Chapter 2: Sanctuary in the Shadows
In the nursery, Clara locked the heavy oak door with a definitive click. Her heart was hammering against her ribs. She set Leo down on the plush rug, carefully checking his arms and head for any signs of serious injury. Aside from a small red mark on his elbow and the sheer terror in his tear-filled eyes, the boy seemed physically whole.
"It's okay, my sweet boy. Clara is here," she whispered, rocking him back and forth.
Leo wasn't Victoria’s son. He was the child of Ethan’s late first wife, a woman who had died tragically when Leo was only an infant. Victoria, a wealthy heiress whose family fortune had saved Ethan’s failing business, had always viewed the boy as an unsightly stain on her perfect, manicured life. But today was the first time her psychological disdain had crossed the line into physical violence.
A soft knock rattled the door. "Clara. It’s me."
Clara scrambled to unlock it, letting Ethan slip inside before quickly securing the lock again. The authoritative, sharp-suited man who commanded boardrooms looked utterly defeated as he sank to his knees beside his son.
"I'm so sorry, sir," Clara whispered, stepping back.
"Do not apologize, Clara. You saved him," Ethan replied, his voice thick with emotion as he pulled Leo into a tight embrace. He looked up at the maid, his jaw setting into a hard line. "This house is no longer safe for him. Or for you. She will punish you for defying her."
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"I don't care about myself, Mr. Ethan. But she hates the boy. She truly hates him."
"I know," Ethan said grimly. "And I fear what she might do next."
