Chapter 3 - The Woman Behind the Nursery DoorTwo weeks changed everything.
Leo gained weight.
His cheeks became rounder.
His eyes grew brighter.
The machines that had once surrounded his crib slowly disappeared.
The nursery began filling with ordinary sounds.
Laughter.
Soft lullabies.
Baby giggles.
Hannah became part of the house without realizing it.
She still dressed simply.
She refused most of the designer clothes I ordered.
She preferred cotton dresses and sweaters.
She never complained.
And she never treated Leo like a job.
She loved him.
That was the only explanation.
Sometimes I watched them from the security monitors in my office.
I watched her sing to him.
I watched her dance slowly around the nursery when he couldn't sleep.
I watched her cry silently when she thought no one was looking.
She was grieving Lily.
But she had found a way to pour that love into Leo.
And Leo responded.
For the first time since Sophia's death, the mansion sounded alive.
Then Dominic entered my office.
“Lorenzo.”
I looked up.
His expression had changed.
He placed three photographs on my desk.
A gray sedan.
Parked outside the estate.
Again.
And again.
And again.
“Who is that?”
“Marcus Miller.”
My blood chilled.
Hannah's former boyfriend.
A violent man with a history of assault and connections to loan sharks.
“He's been following her.”
“Does he know where she is?”
“Not exactly.”
I stared at the photograph.
“Then make sure he never finds out.”
Dominic hesitated.
“He's already asking questions.”
My fingers tightened around the photograph.
“Then stop him.”
Before he could answer, a crash shook the mansion.
Then came gunfire.
May you like
I stood instantly.
The nightmare had found us.
Related Stories
