Chapter 3 - The Awakening of the Estate
Morning sunlight broke through the heavy morning mist over the Hollywood Hills, painting the valley in shades of gold and emerald green. The storm had passed, leaving behind washed eucalyptus trees, glistening pavement, and a crisp, clean chill in the air.
For the first time in twenty-four months, Parker Blackwood woke up before his alarm clock.
He lay in bed for a moment, listening. Usually, the morning silence of the mansion was heavy, oppressive, and absolute. Today, however, faint sounds drifted up from the lower levels—the distant clatter of silverware, the murmur of voices in the kitchen, and the unmistakable, cheerful sound of a child’s laughter echoing up the stairwell.
Parker sat up, a strange, unfamiliar lightness settling in his chest. He shaved quickly, pulled on a dark grey cashmere sweater and tailored slacks, and walked down the grand staircase.
In the dining room, a long mahogany table that usually sat completely empty was now set for breakfast. Fresh berries, scrambled eggs, warm croissants, and a pitcher of freshly squeezed orange juice sat in the center.
At the end of the table, little Lily sat in an oversized chair, swinging her legs freely while happily dipping a piece of toast into a cup of warm milk. Maya sat beside her, wearing a clean oversized hoodie and jeans that Mrs. Gable had sourced from the staff quarters, looking around the palatial room with guarded curiosity.
“Good morning, Mr. Blackwood,” Maya said politely, her posture stiff as Parker entered the room.
“Good morning, Maya. Good morning, Lily,” Parker said, taking his seat at the head of the table—a spot he usually avoided because it felt too much like a boardroom. He poured himself a cup of black coffee. “How did you sleep?”
“Like a log,” Lily piped up cheerfully, her blue eyes shining brightly in the morning light. “And there was a unicorn on my pillow! Well, it was a stuffed animal, but it has a sparkly horn!”
Parker couldn't help the small smile that tugged at the corner of his lips. “I’m glad you approve of the estate’s amenities, Ms. Lily.”
Maya watched him closely, her analytical mind working overtime. “So... when do we start cleaning? We can’t just sit here eating fancy food for free. My dad always said, ‘A lazy hand makes an empty pocket.’”
“Your father sounded like a sensible man,” Parker replied gently, setting his coffee cup down. “But today, your only job is to eat your breakfast, try out the pool in the backyard, and let Mrs. Gable take both of you shopping for clothes that actually fit. The estate inspection can wait until tomorrow.”
Before Maya could argue, the heavy oak front doors of the mansion echoed with a sharp, imperious series of knocks.
Marcus appeared in the dining room doorway, looking unusually tense. He glanced at Parker, then at the children, before clearing his throat.
“Boss, you have visitors,” Marcus said quietly.
“At seven-thirty in the morning?” Parker frowned, setting his napkin down. “Who?”
“It’s Victoria Vance. And she brought local child welfare investigators with her.”
Parker’s face instantly hardened, the warm light in his eyes vanishing, replaced by the razor-sharp coldness that terrified his business rivals.
Victoria Vance.
Sophia’s older sister—Parker’s former sister-in-law. A woman who had spent the last two years treating Sophia’s death not as a tragedy, but as a legal battleground, constantly trying to sue Parker for control of the Blackwood estate under the pretext of ‘protecting family assets.’
“What is she doing here?” Parker growled, standing up from the table.
“She claims she received an anonymous tip,” Marcus said grimly, “that you were harboring unauthorized, unregistered minors on the property under suspicious circumstances.”
Maya dropped her piece of toast, her eyes widening with sudden, visceral terror. She shrank back into her chair, pulling Lily closer to her side. “They’re going to take us back,” she whispered, her voice trembling violently. “To the state. They said if they caught us again, they’d separate us into different group homes. Please, Mr. Blackwood, don’t let them take us!”
May you like
Parker looked at the terrified children, then down at his own clenched fists. The cold fury inside him surged like a tidal wave.
“Nobody is taking anyone anywhere,” Parker said, his voice dropping into a dangerous, lethal register. He turned to Marcus. “Keep the girls in the study. Lock the doors if you have to. Let Victoria and her little bureaucratic friends step inside my house. I’ve been looking for a fight for two years anyway.”
