The invitation arrived on heavy cream cardstock, embossed with gold lettering. "Celebrate Charli's Sixth Birthday Extravaganza," it read. My fingers trembled as I set it down on the marble countertop.
"Isn't it wonderful?" Felicity's voice dripped with false sweetness as she hovered nearby. "The Taylor estate hasn't hosted a proper celebration in years."
I swallowed hard. The Taylor estate—my family home—had been transformed into their playground. "What do you need me to do?"
Felicity's smile widened, revealing perfect white teeth. "Everything, of course. The party is tomorrow evening. I've invited Seattle's elite."
"Seattle's elite," I repeated numbly.
"Yes, and we're having a theme." She paused, eyes glittering with malice. "Costumes. Everyone will dress as something they're not."
The next morning, a package arrived at my door. Inside was a black and white maid's uniform, complete with a starched white apron and cap.
"Your costume," Felicity explained when she caught me staring at it in horror. "Since you're not really part of the family anymore."
I clutched the fabric, feeling the coarse material against my fingers. "I'm Chase's wife."
"A technicality," she waved dismissively. "You'll serve drinks and clean up. It's what you're good at now."
---
"Remember," Jace murmured as we stood in the kitchen of the catering company he'd contracted with. "Stay calm. We need everything to go perfectly tonight."
I nodded, adjusting the uncomfortable maid's cap. "What about the data cloner?"
Jace lifted a silver serving tray. Beneath it was a small black device, no larger than a deck of cards. "I'll plant it in Chase's study while serving champagne. It'll copy everything from his encrypted server."
"Will it work?"
"Perfectly." His eyes met mine, something flickering in their depths. "Trust me, Hannah."
The familiar phrase sent a strange echo through my mind, as though I'd heard it somewhere before. I pushed the feeling away.
---
The ballroom glittered with crystal chandeliers and silver decorations. Seattle's wealthiest families mingled in elaborate costumes—a queen here, a pirate there, a vampire lounging by the bar. I moved among them like a ghost, filling champagne flutes and collecting empty plates.
"Another drink, Mrs. Senator?" I asked, approaching a woman in an Egyptian pharaoh costume.
She turned, her eyes widening slightly. "Hannah Taylor? Is that you?"
Before I could respond, Felicity appeared at my side, her hand possessively on my shoulder.
"This is our help," she explained smoothly. "The event planner thought a maid would be amusing for the theme."
The senator's wife blinked in confusion. "But I thought you were—"
"Just the hired help tonight," Felicity interrupted. "Isn't that right, Hannah?"
I felt dozens of eyes turn toward us. Across the room, Chase stood in a tuxedo, watching the scene unfold with amusement. He raised his champagne glass in a mock toast.
"Yes," I managed to say, my voice barely audible.
Felicity's smile was triumphant as she addressed the crowd. "Everyone, this is Hannah. She's helping us celebrate Charli's special day."
Laughter rippled through the guests. Someone whispered loudly, "I heard she lost two babies."
"Tragic," another replied. "No wonder they keep her around—she's already trained to clean up messes."
My cheeks burned with humiliation. I scanned the room desperately, finding Jace near the bar. Our eyes locked across the crowded space. He gave me a subtle nod—a silent reminder of our plan.
I straightened my spine and continued serving drinks, each step carrying me closer to the moment when this would all end.
---
"Clean it up," Chase ordered after the last guest departed.
Charli had spilled cake batter across the marble floor, streaking it with pink and white goo. I stared at the mess, something inside me finally snapping.
"No," I said quietly.
Chase's head whipped around, his eyes narrowing. "What did you say?"
"I said no." My voice grew stronger. "I won't clean it up."
Thunder rumbled outside as rain began to fall. Chase's face darkened with rage.
"You think you can defy me?" He grabbed my arm, fingers digging painfully into my flesh. "After everything I've done for you?"
He dragged me toward the French doors leading to the garden terrace. Outside, rain poured in sheets, turning the night air cold and wet.
"Chase, stop!" I struggled against his grip.
With a violent shove, he pushed me onto the terrace. The rain immediately soaked through my thin uniform, plastering it to my skin.
"Kneel," he commanded.
I stumbled on the slick tiles, falling to my knees in a puddle. The cold water seeped through my skirt, numbing my legs.
"Stay there," he snarled, backing toward the door. "Maybe then you'll understand what it feels like to lose someone you love."
The doors slammed shut behind him. I heard the distinctive click of a lock engaging.
"Chase!" I pounded on the glass. "Let me in!"
His face appeared in the window, distorted by raindrops streaming down the pane. "The pain of losing loved ones," he shouted over the storm. "That's what you need to learn properly."
Lightning flashed, illuminating his cruel smile as he turned away, leaving me kneeling in the mud and rain.
