Chapter 1 - The Sound That Shattered Everything"Keep crying. No one is coming to save you."
The blonde woman's voice sliced through the grand music room.
Behind the polished wooden piano, twenty-month-old Lily Mercer clung to the dark edge with both hands. Tears streamed down her flushed cheeks. Her tiny cream-colored dress trembled as she struggled to breathe between sobs.
Celeste Hart leaned closer.
Her champagne-gold sequined gown glittered beneath the chandelier. A diamond necklace rested against her collarbone, and an enormous gemstone ring flashed as she placed one manicured hand beside the child's fingers.
"Do you understand me?" she whispered. "Your daddy isn't here."
Lily squeezed her eyes shut.
"Dada," she whimpered.
Celeste smiled without warmth.
"Exactly. Keep calling him."
A floorboard creaked behind them.
Neither noticed at first.
Then a deep voice cut through the room.
"Get away from my daughter."
Celeste spun around.
Julian Mercer stood in the wooden doorway.
At thirty-eight, he was a physically imposing man, tall and broad-shouldered, with slicked-back dark hair, light stubble, and black-and-gray tattoos climbing his neck and disappearing beneath his tailored navy suit.
His tattooed hands hung motionless at his sides.
But his eyes were fixed on Lily.
The little girl turned toward the familiar voice.
"Dada!"
Julian crossed the room before Celeste could speak.
He dropped to one knee, slid his arms beneath his daughter, and lifted her against his chest.
Lily clutched his black shirt with both fists.
Her tiny body shook violently.
"I'm here, sweetheart."
His voice cracked.
"I'm right here."
He pressed his cheek against her damp curls.
Then he looked at Celeste.
"What did you do?"
Celeste straightened her gown.
"Julian, she's being dramatic. She's been screaming for attention all morning."
He stared at her.
"She's a baby."
"She's almost two."
"She's twenty months old."
Celeste folded her arms.
"You're making this worse."
Behind her stood two men in formal black suits.
Edward Collins, the estate's security director, stared at the floor.
Thomas Bell, his younger assistant, watched Lily with an expression Julian couldn't read.
Julian held his daughter tighter.
"How long has she been crying?"
Celeste rolled her eyes.
"I haven't been timing her."
Thomas shifted uncomfortably.
Julian noticed.
But before he could question the man, Lily whispered something against his neck.
"Bad."
One small word.
Barely audible.
Julian went completely still.
"What, baby?"
Lily buried her face against him.
Her tiny hand pointed toward the piano.
Celeste stepped forward.
"Don't start putting words in her mouth."
Julian's eyes snapped toward her.
"Don't come closer."
The room fell silent except for Lily's sobbing.
He carried his daughter toward Thomas.
"Take her into the hallway. Stay where I can see you."
Thomas hesitated.
"Sir—"
"Please."
Something in Julian's voice made him obey.
Julian watched until Lily was safely beyond the doorway, supported securely in Thomas's arms.
Only then did he turn back.
Celeste crossed her arms.
"What do you think you're doing?"
Julian slowly removed his navy suit jacket.
Underneath, his fitted waistcoat and black shirt stretched across his shoulders.
"You made a terrible mistake."
"Are you threatening me?"
He didn't answer.
His gaze traveled toward the enormous dark upright piano.
It had belonged to his late wife, Claire.
She had played it almost every evening before Lily was born.
Now the instrument stood beside towering arrangements of pink, cream, and yellow flowers.
Julian saw Lily's tiny fingerprints on its polished surface.
Something inside him broke.
He planted both hands against the piano.
"Julian!"
He shoved.
The instrument rolled inches on its casters.
Then one damaged support gave way.
The massive wooden body tipped backward.
A thunderous crash shook the entire room.
Flowers exploded across the polished floor. A vase shattered. Yellow petals scattered beneath the fallen instrument.
Celeste staggered back.
Her blue eyes widened.
Her mouth fell open.
A tear rolled down her cheek.
"You destroyed Claire's piano," she whispered.
Julian stared at the wreckage.
The anger drained from his face almost as quickly as it had come.
From the hallway, Lily screamed again.
Julian flinched.
He had frightened her.
The realization struck harder than the crash.
He rushed back, taking her into his arms.
"I'm sorry," he whispered against her hair. "Daddy shouldn't have done that."
Behind him, Celeste stood frozen.
Edward hurried toward the piano.
And Thomas noticed something unusual beneath its broken wooden backing.
A small black electronic device had fallen onto the floor.
Its blue indicator light was still blinking.
Thomas bent closer.
Then he recognized the device.
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It was a baby monitor receiver.
And its recording light was on.
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