Chapter 2 - The Fall from Grace
"I said no," Marta repeated, her voice steady and absolute as she stepped between Vanessa and Grace. "I have worked in this house for twenty-four years. Grace Bennett is an honest woman. She doesn't steal, and I will not allow you to humiliate her."
Vanessa’s eyes flashed with unbridled fury. "You work for us, Marta! I am marrying Grant in three months, which makes me the mistress of this estate!"
"You aren't married yet," Marta replied coldly.
Vanessa turned her glare back to Grace, her jaw clenched. "If you didn't take it, then let's go up to my suite right now. You can look me in the eye and show me where you put my things."
"Ms. Hale, please," Grace whispered, her hand instinctively resting over her swollen abdomen. "I have never touched your jewelry. I just want to finish my shift and go home to my children."
"You'll leave when I tell you to leave!" Vanessa snapped, grabbing Grace forcefully by the arm and dragging her toward the grand spiral staircase in the central foyer.
"Let go of me!" Grace cried out, her foot slipping on the polished marble step. "Please, I'm pregnant!"
Marta rushed toward them. "Vanessa, stop! She's carrying Marcus's baby!"
They reached the top landing of the grand staircase, right beneath the crystal chandelier. Vanessa whipped around, her grip tightening on Grace’s wrist as Grace tried to pull away.
"You think because you're pregnant you get special treatment?!" Vanessa spat, her face contorted with dark, ugly rage. "You're just a servant! You're nobody!"
"Please don’t hurt me," Grace Bennett whispered, wrapping both arms around her pregnant stomach, her tears overflowing. "I’m already broken."
Vanessa looked directly into her terrified eyes.
Then she lifted her foot—and kicked Grace hard in the chest, shoving her backward.
Grace lost her footing completely. Time seemed to slow down. The photograph of her children slipped from her uniform pocket, fluttering beneath the staircase as Grace tumbled down twenty-five hard marble steps, her screams echoing violently off the high ceilings.
Thump. Thump. CRASH.
Grace landed at the bottom of the stairs, lying completely still on the cold white floor, a dark pool of blood slowly spreading beneath her body.
Vanessa stood at the top of the landing, breathing heavily, adjusting her cream-colored suit. She looked down at the unconscious woman without a single trace of remorse.
Marta dropped to her knees at the bottom of the stairs, weeping hysterically as she cradled Grace’s head. "Grace! Grace, open your eyes! Oh God, somebody call 911!"
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Vanessa slowly walked down the stairs, stepping right over the pool of blood. She looked down at Marta with cold indifference.
"Tell the paramedics she tripped," Vanessa said smoothly, pulling a silk tissue from her pocket and wiping her hands. "It was an unfortunate accident. And if you say otherwise, Marta... I'll make sure you never work in this town again."
