Chapter 4 - The Changing of the Guard
Two weeks passed.
Skyler’s physical recovery was remarkable. Under the constant care of the finest private doctors and Carmela’s motherly fussing, the wound on her cheek healed into a thin, faint silver mark.
However, the Rossi estate had transformed completely.
Skyler was no longer allowed to touch a broom, carry a tray, or wear the grey cotton maid’s uniform.
Dominic had moved her personal belongings into the grand guest suite on the top floor. He brought in high-end tailors to design a brand-new wardrobe for her—exquisite silk dresses, soft cashmere sweaters, and tailored trousers that celebrated her lush, soft curves rather than trying to hide them.
One afternoon, Skyler walked down the grand marble staircase wearing a beautiful plum-colored knit dress that hugged her waist and flared softly at her hips.
In the main foyer, three senior housekeepers—women who had previously pushed the heaviest cleaning shifts onto Skyler and mocked her weight behind her back—were polishing the silver candelabras.
When they saw Skyler walking down the stairs, they stopped instantly, bowing their heads respectfully.
"Good afternoon, Miss Skyler," the head housekeeper, Mrs. Gable, said nervously, her face pale. "Can we bring you tea in the garden?"
Skyler stopped on the landing, feeling extremely uncomfortable with the sudden reverence.
"Mrs. Gable, please," Skyler said gently. "You don't have to call me 'Miss.' I can get my own tea."
Before Mrs. Gable could answer, Dominic stepped out of his private study, dressed in a sleek charcoal suit.
"They call you 'Miss Skyler' because that is your title in this house," Dominic stated calmly, walking up the stairs to meet her. He reached out, holding his arm for her.
Skyler hesitated for a second before placing her hand over his warm sleeve.
Dominic looked at the three housekeepers with a cold, sharp gaze. "Mrs. Gable, you and your staff will treat Miss Gallagher with the exact same respect you give my mother. If I hear even a whisper of disrespect, you will be terminated and blacklisted from every estate in the state. Am I clear?"
"Yes, Don Dominic!" the women gasped in unison, bowing again.
Dominic guided Skyler down the stairs into the sunlit conservatory—the very room where the incident had occurred two weeks ago.
The broken glass had been replaced, the white tiles scrubbed spotless, and a brand-new velvet sofa sat among the lush green ferns.
Sitting on the sofa was Carmela Rossi, holding a small wooden jewelry box.
"Skyler, my sweet child!" Carmela beamed, her eyes sparkling with warmth as she stood up and wrapped Skyler in a gentle, fragrant embrace. "Look at you! You look like a painting!"
"Thank you, Mrs. Rossi," Skyler smiled, blushing slightly.
"Call me Carmela," the old matriarch insisted softly, guiding Skyler to sit beside her. She opened the wooden jewelry box, revealing a magnificent platinum necklace adorned with a pear-cut sapphire that glowed like a deep blue ocean.
"This belonged to my grandmother," Carmela shared, placing the heavy box in Skyler’s lap. "It is given only to the woman who protects the heart of the Rossi family."
Skyler gasped, her hands trembling as she tried to push the box back gently. "Carmela... I can't accept this! This is worth millions! I'm just—"
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"You are the woman who took a poisoned blade for me," Carmela interrupted firmly, placing her hands over Skyler’s. "You are the woman my son looks at as if you hung the moon in the sky."
Skyler blinked, her cheeks burning red as she glanced up at Dominic, who stood near the conservatory door, watching her with a quiet, unyielding devotion that made her heart leap in her chest.
