Chapter 5 - The Stolen Inheritance
|
Mrs. Chen was escorted to a luxurious guest suite by one of the guards, still looking bewildered by the sudden upgrade in her living conditions. Emma, exhausted from the late hour, had quickly fallen back asleep in the center of a massive king-sized bed in the master wing.
I sat by the edge of the bed, stroking her soft hair, making sure she was really there.
“She is beautiful,” a deep voice murmured from the doorway.
I turned to see Luca leaning against the doorframe, he had discarded his suit jacket and unbuttoned his collar. He looked less like a crime boss and more like a weary man carrying the weight of the world.
“She’s my entire universe,” I said quietly, pulling the silk blanket higher over Emma’s shoulders. I grabbed my crutches and hobbled out into the hallway, closing the door softly behind me.
Luca led me back out to the main living area. A fire was now crackling in the massive stone hearth, casting dancing shadows across the expensive furniture.
“Tell me about Jake,” Luca commanded gently, gesturing for me to sit on the sofa.
I sighed, staring into the flames. “We met when I was twenty. He was charming, funny, and he made me feel like I was the center of his world. When I got pregnant with Emma, he promised we would get married. He promised to be a father.”
I took a shaky breath, the old betrayal stinging my chest.
“My grandmother passed away shortly after Emma was born,” I continued. “She left me a small inheritance. It was seventy thousand dollars. It was supposed to be for Emma’s college fund. Jake convinced me to let him invest it in a business opportunity.”
“And he vanished,” Luca finished the sentence, his jaw tight.
“He drained the account overnight,” I whispered, tears pricking my eyes. “I woke up, and he was gone. No note. Nothing. I was left with a newborn baby, an empty bank account, and a broken heart. I’ve been working double shifts at the diner ever since just to keep the lights on.”
May you like
Luca walked over and sat beside me on the sofa. He didn't touch me, but his proximity was a comforting, heavy warmth.
“He took your future, Ava,” Luca said, his voice a dark, dangerous rumble. “And then he tried to sell out my family to the Russian syndicate to cover his gambling debts. The man is a parasite. And parasites do not deserve to breathe the same air as you.”
