The woman in green raised both hands.

“She’s being dramatic. I was protecting the event.”

Alejandro’s voice stayed low.

“From whom?”

She looked at Lucia with disgust she didn’t even try to hide.

“From embarrassment.”

Lucia flinched.

Alejandro saw it.

That one small movement told him this had not started tonight.

He turned to the guests at the doorway.

“Did she serve you upstairs?”

No one answered.

Then one guest whispered, “She brought drinks.”

Another said, “She cleaned a spill.”

Lucia looked down, ashamed.

The woman in green snapped, “Because she looked like staff.”

Alejandro stepped beside Lucia.

“No. You made her look like staff.”

The woman’s face tightened.

“She came from nothing. I did everyone a favor.”

Alejandro’s eyes turned cold.

“You mean you did yourself a favor. You couldn’t stand that my father left this house to her.”

The guests froze.

Lucia’s lips trembled.

The woman in green went pale.

Alejandro continued, “My father trusted Lucia because she cared for him when the family was too busy fighting over his money.”

Lucia whispered, “I didn’t ask for the house.”

“I know,” Alejandro said softly. “That’s why he gave it to you.”

The woman in green backed away.

“She is not family.”

Lucia finally lifted her head.

“He called me daughter when no one else would even say my name.”

The kitchen fell silent except for the running water.

Alejandro reached over and turned it off.

Then he gently took the pot from Lucia’s shaking hands.

“You were never the maid here.”

He looked at the woman in green.

“You were the guest.”

The woman’s mouth opened, but nothing came out.

Alejandro removed Lucia’s wet apron and laid it across the counter.

Then he held out his hand.

“Come upstairs.”

Lucia looked at the doorway, scared of every face waiting.

He squeezed her hand gently.

“This is your house. Let them learn where they are standing.”