Chapter 6 - THE UNCLE WHO WANTED AN HEIR
Raffaele Valenti arrived at the mansion the following afternoon.
He didn't call first.
I was in the kitchen with Sophie when the front doors opened and a deep voice carried through the foyer.
“Dominic. We need to talk.”
Sophie dropped her spoon.
I took her hand.
Dominic appeared in the doorway. His face was calm, but his eyes were hard.
“Take Sophie upstairs, Claire.”
I didn't move.
“You said no decisions without asking.”
He looked at me, then nodded.
“Would you prefer to stay here?”
“Yes.”
He accepted that.
Raffaele entered the kitchen a moment later. He was in his late sixties, silver-haired, impeccably dressed, with the polished smile of a man who believed every room belonged to him.
His eyes settled on Sophie.
“So this is the little surprise.”
Sophie moved behind my leg.
“Don't look at her like that,” I said.
Raffaele raised an eyebrow.
“I'm merely meeting my grandniece.”
“She's not a family asset.”
His smile disappeared.
Dominic stepped between us.
“Why did you intercept Claire's letter?”
Raffaele glanced at the envelope on the counter.
“Because you were not in a position to have a child.”
“That wasn't your decision.”
“I was protecting the family.”
“You were protecting your control.”
Raffaele sighed. “You were grieving Lucia. You were reckless. A child would have been a weakness.”
“She was my daughter.”
“And now she's an heir.”
Dominic's expression darkened.
“She is a little girl. She doesn't belong to your succession plans.”
Raffaele turned to me.
“You should understand that a child with Valenti blood will attract attention. You cannot raise her in some ordinary apartment and expect the world to leave her alone.”
“I managed for three years.”
“Barely, I imagine.”
Dominic took one step forward.
“Enough.”
Raffaele's gaze sharpened.
“You would turn against your own family for a woman who disappeared?”
“I would turn against anyone who threatens my daughter.”
The older man smiled faintly.
“Then you should know the board will not accept an unrecognized child. They will demand proof. They will demand custody arrangements. They will demand that she be raised under this roof.”
I felt Sophie grip my hand.
Dominic's answer was immediate.
“No one will demand anything from her.”
Raffaele left without another word.
The moment the door closed, Dominic turned to Adrian.
“Get the original office records. Every call log, every intercepted letter, every payment connected to Raffaele.”
Adrian nodded.
I crouched beside Sophie.
“Are you okay?”
She nodded, but her eyes were wet.
“Is Papa angry?”
I kissed her forehead.
“He's trying to keep you safe.”
Dominic knelt beside us.
“I'm not angry with you, sweetheart.”
Sophie reached for his hand.
“Don't let the old man take Mr. Buttons.”
Dominic looked at the rabbit.
“I won't.”
She considered him.
“Or Mommy.”
His eyes lifted to mine.
“Especially not Mommy.”
May you like
For the first time, I believed he meant it.
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