Chapter 1 - The Escalation of Torment
The days stretched long, each one heavier than the last. Elizabeth Blackwell was not merely a strict employer; she was a master of psychological warfare. While Ethan was across the Atlantic dealing with multi-million-dollar acquisitions in London and Frankfurt, Elizabeth systematically dismantled Lily’s spirit, bit by bit.
It started with small, cruel adjustments to the schedule. Lily was required to polish the antique silver in the grand dining room by hand—a collection consisting of over three hundred individual pieces—only for Elizabeth to deliberately run a white-gloved finger along a hidden edge and claim she found tarnish.
"Do it again," Elizabeth commanded softly, sipping her morning tea in the glass conservatory. "And this time, do not embarrass my house with your laziness."
Lily stood before her, her palms red and blistered, her feet aching so severely that every step felt like walking on broken glass. "Yes, Mrs. Blackwell," she managed to say, her voice barely above a whisper.
Nearby, Jaden watched with a clenched jaw. At sixteen, he was fiercely protective of his older sister. Since their mother had passed away three years ago, Lily had sacrificed everything to raise him, taking on multiple jobs until Ethan hired her at Briar Glen. Seeing his sister reduced to an exhausted shadow of herself burned a deep hole in his chest.
"Lily, stop," Jaden whispered in the pantry when Elizabeth was out of earshot. "Look at you! You haven't eaten a proper meal in three days, and you're barely sleeping four hours a night. Call Ethan. Tell him!"
Lily quickly shook her head, placing a trembling hand on Jaden’s shoulder. "No, Jaden. You know how important this European merger is for Ethan. If I complain, Elizabeth will make it look like I'm incompetent and running to him for protection. She wants me to break. She wants me to quit so she can tell Ethan I couldn't handle the life he wanted to give me."
"It's a trap, Lily!" Jaden pleaded, his voice cracking. "She's trying to kill you!"
"I can hold out," Lily said, trying to summon a reassuring smile that didn't quite reach her eyes. "Ethan comes back in two weeks. I just have to survive two more weeks."
That night, when Ethan called from Zurich, Lily sat on the edge of her small bed in the staff quarters, clutching the telephone to her ear. Hearing his deep, steady voice sent a wave of warmth through her freezing bones, but it also made her want to weep.
"Lily?" Ethan’s voice echoed across the line, rich and filled with longing. "You sound quiet tonight. Are you exhausted?"
"Just a little busy, Ethan," she lied, forcing her tone to sound light. "How were your meetings today?"
"Tedious. The German board members are stubborn, but we're making progress," Ethan sighed. "I miss you, Lily. Every room in these foreign hotels feels empty without you. My mother... has she been giving you a hard time? I know how demanding she can be."
Lily swallowed down the lump in her throat. She looked at her raw, bleeding knuckles. "She's... meticulous. But I'm doing my job, Ethan. I'm taking care of the house."
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"Don't just take care of the house, Lily. Take care of yourself," Ethan said softly, his voice dropping an octave. "You are not just an employee anymore. You're the woman I love. Remember that."
Those words were her only lifeline. But as the call ended, Lily stared out her window into the dark, rain-swept grounds of the estate, unaware that Elizabeth had been listening on the extension line downstairs, her face twisted in absolute disdain.
