"I came to this country legally, Miss Sterling," Carmen said, her eyes flashing with quiet strength, refusing to back down. "And I work for my living. I do not attack people to feel powerful."
Victoria’s face twisted in rage. She raised her hand, clear intent to slap Carmen across the face.
"NO!" a tiny voice screamed.
It wasn't Carmen. It was Ana.
The three-year-old stood up, her tiny body trembling with fury, stepping directly between Victoria and her mother. Ana stared up at the billionaire's daughter with fierce, protective eyes.
"Don't hurt my mama!" Ana yelled.
At the sound of Ana’s distress, Milo and Elle—who had been peaceful for weeks—instantly reacted. Milo picked up a heavy wooden building block and hurled it at Victoria, hitting her right on her designer shoe. Elle began to scream at the top of her lungs, a sharp, piercing cry that echoed down the halls.
"You little brats!" Victoria shrieked, stumbling back in pain as the block hit her toe.
Downstairs, Winifred heard the commotion and came running up the stairs, followed by two security guards.
"What on earth is happening here?" Winifred demanded, stepping into the nursery.
Victoria quickly composed herself, forcing tears into her eyes and clutching her chest. "Winifred! Thank God! This... this woman and her wild child just attacked me! The maid’s daughter threw a block at my foot, and Carmen threatened me!"
Winifred looked at Victoria, then at Carmen, whose arm showed visible red finger marks through her uniform, and finally at the three terrified children huddled together in the corner.
Winifred had served the Everhart family for thirty years. She was nobody's fool.
"Miss Sterling," Winifred said in a tone colder than ice. "I suggest you leave before I call Mr. Everhart. Our security cameras in the hallway record both video and audio."
Victoria’s face went pale. She looked at the hidden camera lens mounted in the corner ceiling molding, realizing she had been caught.
"You will all regret this," Victoria spat, grabbing her handbag. "When Julian marries me, every single one of you will be thrown out onto the street!"
She stormed out of the house, slamming the front door so hard the crystal chandeliers rattled.
That evening, when Julian returned home and viewed the security footage, his rage was quiet, absolute, and terrifying.
He called Arthur Sterling—Victoria’s father and his primary business partner—at 10:00 PM.
"Arthur," Julian said into his phone, standing in his dimly lit study. "Your daughter is banned from my estate. If she sets foot on my property again, I will withdraw all Everhart capital from your hedge fund and file a restraining order."
"Julian, wait! She was just stressed—"
"She put her hands on my staff and terrified my children," Julian growled. "We are done, Arthur. Professionally and personally."
He hung up the phone, taking a deep breath. He walked out of his study and walked up to the carriage house.
He knocked softly on Carmen’s door.
When Carmen opened it, she was in simple lounge clothes, her long dark hair falling naturally over her shoulders. She looked breathtakingly beautiful in the soft light of the porch lamp.
"Julian?" she asked softly.
"I saw the tape," Julian said, his voice thick with emotion. He reached out and gently touched her arm, right where Victoria had grabbed her earlier. "I am so, so sorry, Carmen. You and Ana didn't deserve that."
Carmen looked up into his dark eyes, seeing the deep sincerity and raw protection in them. "We are safe, Julian. That is all that matters."
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Julian couldn't stop himself. He leaned in, his hand moving to the side of her face, his thumb gently brushing her cheekbone. "I won't let anyone hurt you. Either of you. Ever again."
Carmen leaned slightly into his touch, her breath catching in her throat, as the quiet night closed in around them.
