Chương 4
Michael lowered his voice, but the concern in his face was impossible to miss.
“Someone from the staff recorded part of what happened.”
Enzo looked at him carefully.
“Recorded?”
“Not intentionally, from what I know.”
Michael glanced toward the ballroom.
“One of the servers had their phone out because they were taking pictures of the decorations before the event ended.”
Adeline felt her stomach tighten.
She immediately thought about the image of herself against the wall.
The coat around her shoulders.
The crop in Camilla’s hand.
The faces of people watching.
The thought of strangers seeing that moment made her want to disappear.
Enzo noticed her expression.
“Who has the video?”
Michael shook his head.
“That is the problem.”
The answer bothered him.
Not because he wanted the video.
Because he knew what happened when private moments involving powerful people became public.
“They sent it to someone before we could find them.”
Camilla’s voice came from behind them.
“Of course they did.”
She had followed them farther than anyone expected.
Her composure had returned, but it was different now.
It was something carefully rebuilt.
A mask placed over damage.
“You think this changes anything?” she asked.
Enzo turned toward her.
“Did you know about the recording?”
She gave a small laugh.
“Do you really think I plan every person holding a phone in a room?”
“No.”
His answer came quickly.
“I think you plan everything else.”
The accusation landed.
Camilla’s eyes narrowed.
“You are unbelievable.”
Michael stepped between the conversation slightly.
Not physically.
Just enough to remind them that this was no longer only personal.
“Everyone needs to understand something.”
His professional tone changed the atmosphere.
“This is no longer an argument between two people ending a relationship.”
He looked at Camilla.
“If that footage exists, there may be legal and reputational consequences.”
Camilla’s face hardened.
“For her?”
“For everyone involved.”
Adeline looked at Michael.
“Why would there be consequences for me?”
Michael hesitated.
It was a small hesitation.
But Adeline saw it.
She had become very good at noticing the moments when people decided how much truth she deserved.
“Because public situations like this become complicated,” he said.
“That is not an answer.”
The words came out sharper than she intended.
Everyone looked at her.
She immediately regretted saying them.
Not because they were wrong.
Because she was not used to speaking that way.
Enzo looked at her with something close to approval.
“You are right.”
Michael nodded slowly.
“The video could show what happened.”
“Then why would that hurt me?”
“It might not.”
He paused.
“But people may question why you were there, why you stayed, why nobody intervened sooner.”
Adeline looked toward the empty ballroom.
The question hurt because she already knew the answer.
Because she was a maid.
Because leaving was not simple.
Because powerful people often received the benefit of doubt before anyone even heard their side.
Camilla crossed her arms.
“Exactly.”
Enzo looked at her.
“Do not.”
The warning in his voice stopped her.
For once, Camilla listened.
Not because she respected him.
Because she understood he was no longer afraid of her reaction.
Michael checked his phone.
“I need to know who has the footage before this turns into something worse.”
Enzo nodded.
“Find out.”
Michael looked at him.
“And you need to be prepared.”
“For what?”
“For the possibility that this becomes public before we control the narrative.”
Enzo almost smiled.
“The narrative.”
Michael sighed.
“You know what I mean.”
“Yes.”
Enzo looked back toward the mansion.
“I do.”
Adeline quietly removed the coat from her shoulders.
Enzo noticed immediately.
“What are you doing?”
“I cannot keep wearing this.”
“You can.”
“I should not.”
The firmness surprised him.
She folded it carefully.
Not because she was afraid of him.
Because she respected things that did not belong to her.
“I appreciate what you did.”
She handed it back.
“But this is not mine.”
Enzo accepted the coat.
He did not argue.
That surprised her.
Most wealthy people she had met treated disagreement as an insult.
He simply understood that kindness could not become another form of control.
“Where do you live?” he asked.
She hesitated.
“Why?”
“Because I want to make sure you get home safely.”
“I said I can handle it.”
“I heard you.”
He looked at her.
“I am asking anyway.”
Adeline studied him.
She searched for the hidden expectation.
There was always one.
A favor that became a debt.
A kindness that became leverage.
She found nothing.
“My apartment is in Westfield.”
“That is forty minutes from here.”
“On a good night.”
Enzo glanced toward the driveway.
“No.”
The answer came immediately again.
This time he almost smiled.
“You really dislike accepting help.”
“I dislike owing people.”
“You do not owe me.”
“That is what people say before they remind you later.”
The honesty surprised both of them.
For a moment, Enzo looked away.
Not because he was offended.
Because the statement revealed something about the life she had lived.
Adeline nodded.
“I believe you.”
The simple trust in her voice caught him off guard.
“But I still need to go home.”
He looked like he wanted to argue.
Then he stopped.
“Fine.”
She blinked.
“Fine?”
“I can respect a decision without liking it.”
That almost made her smile.
Almost.
Behind them, Camilla watched the exchange.
She hated that more than she expected.
Not because Enzo was helping Adeline.
Because he was talking to her like she was a person.
Camilla had never thought of herself as cruel.
That was the part she found most unfair.
In her mind, she had always been demanding, not cruel.
Disciplined, not cruel.
Honest, not cruel.
The difference between those things had always seemed obvious to her.
Until tonight.
Until she saw herself through someone else’s eyes.
She did not like what she saw.
May you like
But she hated even more that she could not immediately dismiss it.
“You are really going to let her walk away with everyone thinking this was your fault,” Camilla said.
