Chapter 4 - The Woman Behind the ThreatsThe threat came from Damian's uncle.
Victor Cross.
A man believed dead.
He had disappeared fifteen years earlier.
Damian's father had declared him killed in a power struggle.
He wasn't.
Victor had been building a second organization.
He wanted Damian's empire.
Now he wanted Lily.
Because Damian had no legitimate heir.
Until Lily.
Victor sent men to the school.
Security stopped them.
He sent another team to the hospital.
They were caught.
Damian became ruthless.
But Clara stopped him.
“Don't kill everyone.”
“They came for my daughter.”
“They also have families.”
“That isn't my problem.”
She touched his arm.
“It is mine.”
He looked at her.
She softened.
“Don't become the monster they expect.”
He stared at her.
“You're the only person who talks to me like that.”
“Someone has to.”
He smiled.
She smiled back.
The attraction between them became impossible to ignore.
One night, they stood in the kitchen.
Clara was making tea.
Damian watched.
“You're beautiful.”
She stopped.
“What?”
“I said you're beautiful.”
She laughed nervously.
“You don't get to say that.”
“Why?”
“Because I'm your chef.”
“Not anymore.”
“And I'm the mother of your child.”
“Yes.”
“And you're…”
She hesitated.
“Complicated.”
He smiled.
“That too.”
She turned away.
“Don't.”
“Don't what?”
“Make this harder.”
He stepped closer.
“How do I make it harder?”
“By looking at me like that.”
“How am I looking at you?”
“Like I'm not just the woman who cooks for you.”
“You haven't been that for years.”
Her breath caught.
He touched her cheek.
She didn't move.
Then the alarm sounded.
They separated instantly.
Aaron appeared.
“Someone breached the east gate.”
Damian grabbed his weapon.
Clara followed.
The attack ended quickly.
No one entered the house.
But on Lily's bedroom window was a message.
SHE HAS YOUR MOTHER'S BLOOD.
Damian stared.
Clara went pale.
“What does that mean?”
He looked at her.
“What aren't you telling me?”
She shook her head.
“I don't know.”
But she did.
Her mother had been a Cross.
Clara hadn't told Damian.
She had been born into the same criminal family.
She had escaped.
She had changed her name.
She had hidden Lily.
She had hidden herself.
Now Victor knew.
And Damian realized the woman he loved had never been just a chef.
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She had been born into his world.
She had simply spent her entire life running from it.
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