Chapter 3 - The Cold Judgment
Leo lifted both of us up, carrying Lily in one arm while supporting my shoulder with his free hand as we climbed out of the dark cellar.
When we stepped back into the lit kitchen, Victoria was pinned against the marble island by two of Leo’s top enforcers. Her designer dress was wrinkled, her perfect hair undone, her face pale as a corpse.
"Leo! Baby, listen to me!" Victoria shrieked, tears streaming down her face as she tried to feign innocence. "She’s lying! The maid did this! She attacked me and locked Lily in the cellar to frame me! Look at her—she’s unstable! She broke into your private office!"
Leo handed Lily gently into my arms. "Take her to the car, Clara. My personal doctor is waiting outside."
"Mr. Rossi—"
"Go," he said softly, his eyes softening for a fraction of a second as he looked at my bleeding cheek. "You saved my daughter's life. No one touches you ever again."
I nodded, holding Lily tight against my chest as I walked out toward the convoy of armored cars. But I didn't leave the threshold before hearing Leo step toward Victoria.
"You called her a massive cow, Victoria," Leo's voice echoed through the hallway, terrifyingly quiet. "You tore my daughter's drawings. You starved her. And then you tried to kill her."
"Leo, please! Our families have a contract!" Victoria sobbed.
May you like
"The contract was signed in blood," Leo whispered. "And today, it ends in yours."
A single gunshot echoed behind us, followed by absolute silence.
