The scrubbing sound echoed off the high walls like a sad beat in a quiet room.
Victoria took a slow sip of her drink without noticing that the front doors had swung open.
Victoria: Keep moving that rag faster or you will not get any dinner tonight.
Sarah: Yes, ma'am, I am trying my best to make it shine.
The young girl's voice was barely a whisper as she wrung out the wet cloth into a plastic bucket.
Drips of dirty water splashed onto the floor, making her hands tremble from the icy temperature.
Richard stepped closer to the main staircase, his heavy footsteps making a loud thud on the tile.
Victoria turned her head quickly and almost spilled the dark red drink onto her expensive lace outfit.
The girl on the floor paused her work and lifted her head up toward the sound of footsteps.
Her dark hair fell away from her pale face, revealing her soft features to the warm indoor light.
Richard froze as his eyes locked onto her small face, his mouth opening in complete shock.
A red mark sat fresh upon her forehead alongside a painful scratch near her thin cheekbone.
Her eyes were watery and swollen from hours of silent crying in the cold hallway.
Sarah: Papa?
The single word hung in the air like a heavy weight pressing down on Richard's chest.
His fingers lost their strength, and his heavy leather briefcase slipped out of his grip instantly.
It hit the polished marble floor with a sudden crash that made Victoria jump out of her seat.
Richard took a shaky breath while staring at the girl he thought had vanished six months ago.
His missing daughter, Sarah, was kneeling right before him in a dirty maid outfit.
A storm of anger began to build deep inside his chest as he stared at his smiling wife.