Carmen’s hands shook as she grabbed Marco’s arm, her fingers digging into his sleeve. “Marco,” she whispered urgently, her voice trembling. “There’s something wrong with her.”
Marco sighed heavily, rubbing his forehead, exhaustion weighing on him.
“Carmen—”
“No!” she snapped, her heart pounding. “Listen to me. I saw a man outside the house tonight. He was watching us.”
Marco’s body stiffened. His sharp eyes locked onto hers. “A man?”
Carmen nodded quickly. “He was standing by the fence. When I looked again, he was gone.”
Marco exhaled slowly, his jaw tightening. Then, without hesitation, he pulled out his phone.
“Increase security around the perimeter,” he ordered his head of security. “Double the guards, check the cameras, and find out if anyone’s been lurking around.”
Carmen let out a shaky breath, some relief washing over her. At least Marco was taking that part seriously. But she wasn’t done.
“Marco,” she whispered, stepping closer. “You need to fire Ella.”
Marco’s entire body tensed.
“Carmen—”
“She’s dangerous,” she cut him off, her eyes pleading. “I feel it. Matteo is pulling away from me, she’s the only one he listens to now, and I—I just know she’s hiding something.”
Marco’s jaw clenched, his patience thinning. “And you want to fire her now?” he asked, his voice sharp. “When things are literally falling apart? When we need the nanny the most?”
Carmen stared at him, stunned.
“She’s manipulating Matteo!” she hissed.
Marco let out a frustrated sigh. “And what’s your solution, Carmen? Take care of Matteo alone while we’re dealing with enemies trying to destroy us? You’re stressed. Not having a nanny would only make things harder on him.”
Carmen’s throat tightened painfully.
“So you won’t fire her?” she whispered.
Marco’s eyes softened, but his answer was firm.
“No.”
Carmen’s stomach dropped. She felt sick. Marco was supposed to protect their family. But he was choosing to ignore the danger. Carmen had no choice.
She would have to protect Matteo herself.
Even if it meant going behind Marco’s back.
Later that evening, Carmen entered Matteo’s room to check on him. He was curled up under his blanket, his small chest rising and falling softly in sleep.
For the first time in days, he looked peaceful.
But something felt off. A piece of paper peeked out from under his bed. Carmen’s brow furrowed.
Carefully, she knelt down and pulled it out. Then another. And another. Her heart pounded. Matteo had been hiding drawings.
She flipped through them, her hands trembling.
The first one was simple—Matteo holding Ella’s hand, smiling. Carmen swallowed hard.
Then, the next drawing—
Ella and Matteo again. But this time, there was someone else. A tall figure. A man in a big hood, his face completely hidden.
Carmen’s blood ran cold. In every single drawing, Marco and Carmen were missing. Her hands shook as she clutched the papers, her breath shallow, ragged.
Matteo had never drawn like this before.
Who was the hooded man? And why was Matteo keeping these hidden? Carmen looked at her sleeping son, her heart breaking.
Whatever Ella was doing to him—
It was working.
That night, long after everyone had gone to bed, Carmen moved silently through the hallway. Her heart pounded, her hands clammy as she reached Ella’s door.
The house was silent. Ella’s room was dark, the faint sound of her breathing slow and even inside.
Carmen held her breath. Then, slowly, she turned the knob. The door creaked open just enough for her to slip inside. The room smelled of lavender and fresh linen.
Carmen moved quickly, searching through the drawers, the closet, anywhere Ella could be hiding something.
Nothing.
Then—her eyes landed on a wooden cabinet in the corner. She walked toward it, her pulse racing. The cabinet had a small lock.
Carmen bit her lip. Was she really going to do this?
Yes.
Because her son was at stake. She gently tugged at the drawer. It didn’t budge.
She grabbed a hairpin from her pocket, her hands shaking as she pushed it into the lock. Click. The drawer popped open.
Carmen’s breath stalled.
Inside—
A hidden safe.