Chapter 10 - THE FIRST MORNING
The morning sun streamed through the massive windows of the DeLuca estate, casting a warm, golden glow over the breakfast table. It was a stark contrast to the dark, chaotic night we had just survived.
I sat at the table, not in my black-and-white maid's uniform, but in a soft cashmere sweater Elena had lent me. It felt surreal. I kept expecting someone to yell at me for sitting in a guest chair.
Nico walked into the dining room, looking exhausted but lighter than I had ever seen him. He poured a cup of coffee and sat across from me.
"How did you sleep?" he asked, his voice gentle.
"I didn't," I admitted, wrapping my hands around my mug. "Every time I closed my eyes, I remembered something new. The old house. The way you used to sneak me extra dessert when our father wasn't looking."
Nico smiled sadly. "You were always my responsibility. I failed you once. I won't do it again."
Before I could answer, Matteo bounded into the room, wearing oversized pajamas that belonged to Nico when he was a boy. He climbed directly into Nico's lap, completely unafraid of the imposing man.
"I'm hungry," Matteo announced.
Nico laughed, a deep, genuine sound that echoed in the quiet room. "What do you want to eat, little boss?"
"Pancakes. With chocolate chips."
"Done." Nico kissed the top of the boy's head.
Elena walked in a moment later, looking rested for the first time in years. She sat next to me and reached for the coffee pot.
"The police came early this morning," Elena said quietly. "They took Marcus away. He confessed to running my car off the road. With Victoria's father's testimony against him, he's going away for a long time."
"And Victoria?" I asked.
Nico's expression hardened slightly. "She signed the annulment papers. The Sterling family is fleeing to Europe to escape their creditors. They won't bother us again."
It was a clean break. The poison had been removed from our lives.
But as we sat there, enjoying the first peaceful morning of our new lives, the heavy oak doors of the dining room opened.
One of the security guards stepped inside, looking hesitant.
"Excuse me, Mr. DeLuca," the guard said softly.
"What is it, Paul?" Nico asked.
"There's a woman at the front gate, sir," Paul said, glancing nervously at me. "She's refusing to leave. She says she needs to see Hannah."
My heart stopped.
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"Who is she?" Nico demanded, his protective instincts instantly flaring.
Paul swallowed hard. "She says her name is Mary Sullivan."
