Chapter 1
"I Came Home Early and Found My 5-Year-Old Daughter on Her Knees Scrubbing the Floor in a Maid’s Uniform—And My Wife Had No Idea I Was Standing Behind Her.
I returned from my business trip to Seattle a day early because I wanted to surprise my five-year-old daughter, Lily.
But the moment I opened our front door, I heard her crying.
“Please, I’m tired.”
I froze in the hallway.
Then my wife, Rachel, snapped, “Stop whining and keep scrubbing.”
I walked toward the kitchen and nearly dropped my suitcase.
Lily was on her knees wiping the floor with a rag.
She was wearing a little black dress with a white apron that looked like a maid’s uniform.
Tears were running down her cheeks.
“Daddy!”
She dropped the rag and ran straight into my arms.
I lifted her off the floor.
“Baby, what happened?”
Lily buried her face against my shoulder.
“Rachel said I have to earn my dinner.”
My stomach turned.
Rachel finally noticed me standing there.
“Daniel? You weren’t supposed to be home until tomorrow.”
I looked at the bucket beside Lily.
Then I looked at my wife.
“Why is my daughter dressed like this?”
Rachel folded her arms.
“She refused to clean her room, so I taught her a lesson.”
“She’s five.”
“She needs discipline.”
Lily whispered into my neck, “Daddy, my knees hurt.”
That was when I noticed red marks on them.
I struggled to keep my voice steady.
“How long has she been down there?”
Rachel rolled her eyes.
“You’re making this much bigger than it is.”
I carried Lily to the couch.
Then I noticed there was only one dinner plate on the kitchen table.
“Where’s Lily’s food?”
Rachel didn’t answer.
I turned toward her.
“Where is my daughter’s dinner?”
“She was going to eat after she finished the floor.”
I stared at the woman I had married two years earlier and suddenly felt like I didn’t know her at all.
Then Lily tugged on my sleeve.
“Daddy, please don’t be mad.”
“I’m not mad at you, sweetheart.”
She looked nervously at Rachel.
Then she whispered, “She told me never to show you the room downstairs.”
Rachel’s face went completely pale.
“Lily, stop talking.”
I slowly stood up.
“What room downstairs?”
May you like
Rachel stepped between me and the basement door.
And that was when I heard another child crying from somewhere below us.
