Chapter 5 - The Truth Revealed
Elena shoved Victoria back, putting herself between the screaming child and the socialite. She pulled Noah into her arms, pressing his head against her shoulder and covering his ears against the thunderous noise.
"Breathe, Noah, breathe with me," Elena whispered softly, beginning to hum the familiar, gentle melody.
Slowly, the little boy’s racing heartbeat began to stabilize, his ragged breathing evening out against her neck.
"You insolent little brat!" Victoria shrieked, raising her hand to strike Elena. "You ruined my life! Do you have any idea how much money my family lost because of your little stunt at the ballroom?!"
Before Victoria’s hand could fall, a heavy grip caught her wrist in mid-air.
Alexander stood in the doorway, drenched from the rain outside, his face twisted in pure, terrifying rage. The air in the room instantly plunged to sub-zero temperatures.
"If you touch her," Alexander said, his voice deadly quiet, "I will ensure the Vance family files for bankruptcy by midnight."
He twisted his grip slightly, forcing Victoria to step back in pain.
"Alexander!" Victoria cried out. "Margaret let me in! She said if I comforted the boy during the storm, he would forget about this maid!"
Alexander looked past Victoria to his mother, who was standing in the doorway with a pale face.
"Mother," Alexander said softly, though the authority in his voice made the older woman flinch. "Pack your bags. The driver will take you to the estate in Maine tomorrow morning."
"Alexander! You are exiling your own mother over a servant?!" Margaret gasped.
"No," Alexander said, walking over to Elena and kneeling beside her and Noah. He placed a warm, steady hand on Elena’s shoulder, feeling her tremble beneath his touch. "I am protecting my family."
He looked into Elena’s tear-filled eyes, his expression softening completely.
"Three years ago, you saved my son in the dark," Alexander whispered, his thumb gently wiping a tear from her cheek. "And tonight, you saved him again."
Noah looked up, his tiny hands holding both Elena’s and Alexander’s fingers together. "Daddy... can Mommy stay forever?"
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Alexander looked at Elena—not as a maid, not as a nurse, but as the only light that had managed to pierce the darkness of his home since the day his heart had broken.
"Yes, Noah," Alexander smiled softly, his eyes locking onto Elena's. "She's never leaving again."
