Chapter 1 - The Housekeeper Who Sang The Song Of The Dead
The night Leo Rossi discovered the truth about his mother, the most feared man in the city was standing in his own library… completely powerless.
Because a poor housekeeper had just told him something that could destroy his entire family.
“My mother is alive?”
Leo’s voice was barely a whisper.
Clare Morgan stood frozen in front of the fireplace, still holding the old cleaning cloth in her trembling hand.
She had spent six months inside the Rossi estate believing she was invisible.
She cleaned.
She obeyed.
She stayed quiet.
That was how people like her survived around people like Leo Rossi.
But now, one forgotten song had changed everything.
“I’m sorry, Mr. Rossi,” Clare said softly.
“I didn’t know it meant anything.”
Leo stared at her.
“You don’t understand.”
“That song was sung by my mother.”
Clare swallowed.
“The woman I knew at the hospice sang it every night.”
“Everyone called her Maria.”
Leo’s face changed instantly.
“Maria?”
“Yes.”
“She was older.”
“She had a scar on her neck.”
“She barely spoke English.”
Leo stepped closer.
“What else?”
Clare looked uncomfortable.
“I don’t know.”
“Tell me.”
His voice became sharper.
“Every detail.”
Clare took a breath.
“She always looked scared.”
“She would check the windows before sleeping.”
“She kept asking if someone had found her.”
Leo’s expression hardened.
“Someone?”
Clare nodded.
“Yes.”
“She used to say…”
Clare stopped.
“What?”
“She used to say, ‘If they find me, my son will never know the truth.’”
The room became silent.
Leo felt the blood leave his face.
For twenty years, he had believed his mother died in a car accident.
That was the story his father told him.
That was the story the entire Rossi family protected.
A tragic accident.
A funeral.
A grave.
A memory.
But now a housekeeper was standing in front of him saying his mother had been alive.
And afraid.
“Why didn’t you tell anyone?” Leo asked.
Clare laughed quietly.
Not because it was funny.
Because she couldn’t believe he was asking.
“Who would I tell?”
“I was a cleaner.”
“She was a dying old woman.”
“Nobody important would have listened.”
Leo looked away.
Because she was right.
Powerful people always believed the truth belonged to them.
Not people like Clare.
Not people who cleaned their floors.
Not people who disappeared when the rich entered the room.
A loud knock suddenly interrupted them.
Leo turned.
“Come in.”
The door opened.
Mrs. Gable entered.
The moment she saw Clare standing beside Leo, her expression changed.
“What is she doing here?”
Leo didn’t answer.
His eyes remained on Clare.
“Mrs. Gable.”
“Yes, Mr. Rossi?”
“How long has Clare worked here?”
“Six months.”
“Who hired her?”
Mrs. Gable hesitated.
“I did.”
“Why?”
“Because she needed money.”
Leo noticed the hesitation.
“That's not the full answer.”
Mrs. Gable looked nervous.
“Mr. Rossi…”
“Who told you to hire her?”
Silence.
A dangerous silence.
Clare looked between them.
Because suddenly she understood.
Her job at the Rossi estate might not have been an accident.
Leo stepped forward.
“Answer me.”
Mrs. Gable lowered her eyes.
“It was your father’s lawyer.”
Leo froze.
“My father’s lawyer?”
“Yes.”
“He told me to place her here.”
“Why?”
“I don’t know.”
Leo stared at Clare.
The woman who accidentally uncovered his mother’s secret had been placed inside his home before she ever sang that song.
Someone had wanted her there.
Someone had planned this.
The question was…
Why?
That night, Clare returned to her small apartment feeling like her entire life had changed.
She opened the door.
And immediately knew something was wrong.
The lights were on.
Someone was inside.
“Tommy?”
No answer.
Her younger brother appeared from the kitchen.
His face was pale.
“Clare.”
“What happened?”
Tommy looked at her.
“They know.”
Her heart dropped.
“Who knows?”
“The people I owe money to.”
“I told them I would pay.”
“I tried.”
Tommy shook his head.
“They don’t want money anymore.”
“They want something else.”
Clare stepped back.
“What?”
Tommy looked terrified.
“They asked about the Rossi family.”
The room went cold.
“What did you tell them?”
“Nothing.”
“I swear.”
“They already knew your name.”
Clare felt fear move through her body.
Because for the first time, she realized something.
Maybe she had not discovered the Rossi family’s secret.
Maybe someone had been waiting for her to discover it.
May you like
And now that she knew the truth…
Someone wanted her silent.
