His fiancée laughed when he defended the maid’s child, but she stopped smiling when the little girl pointed toward the locked room.

The afternoon sun flooded the spacious entryway of the penthouse as the heavy mahogany double doors opened to welcome Dr. Elena Vance—no relation to the private investigator—a highly credentialed child psychologist and early childhood development specialist carefully selected through their rigorous vetting process. Dr. Vance, a warm, approachable woman in her mid-forties with kind eyes and a gentle demeanor, stepped inside carrying a small leather briefcase containing age-appropriate educational games and interactive storybooks. Julian and Sarah stood side by side in the foyer to greet her, presenting a unified, calm front that immediately put the incoming specialist at ease. There was no trace of the frantic, chaotic tension that had marked the arrival of past staff members; the atmosphere was welcoming, transparent, and completely secure.

Lily emerged from the nursery a moment later, clutching her inseparable stuffed grey bunny in one arm while peeking shyly around the corner of the hallway. Dr. Vance did not tower over the four-year-old or make demanding overtures; instead, she knelt gracefully onto the marble floor, matching Julian’s signature protective posture, and held out a small wooden puzzle piece without speaking a single word. Lily watched the specialist with curious, analytical eyes for a few quiet seconds before taking a hesitant step forward and placing her grey bunny down on the rug to examine the toy. Within minutes, the ice was completely broken. Lily was sitting on the carpet alongside Dr. Vance, laughing and collaborating on the puzzle, while Julian and Sarah watched fro

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