Outside the closet door in the quiet, lavender-scented dressing room, Claire rested her back against the mahogany paneling. She didn't reach for the brass door handle. She didn't try to pull Grace out into the light.

Harrison’s mother, Evelyn Cole, sat at the head of the long crystal table, sipping her vintage red wine. Beside her sat Victoria Vance—a sleek, wealthy socialite whom Evelyn had been trying to push Harrison to marry for two years.

Footsteps echoed sharply against the marble floor.

Harrison walked back into the dining room. His face was set in a stone-cold, terrifying mask. Claire followed quietly behind him, standing near the archway.

"Harrison, darling," Evelyn said smoothly, setting her glass down. "Is the child back in bed? You really must stop enabling her dramatics. It reflects terribly on our family name."

"Mother," Harrison said, his voice dropping into a dangerously quiet register that made the room temperature plunge. "What did you say to Grace before dinner?"

Evelyn raised an eyebrow, adjusting her diamond necklace. "I simply reminded her of reality. She is a Cole. She needs to understand the difference between family and hired help."

"She is eight years old!" Harrison slammed his palm onto the mahogany table!

CLATTER!

The silver cutlery jumped. Victoria gasped, pulling back in her chair.

"She lost her mother ten months ago!" Harrison roared, his jaw clenching so hard the muscles strained against his skin. "And instead of comforting her, you've been telling her that every person in her life is a mercenary?!"

Evelyn’s face hardened into a bitter, arrogant scowl. "I am protecting this family, Harrison! Ever since Sarah died, you've let this estate fall apart! And now you bring a former waitress into our home, giving her access to our private quarters? Victoria is a certified child psychologist from Yale! She should be handling Grace!"

Victoria smiled tightly, putting on a compassionate expression. "Harrison, sweetie, your mother is right. Claire has no professional credentials. She could be severely harming Grace's development—"

"Grace hasn't spoken a single full sentence to you in six months, Victoria," Claire interrupted quietly, stepping forward into the light.

Victoria turned her head, her eyes flashing with pure condescension. "Excuse me? Speak when you're spoken to, waitress."

"Claire stays," Harrison declared with absolute, final authority. "And as of tonight, Mother... you and Victoria will no longer visit this estate without my explicit permission."