Richard followed the employee through a quiet hallway toward the kitchen.
Behind the ballroom’s beautiful decorations was a completely different world.
Workers were carrying dishes, cleaning tables, and preparing food for the guests.
Then Richard saw a woman standing near the kitchen entrance.
She wore a simple work uniform. Her eyes looked exhausted, and she appeared worried.
“Elena?” the employee called.
The woman turned around.
The moment she saw Sophie standing beside Richard, her eyes filled with tears.
“Sophie!”
The little girl immediately ran toward her.
“Mama!”
Elena dropped to her knees and wrapped both arms around her daughter.
“Baby, I told you to stay where I left you!”
“I’m sorry, Mama. I just wanted to wait for you.”
Elena held her daughter tightly.
Richard watched silently.
“Are you her mother?” he asked.
Elena nodded.
“Yes, sir. I’m sorry if she caused any trouble.”
“She didn’t cause any trouble,” Richard replied. “I heard her singing. She has an incredible voice.”
Elena looked surprised.
“She was singing?”
Richard smiled.
“Yes. I asked her to sing again, but she told me you said she must be quiet.”
Elena looked down.
“She gets nervous around strangers. And I don’t want her disturbing anyone.”
Richard shook his head.
“Nobody was disturbed. Everyone loved her voice.”
Elena looked at Sophie and gently brushed the hair away from her face.
“Come on, sweetheart. We should go.”
But before they could leave, Richard noticed a small photograph sticking out of Elena’s bag.
It showed a little girl holding a teddy bear.
Richard stared at it.
Something about that photograph felt strangely familiar.
“Excuse me,” he said. “Where did you get that picture?”
Elena quickly put it away.
“Why are you asking, sir?”
Richard looked at her carefully.
“Because I think I’ve seen that little girl before.”
Elena’s face turned pale.
End of Episode 3.
