Chapter 3 - A Shadow at the School Gates
Morning arrived with heavy grey clouds hanging over the estate.
The atmosphere inside the mansion remained tense and suffocating.
Julian personally inspected every security camera surrounding the perimeter.
"Two guards will accompany Leo to school today," Julian instructed his head of security.
"No one gets near him without my direct authorization."
Clara stood by the doorway, wrapping a warm woolen scarf around little Leo's neck.
"Be safe at school today, sweetheart," Clara said, smiling softly despite her anxiety.
Leo looked into her warm eyes and nodded timidly.
"Will you be here when I come back, Miss Clara?" he asked.
Clara's heart melted, and she gave him a reassuring hug.
"I will always be here for you, Leo," she replied gently.
The black SUV pulled out of the driveway under heavy guard.
Julian stood on the porch, watching the vehicle disappear down the winding road.
He turned to Clara with a serious expression.
"We need to talk about Victoria's past," Julian said abruptly.
Clara looked up in surprise.
"Her past?" she repeated.
"Before she met me, she was involved with a dangerous syndicate," Julian revealed.
"She lied about her inheritance, her family, and her entire background."
"I found out last night that she was never legally married to her ex-husband."
Clara gasped, covering her mouth with her hands.
"Which means..." Clara began.
"Which means her claims on my estate and my son are built on complete fraud," Julian finished.
Suddenly, Julian’s phone buzzed violently in his coat pocket.
It was an emergency call from the head of Leo's security team.
Julian answered immediately, placing the call on speakerphone.
Heavy breathing and the sound of screeching tires echoed through the speaker.
"Sir! We have a major situation!" the guard yelled frantically.
"An unmarked black truck rammed our escort vehicle at the intersection!"
"Is Leo okay?!" Julian roared, his composure instantly shattering.
"They blocked the road, sir!" the guard screamed through static.
"Someone dressed in a black leather jacket shattered the rear glass!"
"They took the boy!"
The line went dead with a harsh burst of static.
Clara stumbled backward, horror paralyzing her entire body.
Julian dropped his phone onto the hard stone floor.
The phone screen shattered into a web of broken glass.
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His eyes burned with a terrifying, unhinged fury.
Victoria had struck back faster and harder than anyone had anticipated.
