Chapter 4 - The Enemy Inside My Home
The front door was open.
Someone had entered Dominic Falcone’s house.
And they knew exactly where to find me.
I couldn't move.
The darkness surrounded me.
The alarm continued screaming through the halls.
My son's crying echoed from upstairs.
And behind me...
Someone was breathing.
Close.
Too close.
I turned slowly.
A shadow stood near the entrance.
My body froze.
Then a voice came from the darkness.
"Clara."
I knew that voice.
My blood turned cold.
"Nathaniel?"
The lights suddenly returned.
The man standing in front of me was not Nathaniel.
But I recognized him.
Jackson Miller.
The same man who dragged me out of the penthouse.
The same man who watched me collapse in the snow.
The same man who obeyed Nathaniel's order to leave me outside.
He stood there wearing a black jacket.
Calm.
Confident.
Like he belonged.
Dominic appeared behind me within seconds.
A gun was already in his hand.
His entire expression changed.
The warmth I had seen with my son disappeared.
Only the dangerous man remained.
"How did you get inside?"
Jackson smiled slightly.
"You should know better than anyone, Dominic."
The room became silent.
Because they knew each other.
Not as strangers.
As enemies.
Dominic stepped forward.
"You have five seconds to explain why you are in my home."
Jackson looked at me.
Not Dominic.
Me.
"I came to tell her the truth."
My heart tightened.
"What truth?"
Dominic's voice cut through the room.
"Don't listen to him."
Jackson laughed.
"Still protecting her?"
He looked at me.
"Interesting."
I felt confused.
"Why are you here?"
Jackson reached into his coat.
Several guards immediately raised their weapons.
He slowly removed a small envelope.
Then placed it on the table.
"Because Nathaniel is not the only person who lied to you."
My eyes moved to Dominic.
A horrible feeling entered my chest.
"What does that mean?"
Jackson looked directly at Dominic.
"Tell her."
Dominic didn't answer.
That was enough.
I looked between them.
"What is he talking about?"
Nobody moved.
My son's cry came from upstairs again.
The sound broke the silence.
I turned toward the stairs.
But Dominic stopped me.
"Clara."
I looked at him.
"What?"
His voice became softer.
"Take your son upstairs."
I stared at him.
"Why?"
"Because this conversation is not safe."
My heart sank.
Not safe.
That was a phrase I never expected to hear about my own life.
I picked up my son.
But before leaving, I looked back at Jackson.
"Why did you help Nathaniel?"
His face changed.
Only slightly.
But I saw regret.
"I didn't know what he planned."
I didn't believe him.
"You carried me outside."
His eyes lowered.
"I thought I was removing you from a property."
A bitter laugh escaped me.
"You thought?"
He looked at me.
"I was told you were dangerous."
The words hit me.
Dangerous.
Me.
A pregnant woman.
"What did he tell you?"
Jackson hesitated.
Then:
"That you were trying to expose something that could destroy powerful people."
I looked at Dominic.
And suddenly everything felt bigger than Nathaniel.
Much bigger.
I carried my son upstairs.
But I didn't leave.
I stood outside the door.
Listening.
Because I needed answers.
For years, I believed my life was simple.
A bad marriage.
A cruel husband.
A betrayal.
But now I realized I had been standing in the middle of something much darker.
Downstairs, Dominic spoke.
"You should have stayed away."
Jackson answered.
"You should have told her."
Silence.
Then Dominic said:
"I was protecting her."
"No."
Jackson's voice became harder.
"You were protecting yourself."
My hand tightened around my son's blanket.
"What does that mean?"
I whispered.
I heard footsteps.
Then silence.
Minutes passed.
I couldn't stay upstairs anymore.
I walked down slowly.
Dominic looked at me.
He already knew.
"You heard."
I nodded.
"Yes."
Jackson looked satisfied.
"Good."
I stared at him.
"Start talking."
Dominic looked away.
Jackson opened the envelope.
Inside was a photograph.
He handed it to me.
I took it.
And my entire body froze.
It was my father.
Again.
But this time...
He wasn't standing beside Dominic.
He was standing beside Nathaniel's father.
And another man.
A man I didn't recognize.
Behind them was a building.
A warehouse.
At the bottom of the photo was a date.
Twenty years ago.
Before I met Nathaniel.
Before I knew Dominic.
Before everything changed.
"Where did you get this?"
I asked.
Jackson looked at Dominic.
"From the same place your father hid the evidence."
My fingers tightened.
"Evidence of what?"
Nobody answered.
Then Dominic finally spoke.
"Your father discovered a network."
"What kind of network?"
"A group of businessmen who controlled more than companies."
His eyes darkened.
"They controlled people."
I felt a chill.
"And Nathaniel's father?"
Dominic nodded.
"He was part of it."
I looked at the picture again.
"My husband knew?"
"Yes."
"When?"
Dominic hesitated.
"Before he married you."
The room spun.
Nathaniel didn't marry me because he loved me.
The thought I had tried to avoid became impossible.
"Then why?"
Dominic's expression hardened.
"Because your family name gave him access."
The same words Nathaniel had said.
The Montgomery name.
The investors.
The trust.
Everything.
But there was something else.
Something worse.
"Why did he need access?"
Dominic looked at Jackson.
Jackson answered.
"Because your father left something behind."
"What?"
"A list."
I stared.
"What list?"
"The names of everyone involved."
My heartbeat increased.
"And I have it?"
Jackson shook his head.
"No."
"Then who does?"
Nobody spoke.
Then Dominic walked toward the table.
He opened the folder with my name.
Inside was a photograph.
Not old.
Recent.
My breath stopped.
It was me.
Outside my apartment.
Three weeks before I was thrown out.
Someone had been watching me.
Dominic continued.
"Someone has been tracking you for months."
My voice became smaller.
"Who?"
He didn't answer.
Because at that moment...
A phone started ringing.
Everyone looked toward the table.
It was Jackson's phone.
He checked the screen.
His face changed.
"What?"
Dominic immediately noticed.
"What happened?"
Jackson didn't answer.
He turned the phone around.
There was a message.
One sentence.
One name.
My name.
CLARA IS AWAKE.
My skin went cold.
Because whoever sent it...
Was not asking.
They were informing someone.
Someone who had been waiting.
Dominic grabbed his weapon.
"Everyone move."
I looked at him.
"What is happening?"
He looked toward the cameras.
Then toward the windows.
His face became serious.
"Someone knew you were here."
A loud sound came from outside.
Glass breaking.
My son started crying upstairs.
Dominic moved instantly.
But before he reached the stairs...
Another message appeared on Jackson's phone.
This time with a photograph.
A photograph taken seconds ago.
Of my son sleeping upstairs.
May you like
And underneath it were four words:
"COME FIND YOUR SON."
