“I’m calling it like I see it. Mother should’ve been driving that night, not Catherine. Maybe if you’d been home instead of—”
“Enough!” Richard’s shout silenced the room.
Victoria smiled coldly. “I’m just saying what everyone’s thinking.”
That’s when I saw it. Amelia’s lip quivered. Just slightly. Nobody else noticed. They were all watching Richard and Victoria.
But I saw.
My feet moved before my brain caught up. I stepped into the ballroom.
“Excuse me, who let the cleaning staff out?” A woman in diamonds pointed at me. “This is highly inappropriate.”
Laughter spread through the guests. Richard’s eyes locked on me—cold, dismissive. “Return to your station immediately.”
“I’m sorry, sir, but—”
“Security,” Richard called.
“Wait.” The word came out before I could stop it. “Your daughter isn’t broken. And she’s not damaged.”
The room went silent.
Victoria laughed. “Oh, this is rich. The maid is giving parenting advice.”
“I’m not giving advice,” I said, my voice shaking but steady. “I’m telling you what I see. She’s not silent because she can’t talk. She’s silent because every time she tries, someone tells her she’s doing it wrong.”
“That’s absurd,” Dr. Frost interjected. “I’ve spent thirty years—”