Chapter 2 - The First Word Mia Had Been Afraid to Say
After Mia said those four words, the room seemed to lose all warmth.
“He smells like roses.”
Luca Moretti had stared at his daughter as if the child had just revealed a ghost.
Clara understood none of the history behind that reaction.
But she understood fear.
And the look in Luca's eyes was not anger.
It was memory.
“Everyone out,” he said.
No one moved.
Luca's voice became deadly calm.
“I said everyone out.”
The security team disappeared.
Mrs. Gable hesitated.
“Sir—”
“Out.”
Even she obeyed.
The door closed.
Only Luca, Clara, and Mia remained.
Luca crouched again, farther away this time.
“Mia.”
The girl didn't look at him.
“Who smells like roses?”
Nothing.
“Mia, sweetheart…”
She pulled closer to Clara.
Luca stopped.
Clara could feel how tense the little girl was.
So she sat on the carpet.
“You don't have to answer,” she whispered.
Mia looked at her.
Clara pointed toward a small wooden puzzle.
“We can play.”
Mia nodded.
Luca watched.
He looked completely out of place sitting on the expensive rug in a tailored suit while his daughter arranged puzzle pieces beside a maid.
After ten minutes, Mia whispered,
“Green one.”
Clara handed her the green piece.
“Thank you.”
Luca closed his eyes for a second.
It was another word.
Not a scream.
Not a cry.
A normal child speaking.
When he opened his eyes, there was something raw beneath the controlled expression.
“She talks to you.”
Clara shook her head.
“She talks when she's ready.”
“You didn't force her.”
“No.”
“Why?”
Clara considered him.
“Because she isn't trying to make your life difficult.”
Luca looked away.
“I know that now.”
The door opened.
His security chief, Marco Bellini, stepped in.
“We searched the corridor.”
“And?”
“Nothing.”
Luca stood.
“Search again.”
“We already searched twice.”
“Then search a third time.”
Marco hesitated.
“There are no signs of entry.”
Luca glanced toward the hidden panel.
“There was a key hidden in my daughter's room.”
Marco looked at Clara.
She immediately became uncomfortable.
“Don't look at her,” Luca said.
Marco's gaze returned to the wall.
“Understood.”
Mia suddenly dropped the puzzle.
Her entire body stiffened.
Clara followed her gaze.
The door handle was turning.
Luca reached inside his jacket.
Then Mrs. Gable entered.
She looked nervous.
“Sir, dinner is ready.”
Mia began breathing rapidly.
Clara noticed immediately.
“Stop.”
Mrs. Gable frowned.
“What?”
“Don't come closer.”
Clara stood between her and Mia.
Luca noticed.
“Why?”
Clara pointed toward Mrs. Gable's cardigan.
“She's wearing the same perfume.”
Mrs. Gable stiffened.
“I always wear this.”
Mia covered her ears.
Clara smelled it.
Roses.
A heavy rose fragrance.
Luca's face became cold.
“Take off the cardigan.”
Mrs. Gable looked insulted.
“Sir, surely—”
“Take it off.”
She slowly removed it.
Mia's breathing eased.
Luca stared at the garment.
“Where did you buy that?”
Mrs. Gable swallowed.
“It was a gift.”
“From whom?”
She didn't answer.
“From whom?”
“A friend.”
“Name.”
She lowered her eyes.
“Mr. Moretti…”
“Name.”
“Elias.”
Luca's eyes narrowed.
“Elias Vance?”
Mrs. Gable nodded.
Silence.
Marco stepped forward.
“That's impossible.”
Luca turned.
“Why?”
“Vance has been dead for two years.”
Mrs. Gable's face went white.
“I didn't know…”
Luca stared at the perfume bottle in her pocket.
“Where did you get it?”
“I told you. A friend.”
Marco took a step forward.
“Mrs. Gable.”
She trembled.
“It was left at the gate.”
Luca's expression hardened.
“By whom?”
“I don't know.”
That night, security was doubled.
Every hallway was checked.
Every camera was reviewed.
Luca canceled three meetings.
Clara was ordered to stay in the east wing with Mia.
She protested.
“Sir, I have other work.”
“You're done with it.”
“I need my wages.”
“You'll be paid.”
“I mean I need the full amount.”
Luca looked at her.
“For what?”
Clara hesitated.
“Rent.”
“How much?”
She didn't answer.
He waited.
“Three months.”
“Done.”
Her eyes widened.
“You don't have to—”
“I am paying you to care for my daughter.”
“I don't want charity.”
“It isn't charity.”
He paused.
“It is compensation.”
Clara nodded slowly.
That was the beginning of her unexpected role in the Moretti household.
Within days, Mia changed.
She stopped smashing objects.
Stopped screaming when Clara entered the room.
She began eating breakfast.
She even smiled occasionally.
But there was one thing that never changed.
Every night, at exactly 9:17, Mia became frightened.
Clara noticed.
At 9:16, the child would be calm.
At 9:17, she would freeze.
One night, Clara asked,
“What happens at 9:17?”
Mia whispered,
“He comes.”
“Who?”
Mia pointed toward the ventilation grate.
Clara's skin prickled.
She listened.
Nothing.
Then she noticed a faint smell.
Roses.
The next morning, she told Luca.
He didn't dismiss her.
He called Marco.
The ventilation system was inspected.
A hidden speaker was found.
It had been installed inside the wall.
Someone had been able to activate it remotely.
“What did it play?” Luca asked.
Marco looked uncomfortable.
“A recording.”
“Of what?”
A child's laughter.
Mia's laughter.
But the recording had been distorted.
Luca's face went blank.
“Where did they get that?”
“We don't know.”
“Who has access to the house?”
Marco listed the staff.
Clara listened.
Then one name caught her attention.
“Mrs. Gable.”
Luca looked at her.
“Why?”
“She said she received the perfume from a friend.”
“What does that mean?”
“It means someone reached her.”
Mrs. Gable was questioned.
She denied everything.
But security found something in her bedroom.
A second rose-scented bottle.
Alongside an old photograph.
The photograph showed Luca's late wife, Elena.
Beside her stood a man Clara didn't recognize.
Marco did.
“That's Elias Vance.”
Luca stared at the image.
He hadn't seen it in years.
“He was Elena's brother.”
Clara's eyes widened.
“What happened to him?”
Luca's voice became quiet.
“He died after betraying my organization.”
Clara looked at Mia.
“Does she know him?”
“No.”
“Then why is someone using his scent?”
Luca had no answer.
That night, Clara found Mia awake.
The child was clutching the tiny silver key.
Clara sat beside her.
“What does this open?”
Mia hesitated.
Then pointed toward Luca's study.
Clara frowned.
“Your father's office?”
Mia nodded.
“Why?”
The little girl whispered,
“Mommy hid it.”
Clara's heart stopped.
“Elena hid the key?”
Mia nodded.
May you like
Then she said something that changed the mystery completely.
“Mommy said Daddy must not trust the roses.”
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