Chapter 4 - The Unlikely Assailant
It was Lucia.
Lucia was the youngest maid in the mansion, a timid, incredibly sweet girl who had always treated Valeria with genuine kindness and deep respect. They had often shared quiet conversations in the kitchen when Teresa was not around. Valeria trusted her implicitly.
But as Lucia reached the top of the stairs, her face was completely unrecognizable.
The young maid was entirely pale, her eyes wide with sheer, unadulterated terror. She was panting heavily, her uniform slightly disheveled.
"Lucia?"
Valeria asked, her voice barely carrying over the music below.
"Is everything alright?"
Lucia did not answer. She did not bow, and she did not apologize.
Without uttering a single word, the young maid sprinted down the first flight of stairs, charging directly at the pregnant woman.
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Valeria froze, her mind entirely unable to process the aggressive, terrifying movement. She instinctively tightened her grip on the mahogany railing, her heart leaping violently into her throat.
Before Valeria could even formulate a question, Lucia closed the distance between them.
