Chapter 2 - Isabella Had Already Taken Control of Lorenzo’s Security System—But Emma Accidentally Pointed Out the One Camera Her Aunt Had Forgotten to DisableWe stayed in the vault.
The men above searched the garden.
They didn't find us.
That gave us time.
Not much.
But enough.
I cleaned Lorenzo's wound as best I could.
The bullet had grazed his side.
The deeper injury came from his shoulder.
He had lost blood.
Too much.
He needed a hospital.
But if we surfaced, Isabella's people would find us.
“We need another exit,” I said.
Lorenzo nodded.
“My father built three.”
“Do you know where?”
“No.”
I looked around.
Emma was walking slowly along the wall.
Her rabbit dragged behind her.
She stopped near a monitor.
“Mama.”
“What?”
She pointed.
“Bad eye.”
I frowned.
“What do you mean?”
She pointed at the camera feed.
One camera showed the gardening shed.
Another showed the basement.
Another showed the west wing.
Then I noticed one feed flickering.
A tiny blue light.
Emma pointed.
“That one blinked.”
I looked at Lorenzo.
“That's an old camera?”
“Yes.”
“Who has access?”
“Only family.”
I stared.
The camera showed the old chapel.
Someone was standing inside.
Isabella.
She wasn't alone.
Marco stood beside her.
The same Marco who had supposedly been searching for Lorenzo.
But he wasn't searching.
He was helping.
He handed Isabella a folder.
She smiled.
“By morning, the estate will belong to us.”
I recorded the screen.
Then Isabella looked directly into the camera.
She smiled.
“I know you're watching.”
My blood froze.
“She's talking to us,” I whispered.
Lorenzo nodded.
Isabella continued:
“Lorenzo, if you're alive, you have until dawn.”
Then she turned toward Marco.
“Find the child.”
Emma looked at me.
“That's me.”
I pulled her closer.
Lorenzo's expression changed.
“No one touches her.”
We found the second staircase.
It led toward the old wine cellar.
From there, we reached a hidden garage.
One car remained.
A black SUV.
We escaped through the woods.
The nearest safe property was forty minutes away.
Lorenzo collapsed twice before we got there.
I kept him conscious.
Emma held his hand.
“Stay awake.”
He whispered:
“I am.”
“Promise?”
“I promise.”
At the safe house, we treated the wound properly.
Then Lorenzo finally told me the truth.
“Why did Isabella want Emma?”
“Because my father had a trust.”
“What kind?”
“A family trust.”
“How much?”
“Enough.”
“That isn't an answer.”
“Two hundred million.”
I stared.
He continued.
“Emma is the beneficiary.”
“Why?”
“Because my father believed the Duca line would eventually be attacked from within.”
“Then why marry me?”
His expression softened.
“I didn't marry you because you were a maid.”
“I know.”
“I married you because you were the only person I trusted.”
I laughed bitterly.
“You trusted me enough to keep me in the dark.”
“I was trying to protect you.”
“Didn't work.”
“No.”
Silence.
Then Emma climbed onto the bed.
She placed her bear beside Lorenzo.
“Bear protects you.”
He smiled.
“Thank you.”
She nodded.
“You need him.”
That night, Lorenzo showed me his father's final letter.
The child must never inherit alone.
I read the next sentence.
Her mother must be told the truth before Lorenzo dies.
I stared.
His father had anticipated everything.
Then I saw the final line.
If Isabella ever becomes the guardian, the child will not survive.
I looked at Lorenzo.
“So your father knew.”
“Yes.”
“And he still let Isabella remain in the family?”
“He believed I could change her.”
“Could you?”
Lorenzo shook his head.
“No.”
Then his phone rang.
Unknown number.
He answered.
Isabella's voice came through.
“You have until sunrise.”
She paused.
“After that, I stop looking for you.”
Lorenzo stared.
May you like
“Why?”
“Because the funeral starts whether you are alive or dead.”
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