Chapter 3 - The Diagnosis Clara HidLily had a heart condition.
A congenital defect.
It wasn't immediately fatal.
But it required careful monitoring.
Damian stared at the medical files.
“She needs surgery.”
“Yes.”
“When?”
“When she's stronger.”
“When did the doctors discover it?”
“Two years ago.”
“You knew.”
“Yes.”
“You paid for everything yourself.”
“Yes.”
“Why?”
“Because I didn't want you involved.”
He looked at her.
“Why are you still protecting me from being her father?”
“I'm not.”
“You are.”
“No.”
She looked exhausted.
“I was protecting her.”
Damian sat down.
“She's mine.”
“Yes.”
“I should have been there.”
Clara looked away.
“You should have.”
The words hurt.
But she wasn't trying to hurt him.
She was telling the truth.
Damian nodded.
“You're right.”
Clara looked at him.
“I didn't expect you to say that.”
“Neither did I.”
He stood.
“I want her best doctors.”
“No.”
“What?”
“She doesn't need money.”
“She needs treatment.”
“She needs normal.”
“Then I'll give her both.”
Clara stared.
“You can't buy normal.”
“I know.”
He looked at Lily.
“But I can give her a father.”
That afternoon, Damian took Lily to the park.
Security followed at a distance.
Lily pointed at them.
“Who are those men?”
“Friends.”
“They look scary.”
“They are.”
She smiled.
“You're funny.”
Damian didn't know when he had become funny.
Maybe around her.
She asked him questions.
“Do you have a dog?”
“No.”
“Why?”
“Too messy.”
“We should get one.”
“We?”
“Yes.”
He almost smiled.
“What else?”
“You need a room for me.”
“You don't have to move in.”
“I know.”
“You still want one?”
“Yes.”
Damian looked at her.
“Okay.”
Clara watched from a bench.
She had never seen him so relaxed.
Then her phone buzzed.
One message.
WE KNOW ABOUT THE GIRL.
Her heart stopped.
She looked toward Damian.
“Someone knows.”
He took the phone.
His face hardened.
“Who?”
“I don't know.”
He read the second message.
BRING HER TO THE OLD CROSS ESTATE.
OR SHE DIES.
Damian deleted the message.
Clara grabbed his arm.
“Don't.”
“I won't.”
“Don't make this worse.”
“It already is.”
“You don't understand.”
He turned to her.
“I understand exactly.”
“Damian—”
“They threatened our daughter.”
The word our changed everything.
Clara stared.
“She's six.”
“I know.”
“She doesn't know this world.”
“Neither did I when I was her age.”
He reached for her hand.
“I'm not letting them teach her.”
That night, Damian moved them into the mansion.
Clara hated it.
“No.”
“It's secure.”
“I don't need a fortress.”
“She does.”
Lily appeared behind her.
“Can I have the room with the purple curtains?”
Damian nodded.
“Yes.”
Lily smiled.
Clara stared at him.
“You planned this.”
“No.”
He paused.
“I imagined it.”
Her breath caught.
He looked away.
“I've imagined a child in this house for years.”
Clara whispered,
“You didn't know.”
“I know.”
She reached for his hand.
Then pulled away.
Not yet.
Too much had happened.
May you like
But Damian didn't push.
For the first time in years, he waited.
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