"My husband knew our unborn son was in distress, but when his lieutenant begged him to come home, he looked at his mistress and said, “Not yet.” / Chapter 6 / 10

Chapter 6 - The SanctuarySixty miles north of Manhattan, tucked safely away in a historic, sun-drenched stone farmhouse overlooking the Hudson River valley, time moved at a completely different speed.

There were no high-rise windows, no armed security guards pacing the perimeter, and no frantic phone calls from shipping tycoons.

Inside the nursery of the farmhouse, the afternoon light filtered softly through white linen curtains, casting warm patterns across a wooden crib where a tiny baby boy was sleeping soundly.

Serena sat in a plush rocking chair by the window, gently humming a lullaby as she held her son close against her chest.

Leo Moretti—named for the strength of a lion, though he currently weighed barely six pounds—let out a soft, milky sigh in his sleep, his tiny fingers curling instinctively around the fabric of Serena's sweater.

Downstairs, the front door opened and closed quietly. Footsteps padded up the wooden staircase, followed by the comforting scent of fresh coffee and bakery bread.

Elena poked her head into the nursery, smiling softly when she saw Leo sleeping. She walked over, handing a warm ceramic mug of coffee to Serena.

“Marcus just called,” Elena whispered, leaning against the doorframe. “He said Lucian tried to access the primary operational accounts this morning to fund the Marseilles terminal. The corporate firewall locked him out instantly.”

Serena took a slow sip of her coffee, her eyes never leaving her son’s peaceful face. “How did he react?”

“According to Marcus, Alexandre Romano threatened to pull their entire partnership if Lucian doesn't get your signature by Monday morning. Lucian is completely cornered. His mother’s old friends in the shipping district are already whispering that Moretti Logistics is about to go under.”

A heavy, complex silence settled over the room.

Elena looked at her sister, searching her features for any sign of hesitation. “Do you feel guilty?”

Serena gently stroked a wisp of dark hair on Leo's tiny head. “Guilty? No. Angry? Sometimes. Mostly, I just feel... quiet.”

“You’re still legally married to him,” Elena reminded her gently. “And sooner or later, he’s going to figure out where we are. Private investigators don't take vacations just because a man is desperate.”

“Let him look,” Serena said, her voice entirely steady, carrying the weight of a woman who had already survived the worst life could throw at her. “When he finds us, he won't find the girl who used to make him coffee and organize his balance sheets while he chased ghosts in the Bronx. He’ll find the co-owner of Moretti Logistics holding an emergency custody and asset-division petition.”