Chapter 3 - The Shadow of Isabella
The morning light broke over the Westchester lake, casting long, golden rays across the nursery floor.
Hannah had fallen asleep in the plush armchair beside the cribs. When she opened her eyes, she found all three girls sitting quietly at her feet, staring at her with wide, expectant eyes.
Lily held out a wooden toy horse. “Mama,” she whispered again.
Hannah’s heart swelled and broke all at once. She knelt on the floor, taking the horse. “Hey sweetie. Good morning.”
A knock sounded at the door, and Dominic entered. He had discarded his suit jacket, wearing only a crisp white dress shirt with the sleeves rolled up to his forearms, revealing dark, intricate tattoos that stretched up his wrists. He carried a silver tray with fresh coffee, pastries, and three cups of warm milk.
He set the tray on the coffee table. The girls glanced at the food, then immediately looked at Hannah, waiting for her permission.
Dominic noticed. His jaw twitched. “They won't even take food from me,” he muttered, sitting on the opposite sofa.
“They’re just used to a certain routine,” Hannah said gently, handing a cup of milk to Grace. “Did you bring them up alone?”
“Since Isabella died, yes,” Dominic said, taking a sip of black coffee. “My sister, Sophia, helps when she can, but she lives in Miami. I hired the best nannies, the best medical teams in the country. Nothing worked. They withdrew into themselves. Until yesterday.”
Dominic pulled a document from his pocket and set it on the table.
“What is that?” Hannah asked.
“A employment contract,” Dominic said flatly. “I am offering you a position as the primary private caregiver for my daughters. You will live here at the estate. You will have full access to the grounds, a private suite in the east wing, and a salary of fifty thousand dollars a month.”
Hannah stared at him, her breath catching in her throat. “Fifty... fifty thousand a month?”
“In three months, your father’s medical debts will be paid off completely,” Dominic continued without blinking. “I will also assign a personal security detail to clear your name from your lease in Queens and handle your affairs.”
Hannah stood up, shaking her head. “This is insane, Mr. Vale. I’m a waitress. I don't have a degree in child development. I can't just abandon my life and move into a mob boss’s fortress!”
Dominic stood up as well, bridging the gap between them. “You don't have a life in Queens, Hannah. You have debt, exhaustion, and three jobs that are killing you.” He looked down at the three little girls playing on the rug. “Look at them.”
Hannah looked down. Lily, Grace, and Emma had all stopped playing and were watching her, their tiny brows furrowed in anxiety, as if sensing she might leave.
“They haven't spoken in two years,” Dominic said, his voice dropping into an intense, desperate whisper. “Yesterday, they spoke for you. If you walk out that door, they will retreat back into the dark. I cannot let that happen.”
“Is that a threat?” Hannah asked, her pulse hammering.
“It’s a plea from a father who has nothing left to lose,” Dominic replied honestly.
Before Hannah could respond, the heavy mahogany doors of the nursery burst open.
A tall, glamorous woman in an expensive white trench coat stepped into the room, followed by two armed guards. Her dark hair was pulled into a sleek chignon, and her sharp green eyes swept across the room like a searchlight.
“Dominic!” the woman demanded, her voice dripping with authority. “What is the meaning of this? Raymond told me you locked down Bellafonte yesterday and kidnapped a waitress!”
Dominic’s expression instantly turned to ice. “Sophia. I didn't expect you back from Miami until Friday.”
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Sophia Vale, Dominic’s younger sister, ignored her brother and marched straight toward Hannah. She picked up the framed photo of Isabella resting on the nightstand, then looked at Hannah’s face.
“She looks nothing like Isabella,” Sophia sneered, her eyes flashing with cold hostility. “Who are you, girl? What kind of game are you playing with my brother’s children?”
