Chapter 14 - The Final Threat
The peace was momentarily fractured when the real world clawed at their door. Arthur, Victoria’s disgraced father, made a desperate final play. Enraged by his daughter's humiliation and his own bleeding profits, he hired a crew of mercenaries to sabotage one of Daniel’s most lucrative warehouses at the docks.
When Marcus delivered the news to the East Wing, Daniel’s eyes darkened to pitch. "Keep the perimeter of the estate locked down," he ordered quietly, mindful of Elara resting nearby. "I need to handle this in person."
He walked over to Elara's bed and pressed a soft kiss to her forehead—a first, instinctual gesture that surprised them both. "I have to leave for a few hours. You are completely safe here."
"Come back to me," she whispered, her heart squeezing with sudden fear.
May you like
Daniel’s expression softened. "Always."
The confrontation at the docks was swift and decisive. Daniel didn't just repel the attack; he systematically decimated Arthur's remaining network, ensuring the man would never have the resources to threaten his family again. When Daniel returned to the mansion just before dawn, smelling of rain and gunpowder, his only thought was getting back to the quiet warmth of Elara's room.
