My Stolen Life, Their Bitter Downfall

thought she was untouchable, hidden away in

e, but to see the truth with my own eyes, to hear it from their own m

tood out-a cleaning service that was paid a surprisingly low, flat monthly fee. A company that likely underpaid its workers. I found their website and the name of th

an with three other women. I wore a plain blue uniform, a baseball cap pul

n. She barely glanced at me. "Upstairs bedrooms and the mast

he life they had built here. On the bedside table was a silver frame. It held a picture of Julian and Clara in what looked like wedding attire. They we

. Theo on a pony. Clara and Julian laughing on a boat. My father, Richard Sterling, a renowned architect, had designed th

ters. I kept my voice low and disguised. "It's a b

t boy. And Mr. Sterling... he's here more than he's at his own ho

h me anything. I had begged him to teach me calligraphy, his passio

ing?" I asked,

welry every week. Says Clara is the daughter she always wanted, so spirited and

f a mother's love. They complained about my normal expenses, not knowing that the allowance

urned to leave the kitchen, I heard the sound of a ca

es wide with panic. "Quick, hide! In the p

. I pressed myself against the shelves, my heart pounding against my ri

. "But I wanted

stroking his hair. "Daddy will get you t

ed at Clara, his face etched with concern. "Are

t's hard, Julian. Always pretending, always having to accommoda

caught in

t's not fair to you. But we have to be careful. Aurora just got back, she's sensitive. I just need

" she wh

e vow. "You and Theo are my entire world. A

to a

to "adapt" to his preference for another. The love, the engagement, our entire life

at. I had all the proof I needed. I had the photos, the bank st

the hall. I slipped out of the pantry, nodded a silent thank you to a terrif

to the patio for a phone call. She saw me. Her eyes narrowed, a flicker of recognition

ed out. "What are yo

art hammering. I couldn't let her see my face. N