Chapter 6 - Venom in the Nursery
By 3:00 AM, Leah had finally fallen fast asleep in the center of the master suite’s king-sized bed. She was holding my hand even in her sleep, her tiny thumb tucked into her mouth, looking at peace for the first time in two years.
I sat beside her on the edge of the mattress, unable to close my eyes for even a second, terrified that if I went to sleep, I would wake up back in my tiny studio apartment and discover this was all a cruel dream.
The quiet click of the master bedroom door opening snapped me out of my thoughts.
A woman stepped into the room.
She was in her late fifties, wearing a sharp designer dress, her platinum blonde hair styled into a flawless bob. Her face was handsome but cold, her blue eyes sharp as broken glass.
It was Julianna Vance—Damian’s former mother-in-law, the matriarch of the powerful Vance family.
She didn't look at me. She walked straight toward the bed, her expensive heels making no sound on the thick carpet, her eyes fixed on Leah.
"So," Julianna said, her voice dripping with icy contempt. "The little silent brat finally found her voice for a common waitress."
I stood up immediately, stepping between Julianna and the bed, my protective instincts flaring like a lioness shielding her cub. "Who are you?"
Julianna finally looked at me, her gaze sweeping over my simple clothes with utter disgust. "I am Julianna Vance. Leah’s grandmother. The woman whose family built the empire Damian sits on top of."
"You aren't her grandmother," I said, my voice cold and steady. "The DNA test came back an hour ago, Mrs. Vance. Leah is my daughter. She was stolen from me the night she was born."
Julianna didn't flinch. A slow, cruel smile spread across her red lips.
"Do you really think a piece of paper from a lab matters in our world, girl?" Julianna sneered softly, stepping closer. "My daughter, Vanessa, died giving this family an heir. Damian needed a child to keep our backing. Dr. Sterling delivered a healthy baby. We paid for her. That makes her a Vance."
My blood ran ice-cold. "You knew," I whispered, horror rising in my chest. "You knew Dr. Sterling stole her from an innocent mother!"
"Innocent mothers are a dime a dozen in the city," Julianna dismissed with a wave of her diamond-encrusted hand. "You were a nobody, living in a basement, with no money to feed her. We gave her a mansion, a trust fund, and a billion-dollar name. You should be thanking us for taking her off your hands."
"You monster," I gasped, my fists clenching at my sides.
"Watch your mouth, waitress," Julianna hissed, her eyes narrowing into dangerous slits. "Damian might be soft-hearted enough to let you weep on his shoulder tonight, but tomorrow, reality sets in. I will not allow a penniless nobody to ruin my family's legacy. I will give you five million dollars to pack your bags, leave Chicago, and never look at Leah again."
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"Keep your blood money," I spat, stepping directly into her space, staring her straight in the eyes. "I don't care about your empire, your name, or your millions. Leah is my child. And you will never touch her again."
Julianna’s smile vanished completely. "Then you just signed your own death warrant, my dear."
