CHAPTER 3: THE MANSION
Daniel's house was not a house.
It was a fortress.
We drove through a gate that required a fingerprint scan, then up a driveway lined with palm trees. The building itself was all glass and stone, huge and modern, like something out of a magazine.
Ava woke up as we pulled to a stop.
"Mom, where are we?"
"A friend's house," I said.
"Friend?" Ethan's eyes narrowed. "He's not our friend. We just met him."
"He's going to help us," I said. "For now."
Inside, the house was even more overwhelming. Marble floors. High ceilings. A staircase that curved like a ribbon.
A woman in a gray suit appeared out of nowhere.
"Mr. Hayes, I wasn't expecting guests."
"Genevieve, this is Sarah and her children, Ethan and Ava. They'll be staying with us."
The woman's expression flickered briefly, then settled into professional neutrality.
"Of course, Mr. Hayes. I'll prepare the guest suites."
"Thank you."
Daniel turned to me. "Genevieve is my house manager. She handles everything. If you need anything, just ask her."
"Thank you."
"Ethan, Ava, let me show you to your rooms."
Ethan stepped closer to me, his hand finding mine.
"I don't want to leave you."
"You won't," Daniel said gently. "Your mother will be right down the hall. I promise."
Ethan looked at me, and I nodded.
"It's okay, honey. Go ahead."
They followed Daniel up the stairs, and I watched them go.
The moment they were out of sight, Genevieve stepped closer.
"Mrs. Mitchell, a word of advice?"
"I'm not Mrs. anyone."
"Mr. Hayes has never brought anyone here. Not in five years. Whatever you're doing, you need to understand what you're walking into."
"And what's that?"
"An empire that's about to collapse. A family that would kill to take it from him. And a woman who's been stalking him for the past decade."
My blood went cold.
"Stalking him?"
"His ex-wife. She's obsessed. She's been trying to destroy him since the divorce. If she finds out about you, you and those children will be in danger."
I thought about the text message.
I found you.
She'd found me, not Daniel.
I wasn't part of his problem.
I was part of my own.
And now I'd brought my problem into his house.
"Thank you," I said. "I'll keep that in mind."
Genevieve gave me a long, searching look.
"Keep your children close," she said. "And don't trust anyone."
She walked away, leaving me alone in the marble entryway.
I pulled out my phone.
The text message was still there.
I deleted it.
May you like
But I knew she'd message again.
And next time, I wouldn't be able to pretend it was nothing.
