The Girl Who Chose the Maid Over Her Father

CHAPTER 1 — The Woman Sophie Chose

"I choose her."

Sophie Ashford pointed across the ballroom.

Every guest turned toward Anna Brooks, the young maid standing beside the service doors.

Julian stared at his daughter.

Vanessa Laurent, his glamorous fiancée, stood behind them in a gold evening dress, waiting for Sophie to present her with the Ashford family brooch.

"Sophie, do you know what you're saying?" Julian asked.

Sophie walked past Vanessa and grabbed Anna's wrist.

"I want Anna."

Anna covered her mouth.

"Sweetheart, please... go back to your dad."

Sophie held tighter.

"She's the only one who actually holds me."

The ballroom fell silent.

Vanessa's expression hardened.

Julian had hired Anna six months earlier. He believed she cleaned Sophie's rooms and helped the household staff.

He did not know she sat beside Sophie during nightmares.

He did not know his daughter woke crying almost every night.

Sophie looked up at Anna.

"When I cried at night... Mommy."

Anna's tears fell immediately.

Vanessa stepped forward.

"This servant has manipulated an emotionally vulnerable child."

"I never asked her to call me that," Anna said.

Julian lifted Sophie into his arms.

"Why didn't you come to me when you were scared?"

"You were always working."

The answer cut deeper than any public accusation.

Vanessa insisted Sophie needed boundaries. She had ordered the staff not to enter the child's room after eight o'clock, believing attention encouraged bad behavior.

Anna had disobeyed.

"I couldn't leave her crying alone," she said.

Julian noticed the plush rabbit in Sophie's arms. Clara, Sophie's late mother, had given it to her before dying.

A tiny red light blinked beneath one ear.

Sophie used the rabbit to record messages whenever she missed her mother.

Vanessa reached for it.

Sophie pulled away.

"Don't let her take him."

"Why?" Julian asked.

Sophie looked toward Vanessa.

"Because Bunny heard what she said she would do after the wedding."