The Day I Walked Away My Empire Began novel Chapter 103

Ellen shook her head, nerves getting the best of her. “I can’t, ma’am. Really, it’s too much. And even if I wanted to, there’s no way I could get a necklace like that out of the Heath house.”

Working here meant rules and watchful eyes. Every shift ended with security checks. The bodyguards would search your bags and even your room if they felt like it. If they found anything suspicious, the butler got involved, and suddenly your whole day would be replayed on security footage to make sure nothing went missing.

No one took anything from the Heath family. Not even by accident. A single vase or spoon could be worth more than most people would see in a lifetime. Even the glasses they drank water from looked like they belonged in a museum, not a kitchen.

“Please,” Lucie whispered, gripping Ellen’s hand a little tighter, her voice trembling with desperation. “Just help me make this call. I’ll find a way to thank you, I swear.”

Ellen’s face went pale. She wanted the necklace, sure, but not enough to risk her job—or worse.

Just then, the other maid came in, carrying a bowl of rose petals. “Ma’am, the petals are ready.”

“Oh, good. Just set them down. You can both leave now. I’ll handle the rest myself.”

“Yes, ma’am.” The two maids slipped out, leaving Lucie alone.

Ellen didn’t take the necklace, and now Lucie was left with nothing but frustration. She sat on the edge of the oversized tub, staring at her reflection in the marble tiles. The bathroom was gorgeous, but it felt like a beautiful prison.

She let out a shaky breath. There was nothing left for her to do but wait. Maybe, if she was lucky, her grandfather would realize something was wrong and come for her. But the fear twisting in her stomach wouldn’t go away.

The sound of water sloshing pulled her back. The tub was almost overflowing.

Lucie tried to stand up, but the room spun and everything went dark. The next thing she knew, she was sliding into the tub with a soft splash.

The giant bathtub was practically a swimming pool. The water closed over her head before she could even react. For a split second, the cold shocked her awake and she tried to push herself up, but the fever had drained every ounce of her strength.

She managed a few weak kicks, but her body wouldn’t cooperate. She sank slowly to the bottom.

In her final moment of consciousness, a single, sharp thought cut through everything else: Why am I suddenly so weak?