Chapter 8 - THE CHILD TERESA WANTED
The recording continued.
“Teresa believes the family must have a male successor.”
Roman’s eyes moved toward Elias.
Norah’s face hardened.
“She wants him.”
Vittorio nodded on-screen as though answering.
“She will leave the girl with Norah if that gets her what she wants.”
Roman’s stomach twisted.
Grace reduced to collateral.
Elias reduced to heir.
Children turned into positions before they could speak.
Vittorio continued:
“Do not let her convince you tradition is the same thing as duty.”
The video ended.
Norah stood.
“We leave.”
Roman nodded.
“Where?”
“Somewhere Teresa doesn’t own.”
They chose a federal safe facility.
Roman did not argue.
No Moretti security.
No family doctors.
No hidden guards.
Miriam Shaw arranged it.
For the first time in Roman’s adult life, he entered a secure location where none of his men carried authority.
He hated it.
He accepted it.
That night, Grace developed a fever.
Nothing serious.
A mild viral infection.
But Norah panicked anyway.
Roman watched her pace.
The twins had turned her into someone who could handle anything except a thermometer reading 100.6.
The pediatrician reassured them.
Roman stayed up.
At 3 a.m., Norah found him sitting beside Grace’s crib.
“What are you doing?”
“Watching her breathe.”
“You can sleep.”
“No.”
She sat beside him.
After a while:
“Roman.”
“Yes?”
“Why did you never want children?”
He looked at her.
“I did.”
She blinked.
“You never said that.”
“I thought wanting them made them targets.”
Norah’s expression softened.
“So you chose not to talk about it.”
“Yes.”
“And I thought that meant you didn’t want them.”
“Yes.”
They both laughed quietly.
Their marriage had been built from unspoken fears.
Then Norah said:
“I would have told you that night.”
Roman looked at her.
“If there hadn’t been blood.”
The sentence landed gently.
Not accusation.
Truth.
Roman nodded.
“I know.”
No defense.
Then Grace stirred.
Roman reached down.
Norah watched him lift her.
Careful.
Awkward.
Present.
Her anger did not disappear.
But something beside it grew.
Hope.
Then Miriam entered the room.
Her face was pale.
“Roman.”
“What?”
“Teresa surrendered.”
Roman frowned.
“That was fast.”
“She wants immunity.”
“For what?”
Miriam hesitated.
“She says Matteo is planning something tonight.”
Roman stood.
“What?”
“He is not trying to take Elias anymore.”
Norah’s blood ran cold.
“Then what?”
May you like
Miriam looked at Grace.
“He plans to kill both children and frame Teresa.”
