Cruel Inheritance

CHAPTER SEVEN

The next two days were strange.

Damien didn't come to Kira's room at night. He didn't demand anything from her. He didn't even look at her the same way. The coldness was still there but underneath it, something else. Something Kira didn't know how to name.

He spent hours in Sofia's room.

Not talking much. Just sitting. Watching her color. Bringing her apple juice. Learning how to be a father to a child who had grown up without him.

Kira watched from the doorway. She didn't interrupt. She didn't know what to say.

On the third morning, everything changed.

Kira was in Sofia's room when the door opened.

Damien stood there. His face was strange — tight, controlled, like he was bracing for something.

"There's someone I want you to meet," he said.

Kira's stomach tightened. "Who?"

"Her name is Valentina. She's... she's been part of my life for the last two years."

Kira's heart dropped.

Part of his life.

She knew what that meant.

"What does she want?"

"She wants to meet you. And Sofia."

"No."

Damien's jaw tightened. "Kira —"

"No. I don't know her. I don't trust her. She doesn't come near my daughter."

"She's already here."

Kira's blood went cold.

"What?"

"She arrived this morning. Natalia invited her."

"Then Natalia can entertain her. Sofia stays with me."

Damien walked into the room. Knelt beside Sofia's bed. The girl looked up from her coloring book.

"Someone came to see you," he said gently. "Her name is Valentina. She's a friend of mine."

Sofia frowned. "Is she nice?"

Damien hesitated. "She can be."

Sofia looked at Kira. "Mama, do I have to?"

Kira wanted to say no. Wanted to lock the door and never let anyone near her daughter again.

But Damien was watching her. Waiting.

"Five minutes," Kira said. "And I stay in the room."

Damien nodded.

Valentina was beautiful.

Blonde hair falling in waves. A dress that cost more than Kira's entire wardrobe. High heels that clicked on the marble floor like tiny warnings.

She smiled when she saw Sofia. It was a perfect smile. Warm. Motherly.

Kira didn't trust it for a second.

"You must be Sofia," Valentina said, kneeling beside the bed. "I've heard so much about you."

Sofia clutched her rabbit. "Who are you?"

"I'm Valentina. I'm a friend of Damien's."

"Are you his girlfriend?"

Valentina's smile widened. "Something like that."

Kira's hands curled into fists.

Sofia looked at Damien. "I thought you were my dad now."

Damien's jaw tightened. "I am."

"Then why do you have a girlfriend?"

The room went silent.

Valentina laughed. It was a light, musical sound. "Children say the funniest things."

Kira stepped forward. "Five minutes are up."

Valentina looked at her. Her eyes were cold even as her smile stayed warm.

"You must be Kira. I've heard a lot about you too."

"None of it good, I'm sure."

Valentina stood. She was taller than Kira. More polished. More put together.

"Damien speaks about you sometimes. When he's had too much to drink." Her voice was soft. Pitying. "He calls your name in his sleep. Did you know that?"

Kira's chest tightened.

"It's sad, really. A man like that, pining for a woman who betrayed him." Valentina tilted her head. "But I'm the one who put him back together. I'm the one who stayed."

Kira said nothing.

"I'm not going anywhere," Valentina continued. "Whatever happens with Sofia, whatever happens between you and Damien — I'm not going anywhere."

Kira met her eyes.

"Neither am I."

Valentina's smile flickered.

Then she turned and walked out.

Damien followed Valentina into the hallway.

Kira stood in the doorway, watching them talk. Their voices were low. She couldn't hear the words.

But she saw Valentina touch his arm. Saw him not pull away.

Her stomach turned.

"Mama?" Sofia's voice was small. "Is she going to be my new mommy?"

Kira sat on the bed and took her daughter's hand.

"No, baby. No one is going to be your new mommy."

"But Daddy has a girlfriend."

Kira's heart broke at the word Daddy. Sofia had never called anyone that before.

"Daddy is confused," Kira said carefully. "He's been confused for a long time. But he's not confused about you."

