chapter773

Grace told her that the security cameras in the main building were down today. Every recording was wiped clean. If she accused Lucinda now...

"Judy, Alexis, you two need to tell me what happened today. Kylie looked around the room. The silence told her everything something serious was going on. That made her more determined to get to the truth.

"Ma'am... we..." Judy's voice trembled.

Judy and Alexis hadn't had easy lives. They came from poor families but they were good people. After they helped Tina earlier, Grace hunted them down and gave them a harsh scolding. She almost got them both fired. If they called out Lucinda in front of everyone, who would even believe them? They were just maids. In this house, getting yelled at or hit was just part of the job.

But Lucinda was different. Even if they told the truth, what would happen then? Would the family really kick Lucinda out? Most likely, the only ones packing their bags would be them.

Normal people are just so powerless in the face of real authority.

"Judy, Alexis, don't you trust me?" Lydia's voice broke through the quiet.

"Miss..." Judy's eyes filled with tears. Lydia had never looked down on them for being ordinary. She always watched out for them. Lydia really was the kindest person in the house.

"Tell us what you know," Lydia said, her words steady and sure. "As long as I'm here, nobody will hurt you again.

Judy squeezed her hands tight and glanced at Lucinda. Panic flashed across Lucinda's face. She knew something was about to go very wrong.

Judy dropped to her knees in front of Cameron and Kylie. Her voice didn't waver. "It was Lucinda. Lucinda burned Tina's hand!"

For a moment, the room went silent. Everyone stared at Lucinda. Shock and confusion filled Cameron's and

Kylie's faces. Even Mr. Norwoodne

looked stunned. In their eyes,

Lucinda was a sweet, gentle girl. She was polite to her elders, Trendly with everyone, even the staff. She never acted like a spoiled heiress.

Now Judy was saying that Lucinda had hurt Tina so badly her hand was a bloody mess.

"Judy! Lucinda has always treated you well! How dare you accuse her like this?" Grace's shrill voice cut through the quiet.

Lucinda just froze. She never thought the maids she looked down on would turn on her like this, not in front of everyone. She'd warned them before.

Cameron's face was stern as he turned to Tina. "Tina, tell me the truth. Who burned your hand?"

Tina took a shaky breath. There was no point in lying now. "Sir, it was Lucinda."

A heavy silence fell. The truth hit hardest for Mr. Norwood, Cameron, and Kylie.

"Dad! It wasn't me! She burned

herself by accident. had nothing to

do with it!" Lucinda couldn't stay quieDanymore. She jumped up, desperate.

Lydia looked at her, one eyebrow raised. "So Grace was lying about everything just now?"

Kylie stared at Lucinda, completely lost. Lucinda, why would you do something like that? Why would you hurt her?"

This wasn't the Lucinda she thought she knew.

Lucinda was shaking now, her eyes

rimmed red. She tried to explain, her

voice thick wit

with tears. "Mom, it

wasn't me. She didn't hold the cup.

light and spilled the water on her

own hand. It wasn't my fault Mom,

you have to believe me."