At that moment, the housekeeper, Teresa, appeared in the hallway. She had stopped when she heard voices raised, her hands clenched around a cleaning cloth.
“She is not exaggerating,” Teresa said quietly. “I have seen the marks.”
Vanessa spun toward her. “You will stay out of this.”
Daniel raised his hand. “No,” he said calmly. “She will speak.”
Teresa took a breath. “I have helped your mother bathe. She has bruises. She cries at night because she is afraid to complain.”
The room felt suddenly smaller.
Daniel turned back to Eleanor. “Why did you not tell me?”
She looked at him with tired eyes. “Because you love her,” she said. “And I did not want to be the reason you chose sides.”
Daniel felt something crack inside him.
That afternoon, he took Eleanor to a doctor. The examination was thorough and careful. The diagnosis was clear. Her injuries were not accidental. They were the result of strain, pressure, and neglect.
Daniel listened in silence, guilt pressing down on him heavier than any accusation.