The first sound Luca Ferraro heard inside his mansion was not the alarm system, the security team, or the polished voice of his estate director announcing his arrival.

Dr. Klein pressed her gently but firmly back onto the pillows.

“Stay down, Elena,” the doctor instructed kindly. “You have pneumonia. It is a relatively mild case for now, but only because we are treating it aggressively before it becomes something much worse.”

“I need to work,” Elena rasped, her eyes darting frantically to Luca. “Please. I’ll get up right now.”

“You need intravenous antibiotics, fluids, and uninterrupted rest,” Dr. Klein corrected, already preparing a needle.

Elena looked at Luca, tears of terror welling in her exhausted eyes.

“I apologize, Mr. Ferraro. I should have called the main office. I thought the fever would pass by morning. Please don't fire me.”

“Why didn’t you tell anyone you were this sick?” Luca asked, stepping closer to the foot of the bed.

Her gaze dropped to the frayed edge of her blanket.

“Mr. Harland called a meeting. He said the household budget was being reviewed by the accountants. Two women were dismissed last month without warning.”

“They were dismissed for theft,” Luca stated bluntly.

“He did not explain that to us,” Elena whispered. “He just said we were all replaceable.”

“Nora was in the laundry room,” Luca said, his voice softening slightly as he looked at the child. “She was washing my clothes.”

The remaining color instantly drained from Elena’s flushed face.

“She what?”

“She believed your job depended on it. She was trying to scrub ink out of my shirt to appease Harland.”

Elena covered her mouth, a choked sob escaping her lips.

“Oh, God.” She swung her bare feet toward the cold wooden floor, ignoring the doctor’s protests. “I’m so sorry. I’ll replace anything she damaged, Mr. Ferraro. It may take time, but I swear I will pay for it—”

“Stop.”

Luca’s voice was quiet, but it commanded the entire room.

Elena froze instantly.

Luca had built a terrifying reputation around that exact voice. Men expected shouting and anger from powerful people. Absolute calm was infinitely more frightening, because calm suggested the violent decision had already been finalized.

But Elena did not look frightened. She looked deeply, profoundly ashamed.

Luca hated the sight of it. He hated that this woman felt shame for surviving.

“You will not replace anything,” he said, stepping forward. “You will remain in this bed until Dr. Klein personally clears you to stand. Your full salary will continue to be paid.”

“I can’t accept money for work I haven’t done,” Elena argued weakly.

“It is paid medical leave.”