Chapter 7
The East Wing of the Vance estate felt like a different world, far removed from the cold marble and suffocating tension of the main foyer. Clara locked the heavy oak door of the guest suite behind her with a trembling sigh of relief, sliding the heavy brass bolt into place. The room was warm, decorated in soft tones of lavender and cream, featuring a large crib pushed against the sunlit window overlooking the manicured rose gardens outside.
Little Leo stirred in her arms, letting out a soft yawn before blinking his big, curious eyes open. Clara smiled gently, brushing a soft curl of dark hair from his forehead. "You’re safe now, little one," she whispered softly, pressing a tender kiss to the top of his head. "Your father is going to fix this. I know he is."
She laid Leo gently in the crib, watching as he curled his tiny fists near his face and drifted back into peaceful slumber. Clara walked over to the small writing desk by the window, pulling out her phone to check for messages. Her heart sank slightly when she saw the signal bars fluctuating wildly. The Vance estate was notoriously isolated, nestled deep in the wooded hills outside the city, but this sudden loss of cell reception felt deliberate. Had the household network been restricted from the main control panel in the basement?
A soft tap on the heavy wooden door made Clara jump. She froze, holding her breath.
"Clara? It’s Julian."
The familiar, deep voice sent a wave of relief through her. Clara rushed to the door, sliding the brass bolt back and turning the key before pulling the door open just wide enough to see Julian standing in the dim hallway. He looked exhausted, his tie loosened around his collar and his jacket discarded, leaving only his burgundy shirt and the gold watch glinting in the low light.
"Is everything secure?" Julian asked quietly, stepping inside and locking the door behind him.
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"Yes, Mr. Vance. Leo is sleeping," Clara replied, stepping back to let him pass. "Sir... my phone lost service a few minutes ago. I think the local router or signal booster has been disabled."
Julian’s face darkened. "Not disabled, Clara. Blocked. The main security system has a localized override switch in the basement utility room. Only Elena and I knew the master code."
