Chapter 4 - The shadow in the mansion
Days turned into a week. The mansion felt entirely different to Adeline now. She was no longer scrubbing the marble floors in the dead of night; she was walking them as a guest. Elias had bought her a wardrobe of simple, elegant clothes, respecting her practical nature while ensuring she lacked nothing.
Noah’s health improved rapidly. The private doctors provided specialized medicine for his wrist and put him on a strict nutritional plan. He spent his afternoons in the vast library, fascinated by the endless books. He had no idea who Elias truly was. To Noah, Elias was just a very wealthy, very intense businessman honoring a debt.
But Adeline knew the truth. She had heard the whispers among the staff during her night shifts. Elias Baron was a king in the underworld, a man whose hands were tied to violence and power.
One evening, Adeline walked into the grand kitchen to get a glass of water. She paused. The heavy security doors at the back of the estate were slightly open. Standing in the doorway was Elias, talking to his heavily armed lieutenant.
“The Moretti syndicate knows she’s here,” the lieutenant warned quietly. “They know about the girl and the boy. If they want to hit you where it hurts, they’ll target them to break your focus.”
“Double the perimeter guards,” Elias ordered, his voice cold as ice. “If anyone from the Moretti family steps within a mile of these gates, they don't leave.”
Adeline backed away, her heart hammering against her ribs. She was putting Noah in danger just by being here.
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She retreated to her suite, pacing the floor. She had to get Noah out. But as she packed a small bag, the lights in the mansion suddenly flickered and died. The estate was plunged into total darkness.
A heavy, unnatural silence fell over the house. Adeline crept into the hallway, moving toward Noah’s room. Suddenly, a figure stepped out from the shadows of the corridor. It wasn't one of Elias’s guards. The man wore a dark mask, holding a suppressed weapon. He saw Adeline and raised his arm.
