Chapter 1: The Girl Who Saved The Man Everyone Feared
By sunrise, the Moretti mansion was no longer silent.
For years, silence had been the first rule of the house.
Nobody raised their voice.
Nobody asked unnecessary questions.
Nobody entered Lucas Moretti’s private rooms without permission.
The mansion was built with marble, gold, and expensive artwork, but everyone who worked there knew the truth.
The walls were beautiful.
The secrets inside them were not.
But that morning, every servant, bodyguard, and family member was talking about the same thing.
The little girl.
The maid’s daughter.
The child who had saved Lucas Moretti’s life.
Maria Carter stood outside the medical room with her hands shaking.
She had worked in the Moretti mansion for almost six years.
She knew what kind of man Lucas was.
She knew the rumors.
She knew the fear surrounding his name.
But she also knew something most people didn’t.
Lucas Moretti was not the monster everyone believed him to be.
At least, not anymore.
The doctor stepped out of the room.
“He’s stable.”
Maria finally released the breath she had been holding.
“But he’s asking for the girl.”
Maria froze.
“Lily?”
The doctor nodded.
“He keeps asking where she is.”
Maria looked through the glass door.
Inside, Lucas Moretti—the billionaire everyone feared—was sitting against the hospital bed.
His face was still pale.
His breathing was still weak.
But his eyes were focused.
Searching.
Waiting.
For her daughter.
When Lily entered the room, she held her stuffed rabbit tightly against her chest.
She looked smaller than ever.
Lucas stared at her.
For a moment, neither of them spoke.
Then Lucas looked down at the inhaler sitting on the table.
“My doctors said you gave me your last one.”
Lily nodded.
“My mama says you can’t breathe without air.”
Lucas lowered his eyes.
“And you?”
The little girl shrugged.
“I can wait.”
Those three words hit him harder than any bullet ever could.
Because Lucas Moretti had spent his entire life surrounded by people who wanted something from him.
Money.
Power.
Protection.
But this child had given him something she desperately needed herself.
Without expecting anything back.
For the first time in years, Lucas felt something he thought he had lost forever.
Shame.
“You saved my life.”
Lily looked confused.
“I just helped you breathe.”
Lucas almost smiled.
Almost.
But before he could say anything else, the door opened.
Victor Romano walked inside.
Perfect suit.
Perfect expression.
Perfect control.
The same man who had watched Lily save Lucas from the shadows.
“I’m glad you’re alive,” Victor said.
Lucas looked at him.
Something felt wrong.
After fifteen years together, Lucas knew every expression Victor had.
Every movement.
Every lie.
And right now...
Victor was afraid.
Not because Lucas survived.
Because Lucas was looking too closely.
“Where were you last night?” Lucas asked.
Victor’s smile disappeared for half a second.
“I was handling security.”
Lucas watched him carefully.
“Interesting.”
The room became quiet.
Then Lily suddenly spoke.
“Your friend was watching me.”
Everyone turned.
Victor’s face changed.
Only slightly.
But Lucas noticed.
“What did you say?”
Lily pointed toward Victor.
“He was standing behind the wall.”
Maria immediately stepped forward.
“Lily, sweetheart, maybe you were scared—”
“No.”
The little girl shook her head.
“He wasn’t scared.”
She looked directly at Victor.
“He looked angry.”
For the first time that morning, Victor Romano lost control.
Only for a moment.
But it was enough.
Lucas saw it.
And deep inside, a terrible thought appeared.
May you like
Someone wanted him dead.
And the person closest to him might be the reason.
