She stepped backward.
“I gave them something mild.
Half a tablet at most.
Something to settle them when Emily encouraged their tantrums.”
Ethan made a frightened sound and clung to my skirt.
Richard’s skin went gray.
“You gave my five-year-old children unidentified medication?”
“It was safe.”
“Who prescribed it?”
She did not answer.
“Who prescribed it, Victoria?”
“No one needed to prescribe it.
I knew the dosage.”
The cook covered her mouth.
I felt Noah trembling beside me.
I knelt and pulled all three boys close enough that they could hear my voice without hearing every word behind us.
“You did exactly the right thing,” I told them.
“You brought the camera.
You told the truth.
None of this is your fault.”
Richard looked toward the gatehouse.
“Call Doctor Shah.
Call the police.
Nobody leaves the property.”
Victoria laughed once, but the sound cracked.
“You are going to call the police on the woman you are marrying because your maid staged a recording?”
“The recording shows you planting your watch.”
“It shows a hand.”
“It shows your face.”
“She edited it.”
“Noah said the recorder never left the library.”
“He is five.”
“I am five and a half,” Noah said.
Despite everything, I nearly smiled.
Mr.
Cole returned carrying a clear emergency envelope.
My signature crossed the adhesive strip beside his.
Inside were three photographs, my handwritten log, a printed email, and the sealed evidence pouch.
Richard read the symptom log first.
Monday: Ethan unusually drowsy after breakfast.
Tuesday: Liam lost balance near staircase.
Thursday: Noah slept through lunch and woke crying.
Friday: all three complained of heavy legs after Victoria served juice.
The dates covered nearly three weeks.
Richard turned to me.
“Why did you not come directly to me?”
“I tried.”
Victoria shook her head immediately.
“That is a lie.”
I looked at Richard.
“Two Fridays ago, I waited outside your office for forty minutes.
Victoria came out and said you had instructed her to handle all household concerns.
The next morning, I left a sealed note on your desk.
It was gone by lunch.”
Richard glanced at his assistant, who had appeared near the doorway after hearing the commotion.
“Did you see a note?”
