Chapter 4: The Viper in the Shadows
Three days passed in an agonizing limbo. The grand Sterling Manor felt like a haunted castle to Leo and Mia. Though Arthur had given them the largest guest suite, filled it with toys, and ordered the chefs to cook anything they desired, the children remained on edge. They had survived on the streets too long to trust luxury.
Arthur spent every waking moment with them. He watched how fiercely Leo protected his sister, carefully tasting her food before she ate, holding her hand whenever they walked through the vast corridors. Every gesture, every stubborn tilt of Leo's chin, was a ghost of Arthur's own childhood.
But Arthur had to run a multi-billion dollar company. On the fourth day, an emergency board meeting called him away to the city.
"I'll be back before dinner," Arthur promised, kneeling before Leo. "Lock the door. Don't let anyone in unless it's Martha." Martha was the elderly head housekeeper, the only staff member Arthur trusted.
As soon as Arthur's car left the driveway, the temperature in the house seemed to drop.
Victoria, who had essentially moved into the manor under Eleanor's orders to "salvage the relationship," saw her opportunity. She unlocked the master key box in the study.
Upstairs, Leo was reading a story to Mia when the heavy oak door clicked and swung open. Victoria stepped in, followed by two large security guards on Eleanor's payroll.
"Well, well," Victoria sneered, looking around the messy room with disgust. "Look at the little rats nesting in silk."
Leo immediately stood up, pushing Mia behind him. "Get out. Arthur said no one comes in."
Victoria laughed, a high, grating sound. "Arthur isn't here, you little gutter trash. And once those DNA results come back, he'll never look at you again. You think he actually cares? He's just playing hero."
She signaled the guards. "Take the girl's stuffed bear. She dropped it in the mud yesterday and brought it onto the Persian rug. Throw it in the incinerator."
"No!" Mia cried as a guard snatched her worn, patchwork bear—the last thing her mother had sewn for her.
Leo lunged like a wildcat, biting the guard's hand. The guard cursed and shoved the boy hard. Leo hit the edge of the mahogany dresser, his forehead splitting open. Blood trickled down his pale face.
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Victoria gasped, momentarily terrified of Arthur's wrath, but quickly regained her composure. "See what you did? You attacked him. You're dangerous. Lock them in the basement until Arthur gets back. We'll tell him the boy had a violent outburst and hurt himself."
As they were dragged away, Leo didn't cry. He just glared at Victoria with those piercing grey eyes, whispering, "My dad will find out. And he's going to ruin you."
