Chapter 5 - The Phantom Photograph
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“I’m coming home,” Luca said. The line remained open, the faint sound of a powerful car engine roaring to life echoing through the tiny speaker of Mia’s phone.
Mia took a deep breath, steeling her nerves. She lowered the phone, hiding it carefully behind the thick fabric of her gray cleaning apron, and pushed the heavy oak bedroom door open. She stepped quietly but deliberately into the room.
Vanessa immediately turned her head, her blonde hair whipping over her shoulder. Her eyes narrowed into furious, venomous slits.
“What are you doing here?” Vanessa snapped, her grip on Sofia’s jaw loosening just a fraction in her surprise.
Mia kept her expression as blank and subservient as possible. “Checking on Sofia, ma'am.”
“I didn’t ask you to check on her,” Vanessa hissed, quickly lowering her hands. She smoothly placed the dark brown medicine bottle behind her back, hiding it within the folds of her red satin gown. “Leave us. Now.”
Mia remained exactly where she was, her feet planted firmly on the plush carpet.
Vanessa’s beautiful face hardened into an ugly mask of rage. “Did you hear me?”
“Yes, ma'am.”
“Then get out of this room before I have you thrown out onto the street.”
Mia glanced toward the bed. Sofia was shaking violently beneath the heavy down blanket. The young woman’s terrified, tear-filled eyes darted downward toward Vanessa’s hidden hand, silently screaming a warning, and then returned pleadingly to Mia’s face. That desperate, helpless look was more than enough.
Mia took another step deeper into the bedroom, closing the distance. “I think I’ll stay.”
Vanessa stared at the maid, genuinely stunned by the sheer audacity of the defiance. For several agonizing seconds, neither woman spoke. The only sound in the room was Sofia’s ragged, panicked breathing.
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Then, Vanessa’s sharp eyes noticed the faint, glowing light emitting from the phone hidden behind Mia’s apron. Her face changed instantly, the arrogant confidence fracturing into sudden, sharp paranoia.
“Who did you call?” Vanessa demanded.
