Chapter 9– My Heir

The new set of domestic workers arrived that morning, transported by the company’s van. Six women stepped out, most of them Mexican, their faces a mixture of weariness and curiosity. Daniella had risen early, though she had neither cleaned the house nor prepared breakfast. Instead, she ordered takeout for the family, preferring to conserve her energy for the introductions.

She sat in the living room, poised and watchful, as the women lined up and called out their names one by one. Daniella’s eyes moved over them slowly, assessing from head to toe, her silence heavy until she finally spoke.

“My name is Daniella Kane. My husband is Adrian Kane, and our son is Noah,” she announced with deliberate calm. “You will refer to me as Madam, my husband as Sir, and my son as Master Noah.”

The women nodded, their expressions unreadable. Daniella’s tone sharpened as she assigned roles. “Regina, you are the chef. You will prepare our meals, but you will not eat what my family eats. I will give you a menu of our preferences, and you may prepare something separate for yourselves.”

A flicker of unease passed among the workers, but none spoke. Daniella continued, her voice firm. “I expect the house to be spotless at all times, and meals served hot. I will not tolerate insubordination.”

Before she could say more, a knock sounded at the door. Daniella gestured for one of the maids to answer. The woman opened it to find an elegant visitor.

“Hello, I am Dorothy,” the guest said warmly. Then, with a curious tilt of her head, she added, “I don’t recall seeing you here before. Who are you?”

The maid smiled politely. “Welcome, my name is Regina. I am one of the new staff. Please, come in. Mrs. Kane is in the living room.”

Dorothy’s expression hardened. “Mrs. Kane?” she repeated, her voice edged with disbelief. She stepped inside, her presence commanding immediate attention. The maids looked at her with quiet reverence, and when Dorothy asked where Mrs. Kane was, the woman pointed toward Daniella.

Daniella’s heart skipped as Dorothy’s gaze fell upon her. She forced a smile. “Welcome, Dorothy,” she said, though her voice trembled beneath the weight of shame.

Dorothy did not return the greeting. Instead, she said coolly, “I see. I didn’t know you had already assumed the title of Mrs. Kane. Tell me, when was the wedding?”

Color rose to Daniella’s cheeks. She dismissed the maids with a sharp command, sending them to their quarters. As they left, one whispered in Spanish to Regina, wondering aloud if Daniella truly was the mistress of the house. Regina hushed her quickly, advising silence.

When the room was empty, Dorothy turned back to Daniella, her face stern yet dignified, the lines of age etched elegantly across her features. “You didn’t answer my question,” she pressed.

“They’re new workers,” Daniella deflected.

“What happened to the others?” Dorothy asked.

Daniella hesitated, choosing her words carefully. “Their contracts ended. Adrian requested replacements.”

Dorothy’s eyes narrowed. “Daniella, whatever you are doing here will not last. Sabrina will return and reclaim her rightful place. You are nothing but a homewrecker.”

The word struck Daniella like a blow, her chest tightening with anger, though she fought to remain composed. “Dorothy, please—”

“Address me properly,” Dorothy cut her off sharply.

Before Daniella could respond, Adrian entered the room. “Mom, you didn’t call,” he said, surprised. “I would have sent a car to meet you at the airport.”

“I did call. You ignored me,” Dorothy replied coldly.

“Danni, excuse us,” Adrian said, dismissing Daniella. She withdrew reluctantly, leaving mother and son alone.

Dorothy’s tone shifted, heavy with disappointment. “What is wrong with you, Adrian? Why would you treat Sabrina this way? She is a lovely woman.”

Adrian laughed bitterly. “Mom, you don’t know the whole story. Sabrina is arrogant. Do you know she destroyed important vials at the lab?”

“With the way you treated her, I cannot say I am surprised,” Dorothy retorted. “Get that woman out of this house. I will speak to Sabrina myself and plead on your behalf.”

“That won’t be necessary,” Adrian said firmly. “She signed the divorce papers. It’s official.”

Dorothy’s voice rose in disbelief. “What? How could you let her go?”

“Because she is selfish and tried to take everything I built,” Adrian replied, sinking into the couch.

Dorothy’s eyes flashed with anger. “Adrian, you are not a scientist. Everything you claim to have was because of her. I will not give you my blessing if you continue with this… homewrecker.”

“Do not call her that,” Adrian said coldly. “I love her, and I intend to marry her—with or without your blessing.”

Dorothy studied him in silence, her disappointment palpable. “What has gotten into you? What hold does she have over you? And you even took her child away.” Adrian’s brows raised, “I have heard everything.” Dorothy continued.

Adrian reached for her hand. “Noah isn’t Sabrina’s child. She never cared for him.”

Dorothy recoiled. “Are you telling me that while you were married to Sabrina, you were already with that woman?”

Adrian did not answer. His silence was confirmation enough. “It is over between Sabrina and me,” he said finally. “You must accept reality and accept Daniella as your daughter-in-law.”

“Over my dead body,” Dorothy declared. “I will call Sabrina myself.” She turned to leave.

“Where are you going? You just arrived,” Adrian protested.

“I’d rather stay at a cheap motel than stay in this house,” she said, and walked out.

When Daniella reappeared, her voice trembled with frustration. “Why does your mother hate me so much? What did I do to her? She doesn’t even know me.”

Adrian sighed. “She’s doing this. She wants to turn my mother against me. I think Sabrina has poisoned her against you and she wants me to call off the divorce.”

Daniella’s eyes widened. “And?”

“What do you mean, and? I am done with that witch,” Adrian said flatly.

