The Billionaire’s Daughter Drove Every Maid Away — Until One Woman Refused to Be Afraid of Her
Chapter 5
Richard noticed the change.
Isabella no longer dismissed staff.
She stopped deliberately causing problems.
She even began helping in the kitchen occasionally.
One morning, Richard watched his daughter carry dishes to the table.
“Who are you?”
Isabella rolled her eyes.
“Very funny.”
Richard smiled.
“You seem happier.”
“I’m not.”
“You are.”
She looked at Clara.
“She makes me angry.”
Richard laughed.
“That’s probably healthy.”
Isabella frowned.
Then something unexpected happened.
Her father announced a business trip.
“I’ll be away for two weeks.”
“Fine.”
“You’ll have Clara.”
“I can manage.”
“I know.”
After Richard left, the mansion felt different.
Quieter.
Isabella expected to feel relieved.
Instead, she felt abandoned.
She didn’t tell anyone.
That night, she found Clara repairing a torn curtain.
“Can I ask you something?”
“Of course.”
“Do people always leave?”
Clara stopped sewing.
“No.”
“They do.”
“Some people leave.”
“Same thing.”
“No.”
Clara looked at her.
“Some people leave because they don’t care.”
“Like my mother?”
Clara shook her head.
“She didn’t choose to leave.”
“Same thing.”
“No.”
Clara’s voice became firm.
“Death is not abandonment.”
Isabella stared at her.
She hadn’t heard anyone say that before.
Clara continued.
“Your mother left you with pain.”
“That’s not the same as choosing to leave.”
Isabella looked down.
For years, she had blamed herself for being angry.
Now someone was telling her the anger had come from somewhere.
She wiped her eyes quickly.
“I hate crying.”
Clara smiled.
“Most strong people do.”
“I’m not strong.”
Clara looked at her.
“You’ve survived sixteen years without letting anyone see how much you hurt.”
She paused.
“That’s strength.”
Isabella looked away.
For the first time, she believed someone might actually see her.
