Her tiny hands were red and shaking while the enormous mansion stayed silent except for the ticking clock and the sound of chips crunching nearby.

The housekeeper sat comfortably in a beige armchair, watching her like it was entertainment.

“Clean it again.”

The child stared down at her aching hands.

“My hands hurt…”

The woman chewed slowly without sympathy.

“Then cry quieter.”

The little girl’s lips trembled violently.

“Please… I want Dad…”

A cold smirk crossed the housekeeper’s face.

“He won’t see this.”

But above the staircase—

a tiny red security camera blinked silently.

Outside in the driveway, a black luxury car sat motionless in the rain.

The father stared at the live camera feed on his phone, his face turning completely ice cold.

His grip tightened around the screen.

“I see everything.”

Inside the mansion, the housekeeper suddenly stopped chewing.

Something felt wrong now.

“…what was that sound?”

The little girl slowly lifted her tearful eyes toward the front door.

Click.

The handle began turning slowly.

Heavy footsteps echoed from the other side.

For the first time, fear spread across the housekeeper’s face—

while hope appeared in the little girl’s eyes.

Part 2 in the comments.