Daniella’s voice grew urgent. “Adrian, marry me tomorrow. Who knows what they are planning? You can announce it today.”

Adrian stood quietly, thinking.

Away from Adrian’s house, Sabrina stood at the window of her hotel room, watching the city stir beneath her. The streets pulsed with movement, but her mind was elsewhere. Sleep had been scarce, her thoughts restless.

Victor had promised her that the laboratory would be ready within twenty-four hours, a claim she had dismissed as impossible. At best, she had assumed he meant partially assembled, perhaps structurally prepared.

In her world, facilities of that scale demanded time—equipment had to be sourced, installations calibrated, sterile environments perfected. Even with unlimited resources, such precision could not be conjured overnight.

At precisely nine o’clock, her phone rang.

A calm female voice introduced herself as Victor Laurent’s aide. “Good morning, Dr. Vale. Mr. Laurent has sent a car for you. We are waiting downstairs.”

Sabrina frowned slightly. How many assistants did Victor employ? Drake had already introduced himself as his personal aide.

She dressed quickly and descended in the elevator. A black luxury SUV waited at the entrance, polished to a mirror’s gleam. The driver stepped out, opened the rear door, and offered no unnecessary words. Inside, the leather seats bore the Laurent crest, stitched with quiet authority.

The drive carried her beyond the commercial district into a quieter part of the city, where properties grew larger and more secluded. Buildings gave way to open stretches until the road curved toward iron gates nearly twelve feet high, the Laurent crest engraved in brushed steel at their center. The gates opened without hesitation.

As the vehicle rolled forward, Sabrina’s skepticism began to dissolve.

The driveway stretched endlessly, lined with sculpted trees and manicured hedges. The estate unfolded across acres of private land, self-contained and commanding, like a kingdom apart from the world. The main house rose ahead in layers of glass and stone, vast and deliberate in design. It did not merely occupy space—it dominated it.

She recalled aerial photographs she had once seen of a popstar’s estate in Georgia, a property so expansive it seemed unreal. Victor’s home carried that same ambition, its scale breathtaking.

Sabrina murmured to herself, realizing that Victor’s vast estate would require nearly thirty domestic workers just to keep it running smoothly.

The lawn spread outward in perfect symmetry, a fountain rising and falling at the entrance in controlled rhythm.

To the left, she glimpsed a guest wing. To the right, beyond trimmed greenery, a separate building of reinforced glass and steel caught her eye.

Her heartbeat quickened. The laboratory.

The SUV stopped at the entrance. Victor’s aide greeted her with quiet efficiency and guided her through the foyer.

Inside, the house was even more imposing. Ceilings soared high above, light poured through floor-to-ceiling windows, and marble floors gleamed beneath her heels. Every piece of furniture seemed curated, chosen with precision. It was wealth without clutter, power without noise.

Victor stood at the far end of the hall, waiting.

“Doctor Vale,” he said.

Sabrina turned slowly, still absorbing the grandeur. “I underestimated you,” she admitted.

A faint smile touched his lips. “Yeah. Most people do.”

He gestured toward the glass structure outside. Together they crossed a covered pathway that connected the main house to the laboratory wing. When the doors slid open, Sabrina stopped in her tracks.

The space was fully operational.

Advanced genomic sequencers lined the walls, cryogenic storage units stood sealed and calibrated, air filtration systems hummed at optimal frequency. Sterile stations gleamed with precision. Every surface reflected readiness.

She stepped forward, almost reverently. “This is impossible,” she whispered.

“It is complete,” Victor replied. “As promised.”

Her hand brushed lightly across a stainless-steel counter. “These units alone take weeks to procure. The calibration process—”

“Was handled overnight,” Victor said calmly.

She turned to him, eyes narrowing. “How?”

“I own most of the supplier companies. When I make a request, it is prioritized.”

Sabrina exhaled, the truth settling over her. This was not mere wealth—it was infrastructure bending at command.

She faced him directly. “And the money? Why did you send it?”

The question hung between them.

“I am doing this to help Elias,” she continued. “I did not ask for payment. Even if I were to accept compensation, that amount was excessive.”

Victor’s expression remained steady. “Nothing is excessive when it concerns my heir.”

The word heir carried weight.

“Two and a half million dollars is not a gesture,” she said carefully. “It is a statement.”

“It is security,” he replied. “It ensures you have no distractions, no limitations, no reason to divide your focus. My son’s future is not negotiable.”

Sabrina held his gaze. There was no arrogance in his tone, only certainty.

“I would have done this without the money,” she said quietly.

“I know,” Victor answered. “That is precisely why you received it.”

Silence lingered before she spoke again, her voice softer. “I do not mean to pry, but where is Elias’s mother?”

Victor’s posture shifted almost imperceptibly, but she noticed. “She died during childbirth,” he said evenly.

He did not falter, did not lower his eyes. He delivered the fact as though it were carved in stone.

Sabrina felt a pang of sympathy. “I am sorry. That must have been difficult.”

“It was,” he replied simply.

She nodded gently. “He is fortunate to have you.”

Victor’s gaze softened. “I am the fortunate one. I am fortunate to have him.”

For a moment, the air between them felt less transactional, more human. Sabrina turned back toward the laboratory.

“When do we begin?”

“Immediately,” Victor said.

As she stepped deeper into the lab, she felt something shift within her. Victor’s world was vast, overwhelming, yet beneath the wealth and control was a father who would bend entire systems for his son.

And somewhere within that realization, a quiet question stirred inside her, one she had carried for years.

What would she have done, if given the same power?