Chapter 4 - The Sanctuary
Miles away, the black SUV glided into the secure underground garage of a glittering downtown high-rise.
Emma stepped out, instantly enveloped in the warm, ambient air of the private elevator bay. Marcus walked beside her, carrying little Leo, while a nanny—who had been waiting anxiously downstairs—took little Mia.
"Are they alright, ma'am?" Marcus asked quietly as the elevator shot up to the penthouse.
"They're just cold and hungry, Marcus," Emma said, her voice softening for the first time that night. She looked at her beautiful, innocent babies. "And safe. That's what matters."
The elevator doors opened to a sprawling, multi-million-dollar penthouse overlooking the city skyline. A fire was already roaring in the massive stone fireplace.
Emma took her children, sitting in a plush armchair by the fire. As she fed them, she let the tears she had held back finally fall. She hadn't lied to Adrian to trap him. She had hidden her unimaginable wealth because she wanted a family. She wanted to know what it felt like to be loved for who she was, not for her empire.
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Adrian had played the part of the perfect, loving partner—until they were married. Slowly, the mask had slipped. When the twins were born slightly premature, his irritation at the inconvenience had morphed into outright cruelty, egged on by his elitist mother. Tonight’s eviction was their final test, and they had failed spectacularly.
"I'm sorry I brought you into that house," Emma whispered to her sleeping babies, kissing their warm foreheads. "But I promise you, neither of them will ever hurt us again."
