Chapter 7 - The Golden Cage
For three grueling years, Carmela had been a ghost living inside a luxurious, heavily fortified, inescapable golden cage. The East Wing was fully furnished, entirely comfortable, and completely sealed off from the rest of the world. Leo personally delivered her supplies, entirely refusing to speak a single word to the woman who had tried to murder him.
He thought the heavy antique locks were enough to contain her toxic, manipulative poison. He thought he was protecting his daughter's innocence.
But Carmela was incredibly patient, and entirely ruthless. She had discovered a tiny, nearly invisible gap beneath the heavy wood of the double doors. For months, she had been waiting for the exact moments when the guards rotated shifts, quietly slipping tiny, folded notes and small, interesting objects under the wood, desperately trying to catch the attention of the toddler playing in the hallway.
She wanted to use the child. She wanted to manipulate Maya's innocent heart to force Leo to unlock the doors, believing he was too weak to keep a mother away from her daughter.
Leo inserted the heavy metal key into the antique brass lock. The incredibly loud, heavy mechanical CLACK echoed through the silent hallway like a gunshot.
He pushed the massive double doors open.
The room beyond was dimly lit, contrasting sharply with the bright crystal chandelier in the hallway. Sitting gracefully in a velvet armchair in the center of the room was Carmela. She was incredibly beautiful, wearing an elegant silk robe, her dark hair falling perfectly over her shoulders.
She looked up at Leo, a cold, incredibly toxic, and deeply triumphant smile spreading across her face.
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"She has my eyes, Leo," Carmela said smoothly, her voice completely devoid of any maternal warmth, ringing with pure, manipulative malice. "You can't keep me locked in here forever. She knows I'm here now."
👉 Read Part 8 to see the father's absolute, terrifying response.
