Chapter 4 - The Expulsion
Maria’s eyes widened. "Gone? Luca, what do you mean gone?"
"I mean," Luca said, standing up slowly and running a hand through his dark hair, "I had security pack up every single designer gown, every piece of jewelry she brought into this house, and dump them outside the front security gates. I gave her ten minutes to call a car before I had her physically removed from the property."
A wave of profound relief washed over me. But beneath the relief, a cold practical reality settled in. Vanessa Bellini wasn't the type of woman to go quietly into the night. She was ambitious, vindictive, and deeply connected to Chicago’s high-society network.
"Luca," Maria said cautiously, wringing her hands. "Vanessa’s family—the Bellinis—hold significant shares in the downtown commercial development project. If you break off the engagement publicly like this, she’s going to retaliate. She won't just walk away."
Luca let out a harsh, bitter laugh. "Let her try. She crossed a line that no amount of corporate shares or social status can fix. She abused my daughter. In my world, that is a war crime."
He turned his gaze back to me, his expression softening as he looked at the way Sophie was happily chewing on a strawberry, completely unaware of the corporate and social war detonating around her.
"Claire," Luca said quietly, stepping closer to me.
"Yes, Mr. Moretti?"
"How long have you worked here?"
"Six months, sir."
"And how long have you noticed... things being off with Vanessa and Sophie?"
I hesitated, weighing my words carefully. I didn't want to overstep my bounds as household staff, but looking at Sophie’s innocent face, I knew honesty was the only option.
"From the day she moved in, sir," I admitted, keeping my voice steady. "At first, it was small things—rearranging the nursery decor, discouraging staff from speaking about Mrs. Sarah. But over the last month... it escalated. Vanessa made it clear that anyone who showed Sophie affection or mentioned her mother would find themselves out of a job. I was actually planning to hand in my resignation tomorrow morning. I couldn't watch it anymore."
Luca flinched as if struck. He closed his eyes tightly for a moment, absorbing the bitter pill of his own blindness.
"You were going to quit," he whispered, mostly to himself. Then, his eyes snapped open, dark and resolute. "Don't. Don't you dare leave this house, Claire."
"Sir?"
"I need someone I can trust. Someone who actually loves my daughter and isn't looking at my bank account or my family name." Luca stepped closer, lowering his voice. "I want you to become Sophie’s primary nanny. Name your price. Double your salary, triple it—whatever it takes. Just don't leave us."
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I looked from Luca down to Sophie, who was now holding up a half-eaten pancake and offering it to her father with a gummy smile.
"I won't leave, Mr. Moretti," I said softly. "Not while Sophie needs me."
