The sleek black limousine slowed as it turned into the long driveway of the Langford estate.
Andrew Langford, a self-made millionaire in real estate, had been gone for nearly two months on a secret business trip. He hadn’t told anyone—not even his housekeeper—when he’d return.
He wanted to see what home looked like when no one was expecting him.
When the car stopped before the white-columned mansion, Andrew stepped out, pulling his coat tighter against the crisp autumn air. The house looked flawless—trimmed lawns, shining windows, order everywhere. But his instincts whispered that appearances could lie.
He entered quietly, not announcing himself. The echo of his footsteps filled the marble hall. Faint sounds drifted from the west wing—his daughter Lily’s nursery.
She was just eleven months old, his reason for living since his wife had died giving birth to her.
As he neared the nursery, he heard humming. It was Rosa, the maid he had hired a year earlier—competent, gentle, trustworthy. Or so he thought. Andrew pushed the door open slightly… and froze.
Rosa sat on the carpet with Lily in her lap, feeding her from a small jar hidden behind her leg—something that clearly didn’t come from the baby’s approved meals. Lily whimpered, resisting, but Rosa coaxed her insistently.
Andrew’s pulse pounded. Why was she hiding food? Every jar in Lily’s diet was prepared by a certified nutritionist. His chest tightened as anger rose. He burst through the door.
“Put that down,” he said sharply.
Startled, Rosa set the spoon aside. “Mr. Langford—I didn’t know you were back—”
“Exactly. And what do I find? You feeding my daughter something you’re hiding.” He snatched the jar. It was unlabeled, filled with a thick pale paste that smelled faintly herbal. “Where did this come from?”
“It’s homemade,” Rosa stammered. “A family recipe—roots and grains. It helps babies grow stronger—”
See more on the next page
Advertisement
