Chapter 3 - The Housekeeper’s SecretDownstairs in the estate’s sunlit kitchen, Elena Carter was frantically scrubbing a porcelain plate for the third time, her hands shaking so violently she nearly dropped it.
When Adrian walked into the kitchen, dressed in a sharp, bespoke charcoal suit with his hair neatly combed back, Elena dropped the sponge and instantly stepped back, bowing her head in terror.
“Mr. Moretti! I am so, so sorry!” she stammered, her voice cracking. “Lily shouldn't have gone upstairs last night! I swear she sleepwalks sometimes, and when she woke up thirsty, she must have wandered—I didn't mean to intrude—please don't fire me, I need this job to pay for—'”
“Elena,” Adrian interrupted, his voice calm, steady, and strangely gentle.
She stopped, looking up at him in shock. In the past, Adrian would have barely acknowledged her existence with a nod. Now, he was looking at her with a quiet, intense focus that made her swallow hard.
“You’re not fired,” Adrian said, walking over to the kitchen island. “In fact, your daughter saved my life last night.”
Elena blinked, bewildered. “Saved your life?”
“She told me about the tea,” Adrian explained simply. “And right now, Dominic’s people are looking for leverage. Salvatore is outside with a car. He’s going to take you and Lily to a secure house on the coast for a few days. Pack what you need. You won't have to worry about rent, bills, or debt ever again—I’m setting up a trust for Lily’s education.”
Tears welled up in Elena’s eyes. She reached out, trembling, and grabbed the edge of the counter. “Mr. Moretti… what is happening? Is Dominic—?”
“Dominic is making a very big mistake,” Adrian said coldly. “Trust me, Elena. Within forty-eight hours, this family will be cleaned out from top to bottom. But you and Lily need to be invisible while I do it.”
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Ten minutes later, Salvatore escorted Elena and a half-asleep Lily—still clutching her gray rabbit—out through the private service exit and into an unmarked black SUV.
Adrian stood by the floor-to-ceiling kitchen window, watching the vehicle disappear down the winding driveway. The board meeting was in two hours. He had a kingdom to reclaim, and a brother to destroy.
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