Chapter 12 - Vanessa’s Last Desperate Strike
We returned to the estate by 3:00 PM.
The tension that had suffocated the mansion for days seemed to lift, the autumn sunlight finally breaking through the clouds to illuminate the manicured gardens.
Evelyn was sitting on the back patio, drinking tea, while Lily was happily chasing butterflies across the lawn.
The moment Lily saw us walking through the wrought-iron archway, she let out a shriek of joy.
“Claire! Daddy!”
She ran across the grass, launching herself into Luca’s arms.
Luca caught her, lifting her high into the air as the sound of her pure, untainted laughter filled the courtyard. He held her tight against his chest, kissing her forehead over and over again.
“I missed you, my heart,” Luca murmured.
“Did you bring Mommy’s letter?” Lily asked.
Luca looked at me, a profound warmth in his eyes.
“Mommy left us the best gift in the world, Lily. She gave us the truth. And she brought your aunt Claire home to us.”
Lily turned her big brown eyes toward me, tilting her head in confusion.
“Aunt Claire?”
I knelt down beside Luca, reaching out to gently touch Lily’s soft cheek. Looking into her face, I saw my sister Elena’s smile—the same dimples, the same spark of fearless wonder.
“Your mother Elena was my older sister, Lily,” I whispered, tears spilling freely down my cheeks. “She loved you more than the stars in the sky. And Sarah loved you just as much.”
Lily reached out with her small hands and wiped the tears from my face.
“So I have three mommies in heaven watching me?”
Luca swallowed hard, his own eyes glistening.
“Yes, my angel. Three angels protecting you forever.”
Suddenly, the security alarms on the west wing blared to life.
A guard ran out onto the patio, out of breath.
“Boss! It’s Valentina! She broke a water pipe in the holding cell, used the metal bracket to pick the lock, and fled toward the boathouse!”
Luca’s expression hardened instantly.
“Stay with Lily, Evelyn,” Luca commanded, drawing his sidearm from his coat.
“I’m coming with you,” I said firmly.
May you like
Luca looked at me, saw the unyielding determination in my eyes, and nodded once.
“Stay behind me.”
