Chapter 8 - Protecting the Home
When I returned to the estate, the sun was beginning to set over the ocean. The heavy, dark atmosphere that had hung over the mansion for fourteen months felt noticeably lighter.
I found Clara and the girls in the conservatory, where bright sunlight filtered through the glass panels onto rows of flowering plants. Mia and Valentina were busy watering small potted plants, while Lucia sat quietly on a bench, holding a framed photo of Isabella.
I walked in slowly, stepping away from the shadows, and sat on the wooden bench a few feet away from Lucia. Clara gave me a reassuring nod and stepped outside to give us space.
"Lucia," I said gently, my voice softer than it had been in years. "I need to tell you the truth about your mother."
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Lucia held the photo tightly, but she didn't flinch away.
I explained everything in words a child could understand. I told her about Uncle Victor, about the bad choices adults make, and how hard I had tried to protect her mother that day. I told her that my biggest regret in life was that I couldn't save Isabella, but that I would spend every day of my life making sure nothing ever hurt her or her sisters again.
