Chapter 9 – THE OVERDUE ELECTRICITY BILL

The morning sun poured through the massive windows of the mansion’s kitchen, but I couldn’t feel its warmth.

I was packing my small duffel bag.

It had been twelve hours since Vanessa was arrested. The estate was peaceful, almost eerily quiet. Teresa was resting comfortably upstairs, finally free of the toxic blue pills. Daniel was in the library, playing video games without fear of being scolded.

Everything was perfect.

But I had to leave.

I knew my place. I was a maid. And despite the beautiful moment last night, I knew that getting too close to a man like Luca Moretti was dangerous. The mafia, the billions of dollars, the federal agents—it was a world I didn’t belong in. I needed to go back to my quiet life, find a new job, and figure out how to pay my mother’s electricity bill.

I zipped up my bag and turned to leave.

Luca was standing in the doorway.

He was dressed in a simple black button-down and slacks, looking more relaxed than I had ever seen him. But his eyes were sharp as they landed on my duffel bag.

“Where do you think you’re going?” he asked, his voice low.

“Home, sir,” I said, looking at the floor. “The house is safe now. You don’t need me anymore.”

Luca stepped into the kitchen, closing the door behind him. “Hannah, look at me.”

I slowly raised my eyes.

He pulled a thick manila envelope from his pocket and placed it on the marble counter between us.

“What is this?” I asked.

“Open it.”

My hands trembled as I undid the string clasp. I pulled out a stack of papers. The first page was a medical invoice from Chicago General Hospital for my mother’s surgery.

Across the bottom, stamped in bright red ink, was the word: PAID IN FULL.

I gasped, covering my mouth. I flipped to the next page. It was a deed to the small house my mother had been renting for thirty years. It was now fully paid off, and the deed was in my mother’s name.

“Mr. Moretti…” I choked on my tears, staring at the documents. “I… I can’t accept this. This is hundreds of thousands of dollars.”

“It’s a fraction of what you gave back to me,” Luca said, stepping closer. “You saved my mother’s life. You protected my son. Your mother will never have to worry about a medical bill, an electricity bill, or rent for the rest of her life.”

I broke down, sobbing uncontrollably. The crushing weight of debt and fear that had suffocated me for a year evaporated in an instant.

Before I realized what I was doing, I threw my arms around his neck, burying my face in his chest.

Luca didn’t pull away. Instead, his strong arms wrapped around my waist, holding me tightly against him. He smelled of expensive cologne and clean rain.

“Thank you,” I sobbed into his shirt. “Thank you so much.”

“Hannah,” he murmured, his breath warm against my hair. “I told you last night, you are not going back to serving dinner. I have a new position for you.”

I pulled back slightly, looking up at him, my heart hammering. “A new position?”

“Yes,” Luca said softly, his thumb brushing a tear from my cheek. “I need a personal companion for my mother. Someone to manage her genuine medical care. And Daniel needs a tutor. I want to pay you a salary of two hundred thousand dollars a year, with full benefits.”

I was stunned speechless. “You want me to stay?”

“I don’t just want you to stay,” Luca said, his eyes dropping briefly to my lips before meeting my gaze again. “I need you to stay.”

Suddenly, the kitchen door swung open.

It was Teresa. She was leaning on her cane, looking healthier and more vibrant than she had in months.

She looked at my hands resting on Luca’s chest, and a wide, knowing smile spread across her face.

“Well,” Teresa said, her eyes twinkling. “I suppose I should give you this now.”

She reached into her pocket and pulled out the antique silver rosary.

And she held it out to me.

Share