Marcus watched his wife try to kick the maid holding their crying baby—and what he did next left the entire mansion in stunned silence.

He crossed the hallway so fast that one officer stepped between him and Victoria.

“What second passport?”

Victoria’s smile widened.

“Oh, Marcus. You really should pay closer attention to your own house.”

Elena felt Leo’s tiny fingers clutch her uniform.

Margaret’s face went still.

Celeste closed her eyes briefly, as if Victoria had said too much.

The older officer turned to Victoria.

“Mrs. Vance, are you saying there is another passport for the child?”

Victoria lifted one shoulder.

“I’m saying my husband has lost control of his household.”

Marcus’s voice was deadly.

“Where is it?”

Victoria looked at Elena.

“Why don’t you ask her?”

Elena froze.

Marcus followed Victoria’s gaze.

“No,” Elena said immediately.

Victoria’s eyes gleamed.

“She has access to every nursery drawer. Every closet. Every diaper bag. Convenient, isn’t it?”

Elena shook her head.

“I didn’t touch his passport.”

“The first passport, maybe not.” Victoria’s voice softened into something poisonous. “But a duplicate? Hidden by the devoted maid who has become much too attached to another woman’s child?”

Marcus stepped forward.

“Stop.”

Victoria ignored him.

“She was planning to take him. I discovered it. That’s why she attacked me.”

Elena’s mouth went dry.

The lie had shifted.

Now Victoria was not only the victim.

Elena was the villain.

And worse, the story fit the room.

A poor maid. A rich baby. A secret past. A changed name. A child she loved too much.

The officer looked at Elena.

“Do you know anything about a second passport?”

“No.”

But her voice sounded thin even to her own ears.

Victoria pounced.

“Search her room.”

Marcus turned sharply.

“No one searches her room without cause.”

Celeste spoke for the first time in several minutes.

“There is cause. A passport is missing. The nanny has a documented history of theft accusations. Surely the police should know that.”

Elena’s face burned.

Margaret looked at Celeste.

“You are very eager to discuss other people’s histories for a woman with your family’s record.”

Celeste’s lips tightened.

The younger officer spoke carefully.

“Mr. Vance, voluntary cooperation may help clear this up.”

Marcus looked at Elena.

She knew what he wanted to say.

Refuse.

Make them get a warrant.

Fight.

But she also knew how quickly refusal would become guilt in Victoria’s mouth.

“Search it,” Elena said.

Marcus looked furious.

“Elena—”

“It’s fine.”

It was not fine.

Her room was small, tucked above the old laundry wing. She had nothing valuable there. Three uniforms. A Bible from her grandmother. A shoebox of letters. A photograph she never left facing up.

And the locket.

She touched it unconsciously.

Victoria noticed.

That small smile returned.

Elena suddenly understood.

The second passport was not the trap.

The search was.

They walked in a grim procession through the servant corridor, past staff members pretending not to stare. Elena held Leo until Margaret insisted on taking him.

“No,” Elena said before she could stop herself.

Margaret looked at her, not offended.

“I will stand right beside you.”

Elena nodded reluctantly and handed Leo over.

Victoria watched the exchange with quiet satisfaction.

At Elena’s room, the younger officer opened drawers, checked beneath the mattress, lifted folded clothes. Nothing.

The older officer opened the small closet.

Nothing.

For one fragile second, Elena almost breathed.

Then Celeste pointed to the shoebox beneath the bed.

“What about that?”

Elena’s heart lurched.