CHAPTER 9 — The Woman Who Confused Ownership With Belonging
Vanessa confronted him the next morning.
She didn’t knock.
She walked into his office like she still had authority.
“You embarrassed me in front of staff,” she said immediately.
Daniel didn’t look up from his tablet.
“You embarrassed yourself,” he corrected.
Vanessa’s voice sharpened.
“You’re letting that woman manipulate you. She’s a maid, Daniel.”
He finally looked at her.
“Her name is Maria,” he said.
A pause.
“And she works harder in a day than most people do in a year.”
Vanessa scoffed.
“This is about loyalty,” she said. “You’re about to marry me.”
Daniel closed the tablet slowly.
“No,” he said.
“I was considering it.”
Vanessa froze.
“What?”
Daniel stood.
Then said something that ended the illusion entirely.
“Until I realized I would be choosing someone who thinks hunger is a tool.”
Silence.
Vanessa’s face tightened.
“You’re choosing them over me.”
Daniel shook his head slightly.
“I’m choosing truth over performance.”
May you like
A pause.
“And I’m choosing my house to stop lying.”
