I Noticed My Maid’s Son Had the Same Birthmark as Me—Then His Hospital Papers Listed Me as His Father.

Claire hesitated, her grip tight on Eli’s little hand. She had lived in hiding for seven years, taught by fear that any Bellandi was an executioner waiting to strike.

"He's tired, Victor," Claire said, her voice catching. "He needs to go to bed."

Victor looked at his son. Eli was swaying slightly on his feet, worn out by the noise, the screaming, and the sheer terror of the evening.

Victor whistled once. An elderly woman dressed in a clean gray uniform appeared from the doorway. It was Teresa, the estate's head housekeeper who had raised Victor after his mother died.

"Take the boy to the west guest suite," Victor instructed softly. "Prepare some warm soup, fresh bread, and clean sheets. Put two men at the door. No one enters without my personal word."

"Yes, Mr. Bellandi," Teresa said gently. She knelt down and smiled at Eli. "Come along, sweetheart. Let's get you something warm."

Eli looked up at his mother. Claire nodded tearfully, kissing the crown of his head. "Go with her, baby. Mommy will be right upstairs in a few minutes."

As soon as the heavy library doors clicked shut behind the boy, Claire turned on Victor.

"I want to leave," she said, her voice shaking with raw emotion. "You know the truth now. You know I didn't steal from you, and you know Eli is your son. Give us enough money to get out of the state, and we will never bother you again."

Victor looked at her like she had lost her mind. "Leave? You think I'm going to let my only flesh and blood live out of a suitcase in run-down motels while my enemies roam the streets?"

"Your enemies are here, Victor!" Claire pointed toward the doorway. "In this house! Your own fiancée had me tracked down! How long before someone puts poison in his food just to hurt you?"

"Nobody touches what is mine," Victor growled, stepping into her space. "Seven years ago, you believed a lie because you didn't trust me enough to come to me."

"You were a violent man who had just buried his brother!" Claire fired back, tears spilling freely over her cheeks. "Men with guns were in every hallway! How was I supposed to know who to trust?"

Victor stared down at her, the harshness in his face suddenly cracking. He reached out, his heavy thumb catching a tear before it fell off her chin.

Claire flinched, but she didn't pull away.