Sofia hugged her rabbit. "I don't like her."

"Neither do I."

"Then why is she here?"

Kira kissed her daughter's forehead.

"Because some people don't know when to leave."

That night, Damien came to Kira's room.

He didn't knock. He just opened the door and stood there, his face unreadable.

"Valentina is staying for a few days," he said.

Kira sat on the edge of the bed. "I figured."

"She wants to help with Sofia."

"Sofia doesn't need her help."

"Kira —"

"She doesn't need her help," Kira repeated. "She needs a bone marrow donor. She needs a sibling. She needs her father to stop pretending the last five years didn't happen and start being a parent."

Damien stepped into the room.

"I'm trying."

"Then try harder."

His jaw tightened. "You don't get to judge me. You're the one who kept her from me."

"To keep her alive."

"You don't know that."

"I know Marco. You don't." Kira stood. "You think he's just an ex-friend who betrayed you. He's not. He's a predator. He's been watching me for years. Waiting. And now someone in your house told him where we are."

Damien's eyes darkened.

"I'll find out who."

"And what about Valentina? How do you know she's not the one who told him?"

Damien stared at her.

"Valentina has been with me for two years. She's helped me build my company. She's been loyal."

"To you. Not to Sofia. Not to me."

"What are you saying?"

Kira stepped closer.

"I'm saying she wants you. And I'm standing in her way. And so is Sofia."

Damien was silent for a long moment.

"Valentina is not a threat."

"You don't know that."

"I know her."

"You knew Marco too."

The words hung in the air.

Damien's face went cold.

"Don't compare her to Marco."

"Then don't trust her blindly. For Sofia's sake."

Damien stared at her. Then he turned and walked out.

The door didn't slam. It closed softly.

That was worse.

The next morning, Kira found Valentina in Sofia's room.

The door was open. The guards were nowhere to be seen.

Valentina was sitting on the edge of Sofia's bed, holding the stuffed rabbit, smiling her perfect smile.

Sofia looked uncomfortable. Scared.

Kira's blood boiled.

"What are you doing?"

Valentina looked up. Her smile didn't waver.

"I was just keeping her company. Poor thing must be so lonely."

"Get out."

"Kira —"

"I said get out."

Valentina stood slowly. She walked to the door. Paused beside Kira.

"You can't protect her from everyone," she said quietly. "Especially not from me."

She left.

Kira sat on the bed and gathered Sofia in her arms.

"Mama," Sofia whispered, "she said Daddy is going to marry her."

Kira's heart stopped.

"What?"

"She said Daddy is going to marry her and then she's going to be my new mommy. She said you're going away."

Kira's hands shook.

"When did she say that?"

"Just now. When you weren't here."

Kira closed her eyes.

Valentina.

She had been right not to trust her.

Kira found Damien in his office.

He was on the phone. He hung up when she walked in.

"Valentina was in Sofia's room," Kira said.

"I know. She told me."

"She told Sofia that you're going to marry her. That I'm going away. That she's going to be Sofia's new mother."

Damien's face went pale.

"What?"

"Your girlfriend is threatening my daughter."

"She wouldn't —"

"She did." Kira's voice shook. "I don't care what happens between us. I don't care if you hate me forever. But if she goes near Sofia again — if she says one more word to her — I will leave this house and I will take Sofia with me."

"You can't leave."

"Watch me."

Damien stood. Walked around his desk.

"I'll talk to her."

"Talking isn't enough."

"What do you want me to do?"

Kira looked at him.

"I want you to choose. Her or Sofia."

Damien stared at her.

"That's not fair."

"Neither is watching your daughter be manipulated by a woman who wants to erase me."

The silence stretched between them.

Then Damien walked to the door.

"I'll handle it," he said.

He left.

Kira stood alone in his office, her heart pounding.

She didn't know if he would choose Sofia.

She didn't know if he would choose her.

But she knew one thing for certain.

Valentina was dangerous.

And Kira would do whatever it took to protect her daughter.