Chapter 3 - The Sanctuary of Blackwood Manor
Two days later, I was officially discharged from St. Jude’s Hospital.
I didn't return to the small two-bedroom apartment I had rented with my own modest savings after Derek stopped paying his share of our rent three months ago. Instead, a black armored SUV pulled up to the private rear exit of the hospital.
Luca himself opened the door for me, holding Rosalie’s car seat with an astonishingly tender touch for a man whose hands looked capable of breaking iron bars.
"Where are we going?" I asked softly as the SUV glided quietly out of the hospital gates, followed by two security sedans.
"To my estate in North Raleigh," Luca replied, seated across from me in the spacious leather interior. "Blackwood Manor. It is fully secured, fully staffed, and entirely hidden from the paparazzi who are currently tearing down the doors of your old apartment."
I looked out the tinted window at the passing city. "Luca... I need to understand what is happening. The news is calling Rosalie your heir. The media is saying we had a secret affair while Derek was cheating on me. Why are you letting them say these things?"
Luca rested his elbow against the armrest, lacing his fingers together.
"Because a lie that protects you is better than a truth that leaves you vulnerable, Emma," he said calmly. "Derek Morrison is backed by the Hale family. Benjamin Hale—Brittany’s father—is a ruthless land developer with deep connections in the city's legal system. If you were alone, a young mother with limited financial resources, Hale's lawyers would have dragged you through court, painted you as unstable, and forced you into a miserable custody battle just to clean up Derek’s reputation."
I swallowed hard, knowing he was right. I had only six thousand dollars in my savings account. Derek had drained our joint funds two months ago under the guise of "business investments."
"And by claiming her..." I began.
"By claiming her," Luca finished, "I have placed the entire legal weight of the Moretti name between you and them. Benjamin Hale will think twice before filing a lawsuit against me. His attorneys know that any attack on Rosalie is an attack on Moretti Holdings."
The SUV turned off the main highway, passing through massive wrought-iron gates that opened automatically into a dense, private forest. The driveway wound through towering pines for nearly a mile before opening up to reveal Blackwood Manor.
It was breathtaking. A majestic, stone-built estate surrounded by lush gardens, fountains, and high stone walls. It looked less like a home and more like an impenetrable fortress designed for royalty.
When the car stopped, a middle-aged woman in a crisp gray uniform opened the estate doors.
"Welcome home, Ms. Vance," she said with a warm, respectful nod. "I am Mrs. Gable—no relation to the nurse," she added with a light smile. "I have prepared the master nursery on the second floor for baby Rosalie."
I stepped out of the car, breathing in the crisp air. For months, I had lived in constant fear—fear of Derek’s mood swings, fear of how I would pay for diapers, fear of being abandoned. But standing on the stone steps of Blackwood Manor, holding my daughter, a sudden feeling of safety washed over me.
Luca stepped beside me, looking down at Rosalie, who opened her small dark eyes and let out a soft, tiny squeak.
A faint, rare smile touched Luca’s lips. "She likes the air here."
"Luca," I said, turning to him. "Thank you. But I can't stay here forever. I need to get a job. I need to support my daughter on my own eventually."
May you like
Luca’s expression darkened slightly, his dark eyes meeting mine with intensity.
"You will never have to worry about survival again, Emma," he said firmly. "As long as you are in this house, you and Rosalie want for nothing. That is not a favor. That is a promise."
