Chapter 2
Silence crashed over the room.
Ethan stopped laughing mid-breath. His friends fell quiet.
The mother—Aunt Vivian, as everyone called her—stepped forward, face hardening.
"Don't be ridiculous, Elena. That's impossible."
Elena didn't look away from Leo. She reached out, brushing cake from his cheek with trembling fingers.
"What is your name, little one?"
"Leo," he whispered.
"Leo what?"
"Leo... I don't know. My mom just calls me Leo."
Elena’s breath caught.
She turned sharply to Vivian.
"Who is his mother? Where is she?"
"She's working in the kitchen," Vivian said, voice tight. "Elena, this is absurd. He's just a servant's child."
"He has my eyes," Elena said. "He has my jawline. He has the same birthmark—right there on his wrist."
She lifted Leo’s sleeve.
A small, faint mark shaped like a crescent moon sat on his skin.
The room gasped.
Vivian paled.
Elena looked at her sister. Really looked at her.
"You knew," she said quietly. "All this time. You knew."
"I knew nothing!" Vivian snapped.
"Where is his mother?" Elena repeated, louder now.
A soft sound came from the doorway.
A woman stood there in a maid’s uniform, hands pressed to her mouth, tears streaming down her face.
Elena turned.
Their eyes met.
Recognition hit Elena like a blow.
"Mara?" she breathed.
Mara nodded, shaking from head to toe.
"Elena..."
"You were with him that day," Elena said, her voice breaking. "You were the one watching him. You said he was taken... you said you didn't see who..."
Mara dropped to her knees beside Leo, pulling him close.
"I'm sorry," she sobbed. "I promised to keep him safe. I promised..."
Leo wrapped his small arms around her neck, confused but holding on tight.
"Mom? What's happening?"
May you like
Elena stepped closer, her gaze moving from Mara to Leo and back again.
"Tell me," she said. "Tell me everything."
