Chapter 3 - The House Where Secrets Lived
The Ashford mansion sat above the Mississippi River like a fortress.
Black stone walls.
Tall iron gates.
Security cameras covering every entrance.
Audrey had seen expensive houses before.
But this was different.
This place did not feel like a home.
It felt like a place built by someone who expected enemies.
The moment the car stopped, several guards opened the doors.
Ethan immediately reached for Audrey’s hand.
She noticed.
And so did Dorian.
The powerful man said nothing, but his eyes followed the movement.
Inside, the mansion was silent.
Too silent.
A place where dozens of people lived should not feel empty.
Audrey walked beside Ethan as doctors checked him.
“Temperature is low, but stable,” the doctor said.
“He needs rest.”
Dorian nodded.
“Take care of him.”
The doctor left.
Audrey expected Dorian to follow his son.
Instead, he stayed.
“You should go home.”
Audrey looked at him.
“After what happened?”
“Yes.”
“That’s your solution?”
Dorian’s expression remained calm.
“My security team will investigate.”
“And while they investigate, someone who helped your son escape is still here?”
A pause.
Audrey saw it.
A tiny reaction.
The first crack in his control.
“You noticed.”
“I’m not stupid.”
“No.”
Dorian looked at her.
“You’re not.”
The compliment surprised her.
“You really think someone inside your house did this?”
“I know.”
“How?”
Dorian walked toward the large windows overlooking the river.
“Because Ethan never leaves his room without permission.”
Audrey crossed her arms.
“He’s eight.”
“He understands rules.”
“He’s a child.”
Dorian turned.
“And that is exactly why I protect him.”
The answer was quiet.
Not cold.
Audrey realized something.
Everyone talked about Dorian Ashford like he was dangerous.
But nobody talked about why.
Nobody talked about the man behind the reputation.
A father who was terrified of losing his son.
Before Audrey could respond, Ethan called from upstairs.
“Dad!”
Dorian immediately moved.
Audrey followed.
The boy was sitting on his bed.
His face looked worried.
“What happened?”
Ethan looked at Audrey.
“Can she stay?”
Dorian stopped.
The request clearly surprised him.
“She has a life.”
Ethan lowered his eyes.
“She saved me.”
Dorian looked at his son.
Then Audrey.
“You trust her?”
Ethan nodded.
“Yes.”
The room became quiet.
Finally Dorian spoke.
“Fine.”
Audrey blinked.
“Fine?”
“You stay tonight.”
“I don’t need a babysitting job.”
“You misunderstand.”
Dorian stepped closer.
“You are not staying because I need someone to watch my son.”
“Then why?”
“Because whoever opened that door knew my security system.”
His eyes hardened.
“And they may know you were the person who found him.”
Audrey felt a chill.
“You think I’m in danger?”
“I think anyone near my son is.”
For the first time, Audrey saw something different in his face.
Concern.
Not for himself.
For her.
---
Later that night, Audrey sat in the guest room.
She couldn't sleep.
The mansion was too quiet.
Her phone had twenty missed calls from her workplace.
Her manager.
Her second job.
People who would never ask if she was okay.
Only where she was.
A knock interrupted her thoughts.
She opened the door.
Dorian stood there.
Without his jacket.
Without the intimidating businessman image.
Just a tired man.
“Ethan is asleep.”
“Good.”
Dorian looked at her.
“I owe you.”
Audrey shook her head.
“No.”
“No?”
“I didn’t save him for money.”
“I know.”
“Then don’t try to pay me.”
Dorian was silent.
Nobody refused him.
Not like this.
“You’re different.”
Audrey almost laughed.
“People usually say that before telling me it’s a problem.”
A small smile appeared on his face.
The first real one.
“You really don’t know who I am.”
“I know exactly who people say you are.”
“And?”
“And I judge people by what they do.”
Dorian looked away.
For some reason, those words affected him.
Then his phone rang.
His expression changed instantly.
Business returned.
“Speak.”
A voice came through.
Dorian listened.
Then his face became colder.
“What did you find?”
Audrey watched him.
A few seconds later, he ended the call.
“What happened?”
Dorian looked toward Ethan’s room.
“The person who disabled the cameras used an internal security code.”
“Whose code?”
Dorian answered quietly.
May you like
“My fiancée’s.”
---
