Chapter 2 - The Night the Mansion Went Dark|
The lights went out so suddenly that someone screamed.
For one terrible second, the entire dining room disappeared into darkness.
Then I felt Noah's small fingers tighten around mine.
I knew he couldn't hear the screaming.
Couldn't hear the chairs scraping across the marble floor.
Couldn't hear the frightened whispers spreading through the room.
But he could feel the panic.
And he was terrified.
I immediately knelt beside him, keeping my face close enough for him to see when the emergency lights flickered on.
I'm here, I signed.
His hands trembled.
Don't let them take me.
My heart twisted.
I won't leave you alone.
Across the room, Luca Moretti's voice cut through the confusion.
"Nobody moves!"
The emergency lighting came on, casting the mansion in a dim red glow.
Luca crossed the room in seconds.
He crouched beside Noah, his black shirt pulling tight across his broad shoulders. Dark tattoos disappeared beneath his sleeves.
He immediately signed.
Are you hurt?
Noah shook his head.
Then he pointed toward the hallway.
Uncle Michael.
Luca's expression changed.
What about Uncle Michael?
Before Noah could answer, Daniel appeared.
"Boss, the main electrical system has been shut down."
Luca looked up.
"Accident?"
Daniel shook his head.
"Someone accessed the control room."
The room went completely silent.
I glanced toward Claudia.
She was standing near the head table, clutching her handbag.
Her face was pale.
But she wasn't looking at the lights.
She was looking toward the service entrance.
Luca noticed.
"Claudia."
She turned.
"Yes?"
"Where is Michael?"
She swallowed.
"How should I know?"
"He was sitting beside you ten minutes ago."
"Luca, this is ridiculous. The electricity goes out and suddenly everyone thinks there's a conspiracy?"
Luca didn't answer.
Instead, he turned back to Noah.
Tell me what Uncle Michael said.
The little boy looked at Claudia.
His fingers froze.
I knew that expression.
I'd seen it before whenever someone entered the room while Noah was trying to tell me something important.
Fear.
Not of being misunderstood.
Of being understood by the wrong person.
I moved closer.
You're safe with Daddy.
Noah looked into Luca's eyes.
Then signed slowly.
Uncle Michael said I have to go away so Claudia can have a real family.
Luca stopped moving.
Every muscle in his body seemed to tighten.
Did he say that to you?
Noah nodded.
Then signed something that made my stomach drop.
He said Daddy agreed.
Luca closed his eyes.
When he opened them again, there was something frightening in his expression.
Not the anger of a powerful man who'd been disobeyed.
The pain of a father discovering his child believed he had abandoned him.
Luca placed both hands where Noah could see them.
I never agreed to send you away.
Noah stared.
Never?
Never.
His little face crumpled.
Even if Claudia doesn't like me?
Luca's eyes filled.
You are my son. You belong with me because we are family. Nobody can change that.
Noah threw his arms around his father's neck.
Luca held him tightly.
I looked away, blinking back tears.
Then Daniel's phone vibrated.
He checked the message.
His expression changed.
"Sir."
Luca looked up.
"What?"
"The SUV at the service entrance is gone."
My stomach tightened.
"What?"
Daniel continued.
"The driver left when the lights went out."
Luca slowly stood, keeping Noah close.
"Find out who hired him."
"Already working on it."
"And Michael?"
Daniel hesitated.
"We can't locate him."
Claudia immediately spoke.
"Michael probably went home. He's always hated dramatic family events."
Luca turned toward her.
"Interesting."
She frowned.
"What?"
"You seem more concerned about explaining Michael's absence than finding out why my son was about to be taken from his home."
Claudia's expression hardened.
"I was trying to help."
Luca stared at her.
"By arranging for an eight-year-old child to be removed without his father's permission?"
She opened her mouth.
Nothing came out.
Then Luca said quietly:
"Take off the engagement ring."
The dining room became completely silent.
Claudia froze.
"What?"
"The ring."
Her eyes widened.
"Luca, don't do this."
He looked directly at her.
"You planned to send my son away while I was entertaining guests downstairs."
Tears filled her eyes.
"I thought it would make our marriage easier!"
Something inside me went cold.
Luca's voice dropped.
"My son is not an inconvenience."
Claudia began crying.
"Luca, please."
"Take it off."
Her hands shook as she removed the diamond ring.
She placed it on the table.
Luca didn't touch it.
Then he turned toward Daniel.
"Arrange for Claudia to leave with her belongings. And preserve every security recording from tonight."
Claudia stared at him.
"You can't simply throw me away!"
Luca's expression didn't change.
"You're leaving my home. My attorney can address anything else."
She looked toward me.
Hatred flashed across her face.
"This is her fault."
I froze.
Luca stepped between us.
"Ella protected my son."
Claudia laughed bitterly.
"You have no idea who that little housekeeper really is."
My breath caught.
Luca narrowed his eyes.
"What does that mean?"
Claudia looked directly at me.
Then smiled.
"Ask her why Michael Moretti has been sending money to her family."
I stopped breathing.
May you like
Because my mother had received anonymous payments for months.
And I had never told anyone in the mansion.
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