Chapter 10 - Dawn Over the EstateTwenty-four hours later, the smoke had cleared, replaced by the crisp, golden light of a brand-new morning.
The federal authorities had taken Victor Vance away in quiet, heavily guarded chains, ensuring he would never see the outside of a maximum-security prison again. The media swarmed the perimeter briefly, but my legal team quickly locked down the estate, shielding Maisie and Rosie from the storm.
I stood on the second-floor nursery balcony, holding a cup of black coffee as I looked out over the repaired courtyard. The air smelled of pine and fresh rain.
Behind me, the sound of soft footsteps echoed across the hardwood floor.
I turned around. Elena stood in the doorway, wearing a simple blue sweater and jeans, holding a small wooden rattle. Maisie and Rosie were sitting on the rug at her feet, babbling happily and chasing a pair of yellow rubber kitchen gloves that she was lazily dragging across the floor like a puppy on a leash.
The twins burst into bright, musical laughter—the exact same sound I had heard through the darkness two nights ago.
“The agency called this morning,” I said quietly, leaning against the doorframe. “They wanted to know if we needed a replacement nanny.”
Elena stopped moving, her smile fading just a fraction as she looked up at me. “And what did you tell them?”
“I told them the position was permanently filled,” I replied, walking over and kneeling down beside my daughters. I reached out, gently picking up one of the yellow rubber gloves and offering it to Maisie, who grabbed it with a delighted squeal.
Then I looked up at Elena, the heavy weight in my chest finally replaced by something warm and steady.
“Only... if you’re willing to update your resume to include professional dancing.”
May you like
Elena’s face broke into a radiant, genuine smile—the first real, unburdened smile I had ever seen on her face.
“Deal, Mr. Caruso,” she whispered, sitting down on the rug beside me as the morning sun flooded the nursery with golden light, washing away the shadows for good.
