The words echoed through the gilded hallway of the Lancaster estate, silencing everyone.
Billionaire businessman Richard Lancaster, a man used to commanding rooms and signing billion-dollar deals without hesitation, froze in disbelief. His daughter, Amelia, only six years old, stood at the center of the marble floor, her little finger pointing directly at Clara, one of the household maids.
Around them, the carefully chosen group of models—elegant, tall, and dressed in designer gowns—shifted uncomfortably. Richard had invited them with one goal: to help Amelia pick a woman she might accept as her new mother. His late wife, Elena, had passed away three years ago, leaving a void in both Richard’s life and his daughter’s heart. He had thought glamour, beauty, and charm would impress Amelia. Instead, she had looked past diamonds and silk… and chosen the woman in a plain black dress and white apron.
Clara, stunned, pressed a hand to her chest. “Me? Amelia… no, I’m just—”