Marielle Shaw dared to fabricate a ruthless Mafia Don’s voice to disown his only child

The second floor of the mansion was deathly quiet, heavily soundproofed against the chaotic activity beginning to consume the lower levels. Leander walked purposefully down the long corridor, his polished leather shoes making absolutely no sound on the thick rugs. He bypassed the master suite entirely and walked directly toward the nursery at the end of the hall.

He didn't knock. He pushed the heavy oak door open silently.

The nursery was bathed in the soft glow of a small nightlight. Adele sat in a plush rocking chair near the bed, her sophisticated black maid dress blending into the shadows. She was humming a quiet, gentle melody, staring blankly at the wall.

Leander stepped into the room, his towering, masculine frame instantly dominating the small space.

"Is he asleep?" Leander asked quietly.

Adele jumped slightly, startled by his sudden appearance. She quickly stood up, smoothing her neatly tied white apron. "Yes, Mr. Cole. He fell asleep about ten minutes ago. He was very exhausted."

Leander walked over to the bed, looking down at his son. Caleb was sleeping peacefully, his small chest rising and falling in a steady rhythm. The terrifying mafia boss vanished entirely, replaced by a devoted, fiercely protective father. He gently adjusted the soft blanket over the boy's shoulders.

He turned around, leaning his broad back against the wall, and looked at the beautiful housemaid standing nervously a few feet away.

"Did she threaten you, Adele?" Leander asked, his voice a low, vibrating hum in the quiet room.

Adele hesitated, her hands twisting nervously in front of her. "She told me that if I spoke to you about the recording, she would ensure I was dismissed. She said she was going to send Caleb to a boarding school in Europe as soon as the wedding was over."

Leander’s jaw clenched so hard the muscles ticked visibly beneath his short stubble.

"Did you believe her?" Leander asked softly.

"She was a very powerful woman, sir," Adele replied, looking down at the floor. "And I am just a maid. Who would you have believed?"

"Do I look like a man who tolerates liars?" Leander countered, stepping away from the wall and walking slowly toward her. He stopped just inches away, his broad shoulders imposing and incredibly close. "Did you think I would let anyone take my son away from the only mother he has ever known?"

The question hung in the quiet nursery, heavy with an intimacy that left Adele completely breathless. She looked up into Leander’s cold, perceptive eyes, her heart hammering wildly against her ribs. The physical proximity of the deeply masculine, dangerous boss was overwhelming, yet she felt an undeniable, profound sense of safety radiating from him.

"I didn't know what you would do, Mr. Cole," Adele whispered truthfully, her expressive brows drawing together. "I only knew that I couldn't let Caleb suffer. If my speaking out meant I would be fired, then I had to do it."

"Does sacrificing yourself for him make you a maid?" Leander asked quietly. He raised his right hand, his refined artistic tattoos stark against his fair skin, and gently brushed a loose strand of hair behind her ear. "Or does it make you something far more important?"

Adele flushed deeply, a warm pink blooming across her softly rounded cheeks. The touch sent a jolt of electricity straight down her spine. "I don't know how to answer that, sir."