CHAPTER 6: Grace’s Secret Recording

Grace had seen more than anyone knew. She had seen Ryan standing near the nursery door while Maria was downstairs. She had seen him take the baby monitor from the shelf and turn it toward the hallway.
She had seen his face change when the red light blinked.
He had crouched in front of her and smiled too gently. "You do not want Maria to lose her job, do you? Then forget what you saw."
Grace had tried. Children sometimes mistake fear for obedience. But that night, when she heard Eleanor accuse Maria, the fear broke open.
"He told me Bella would go away if I talked," Grace said.
Maria closed her eyes. That was why the child had stopped sleeping.
Eleanor knelt carefully in front of Grace, not touching her until Grace allowed it. "Did he scare you?"
Grace nodded.
Ryan stepped forward. "She's confused."
Mr. Hayes moved between him and the child with a quiet firmness that made the younger man stop.
"No more," the butler said.
The mansion seemed older in that moment, as if the walls themselves had finally grown tired of keeping secrets.