Nora came to Dallas hoping to earn enough money for nursing school, but on her first day inside the Caldwell mansion, she challenged the billionaire’s daughter—and discovered the family needed her for something far more important.

Nora didn't hesitate. Before Madison could lift the glass to her lips, Nora intentionally stumbled, letting the heavy tray she carried slam into the wrought-iron table.

The glass of iced tea toppled over, shattering against the flagstones and soaking Julian’s designer loafers.

"What the hell is wrong with you?!" Julian roared, jumping backward in fury, his polished veneer instantly cracking into pure malice. "Are you blind, you clumsy idiot?!"

"I am so sorry, sir!" Nora gasped, dropping to her knees with a towel, pretending to be terrified while deliberately sweeping the liquid away so no one could drink it. "The stone was uneven, my heel caught—"

"Julian, stop yelling at her," Madison intervened, her voice surprisingly firm. "It was an accident."

Julian glared down at Nora with undisguised hatred. "Fire this incompetent girl immediately, Madison. Look at my shoes! Look at this mess!"

"I said it's fine," Madison repeated, crossing her arms. She looked at Nora with an unreadable expression. For the first time, Madison wasn't joining in on degrading the staff—she was defending her.

Julian sucked in a breath, quickly smoothing his jacket and forcing his charismatic smile back into place. "Of course, sweetheart. Forgive me. I'm just stressed about the gala tomorrow. I love you."

After Julian left for a business meeting with Richard, Nora waited until Madison was alone in the garden library.

Nora walked inside, closing the door behind her.

"You did that on purpose," Madison said without looking up from her book.

"Yes, I did," Nora answered directly.

Madison frowned, turning around. "Why? Are you trying to humiliate Julian?"

"Madison, he dropped something into your drink," Nora said, keeping her voice low and steady. "I saw him take a sachet from his inside pocket."

Madison burst into nervous, defensive laughter. "Are you out of your mind? Julian is the son of a senator! We’ve been dating for two years! Why would he drug me?"

"I don't know why, but I know what I saw," Nora insisted, stepping forward. "Your heart cannot take stimulants or sedatives without fatal consequences. If you don't believe me, let me show you."

Nora pulled her phone from her pocket. While Julian had been shouting, Nora had snapped a photo of the discarded foil wrapper he had kicked into the hedge. On the tiny corner of the foil was a pharmaceutical label: *Digitalis compound.*