Chapter 2: The Secret Hidden In The Mansion
The entire mansion waited for my answer.
But I couldn’t speak.
Alexander Hayes stood in front of me, staring as if he had found something he had been searching for.
Nobody had ever looked at me that way.
Not even my own family.
Especially not my own family.
“Answer him,” Victoria suddenly said.
Her voice sounded different.
Not angry.
Nervous.
I looked between my mother and Alexander.
“Yes,” I finally whispered.
“I’m Samantha.””
Alexander’s expression softened slightly.
“I thought so.””
My eyebrows tightened.
“You thought so?””
Before he could answer, Victoria stepped between us.
“She’s just helping in the kitchen.””
The words hit me like a slap.
Helping.
Not living here.
Not belonging here.
Helping.
Alexander looked at my mother.
“Your daughter is washing dishes?””
Victoria forced a laugh.
“Of course not. Samantha just enjoys helping around the house.””
I looked down.
I knew that was a lie.
Everyone knew.
But nobody corrected her.
Alexander noticed the silence.
His eyes moved to Olivia and Charlotte.
Then back to me.
“Is that true?””
I opened my mouth.
Nothing came out.
Because the truth was dangerous.
In the Collins family, honesty had consequences.
My mother’s expression warned me.
Don’t speak.
So I lowered my eyes.
“Yes.””
Alexander watched me carefully.
He knew I was lying.
I could tell.
But he didn’t expose me.
Not yet.
Instead, he turned toward the dining room.
“Dinner sounds nice.””
Victoria immediately smiled.
“Of course.””
Relief crossed her face.
For the next hour, the mansion transformed into a performance.
Olivia talked about charity events.
Charlotte talked about traveling through Europe.
Victoria talked about the Collins family name.
Everyone tried to prove they were impressive.
I remained in the kitchen.
Preparing food.
Serving drinks.
Cleaning plates.
Just like always.
But something felt different.
Because every few minutes…
I felt Alexander looking at me.
After dinner, I carried a tray into the main room.
Olivia was sitting beside Alexander.
She laughed softly.
“I’ve always believed successful people understand each other.””
Alexander nodded politely.
“I suppose.””
Charlotte joined them.
“People like us have different responsibilities.””
People like us.
I almost laughed.
Because I knew exactly what she meant.
She meant rich.
Beautiful.
Important.
She didn’t mean me.
Then Alexander asked a simple question.
“Where did Samantha go?””
The room became quiet.
Victoria immediately answered.
“She’s busy.””
“Busy doing what?””
“Housework.””
Alexander’s eyes hardened.
“She’s your daughter.””
Nobody responded.
The silence said everything.
I stood behind the kitchen doorway, holding a glass tray.
I wasn’t supposed to hear.
I wasn’t supposed to be seen.
But I heard every word.
Alexander stood up.
“I’d like to speak with Samantha.””
Victoria’s face changed.
“You don’t need to waste your time.””
“Waste my time?””
The calmness disappeared from his voice.
“No.””
He looked directly at her.
“I don’t think meeting your daughter is a waste of time.””
For the first time that night…
Victoria had no answer.
A few minutes later, I found myself sitting across from Alexander in the small garden outside the kitchen.
The ocean breeze moved through the trees.
It was the first peaceful moment I had experienced all day.
“You’re uncomfortable around them,” Alexander said.
I looked away.
“They’re my family.””
“That wasn’t my question.””
I stayed silent.
He leaned back.
“You don’t act like someone who grew up in this mansion.””
I gave a small, bitter smile.
“Maybe I didn’t.””
His eyes narrowed.
“What does that mean?””
I immediately regretted saying it.
“Nothing.””
“Samantha.””
Nobody had ever said my name like that.
Not like a command.
Like they actually wanted an answer.
I looked at the ocean.
“My mother adopted me when I was young.””
Alexander stayed quiet.
“And after Olivia and Charlotte were born, things changed.””
“How?””
I swallowed.
“She stopped seeing me as her daughter.””
The wind moved between us.
Alexander’s expression became unreadable.
“Why?””
I laughed softly.
“I don’t know.””
But I did know.
At least, I thought I did.
I remembered being six years old, standing outside my mother’s bedroom door.
Hearing her tell someone on the phone:
“She’s not what I wanted.””
Those words stayed with me forever.
Before Alexander could ask more, my phone suddenly vibrated.
I looked down.
A message.
From an unknown number.
My blood turned cold.
Because the message contained only five words.
*You need to know the truth.*
I stared at the screen.
Alexander noticed my expression.
“What happened?””
I couldn’t answer.
Another message arrived.
This time, there was a picture attached.
My fingers trembled as I opened it.
It was a photograph of a young woman.
A woman I recognized.
My mother.
But she looked younger.
And standing beside her…
was someone I had never seen before.
A baby was in Victoria’s arms.
A baby with a hospital bracelet.
My hands started shaking.
May you like
Because underneath the picture was a message.
*Samantha Collins was never supposed to be the forgotten daughter.*
