Chapter 1 - THE NIGHT JULIAN CHOSE WRONG “GET AWAY FROM MY SON!”
Julian Sterling’s voice shook the marble foyer.
Eleanor turned.
And saw her marriage die in her husband’s eyes.
Maria Alvarez, their newly hired live-in nanny, was crouched beside the staircase with blood running down her cheek.
In her arms, six-month-old Leo screamed until his tiny face turned crimson.
Eleanor stood five feet away.
Her hands were trembling.
“Julian, listen to me.”
Maria burst into tears.
“She hurt him!”
“No!”
Eleanor stepped forward.
Julian moved between her and the baby.
The gesture hurt more than a slap.
“She was shaking him,” Eleanor said. “I walked in and stopped her.”
Maria stared at Julian with terrified eyes.
“She’s lying.”
Then Maria whispered:
“She said the baby ruined her life.”
Eleanor went white.
“You know I would never say that.”
But Julian wasn’t thinking like a husband.
He was thinking like a terrified father.
Three months earlier, someone had attempted to sabotage Leo’s car seat.
Two weeks later, a threatening letter had arrived.
Julian had become obsessed with protecting his heir.
Now he saw blood.
A screaming baby.
A frightened nanny.
And his wife standing over them.
“Get out,” Julian said.
Eleanor stared at him.
“What?”
“Leave.”
“Julian—”
“NOW!”
Security appeared.
Eleanor’s eyes filled with tears.
“If I walk through that door, you may never get the chance to apologize.”
Julian said nothing.
She looked at Leo.
“Mommy loves you.”
Then she walked into the freezing rain.
May you like
Behind her, Maria lowered her face.
And smiled.
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