Chapter 1 - The Glass Castle
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The Moretti estate was a sprawling fortress of steel, glass, and polished marble overlooking the freezing waters of Lake Michigan. To the outside world, it was the architectural crown jewel of Chicago’s most elusive billionaire. But to those of us who worked inside, it was a beautiful, terrifying cage. My name is Claire Dawson, and for the past eleven months, I had been a housekeeper in this labyrinth of wealth.
I knew exactly who my boss was. Everyone in Chicago knew who Luca Moretti was. You didn't amass that kind of power, or that kind of fear, by playing entirely by the rules. Men in tailored suits arrived at the house at all hours of the night, speaking in hushed, urgent tones. But despite the whispers of the syndicate and the shadows that clung to his name, Luca was a man who valued loyalty above all else.
Tonight, the mansion was buzzing with a frenetic, suffocating energy. It was the night of the official engagement dinner. Caterers scrambled through the massive industrial kitchen, carrying trays of caviar and vintage champagne. Florists arranged thousands of white roses, transforming the grand dining room into a blindingly bright display of opulence.
At the center of the chaos stood Vanessa Bellini.
She was twenty-six, stunningly beautiful, and possessed a heart made of absolute ice. She wore a blood-red evening gown that cost more than my entire life’s salary. As she barked orders at the terrified staff, I kept my head down, polishing the silver banister of the grand staircase.
“Not those napkins, you idiot!” Vanessa’s shrill voice echoed through the foyer as she berated a young waiter. “I asked for the ivory silk, not this cheap synthetic trash! Get them out of my sight!”
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I gripped my polishing cloth tighter. Luca Moretti could have any woman in the world, and he had chosen a viper. But it wasn't my place to judge. I was just the help. My focus was always on the one person in the house who actually needed looking after: Luca’s twelve-year-old son, Matteo.
Matteo was a quiet, observant boy with his father’s dark, calculating eyes but a gentleness that didn't belong in this world. As Vanessa continued her rampage through the main floor, I realized I hadn't seen the boy in hours. Slipping away from my station, I headed toward the back of the house, hoping to make sure he was ready for a night he was already dreading.
