All Chapters of the bodyguard's secret: Chapter 61 - Chapter 70

The first Thanksgiving at their expanded home was a revelation in controlled chaos. Leo stood in their new, larger kitchen, watching Silas carve the turkey while Harlan regaled their guests with stories from his latest woodworking projects. The dining room table—one of Silas's masterpieces, crafted specifically for occasions like this—was set for twelve people, more than they'd ever hosted before. "I can't believe we're doing this," Leo murmured to Silas as he checked on the sweet potatoes. "A year ago, we could barely handle having three people over for dinner." "And now look at us," Silas replied, his voice warm with satisfaction. "Hosting Thanksgiving for our entire chosen family." The guest list was a testament to how much their world had expanded. Harlan, of course, who had become like a father to both of them. Petrova, who had flown in from her latest assignment with Doctors Without Borders. Reynolds, who had driven down from Seattle with his new boyfriend, a software en

The blueprints were spread across their kitchen table like a map of their future, detailed drawings that showed how their modest house could be expanded to accommodate Leo's growing success and their evolving needs. Leo traced the lines with his finger, envisioning the new studio space that would be large enough for major installations, the expanded workshop where Silas could take on bigger projects, the guest suite where visiting artists or workshop participants could stay. "It's a lot," Silas said, studying the plans with his practical eye. "Are you sure we want to change this much? This house has been our sanctuary for so long." Leo understood his husband's hesitation. Their home had been their refuge, the place where they'd learned to heal and love and simply exist without fear. The idea of major construction, of disrupting the peace they'd worked so hard to create, was daunting. "I don't want to change what we have," Leo said carefully. "I want to expand it. The core of t

The article appeared in a national art magazine, a glossy, high-profile publication that had been clamoring for an in-depth feature on Leo since the Whitney Biennial. The piece was supposed to be a celebration of his work, a deep dive into his artistic process and the success of The Anchor Workshop. But when Leo opened the magazine and saw the headline, his blood ran cold. "The Tragic Muse: How Leo Moretti Transformed a Life of Abuse into Art." Leo scanned the first few paragraphs, his horror growing with each word. The article wasn't about his art—it was about his past. It detailed his marriage to Dominic, the emotional and physical abuse he had suffered, his dramatic escape, even hints about the mysterious circumstances of Dominic's death. It was a sensationalized, exploitative account that stripped away his privacy and reduced his entire life and career to the trauma he had fought so hard to overcome. "How did they get this?" Leo whispered, his hands shaking as he held

Leo stared at the report from the security firm, his mind struggling to process the information. His father. The man who had disowned him, who hadn't spoken to him in over twenty years, was the one behind the systematic campaign to destroy his life and his work. It didn't make any sense. "Why?" Leo asked, his voice a hoarse whisper. "Why would he do this?" "The report suggests a possible motive," said David Chen, the head of the security firm, who had flown to Oregon to deliver the news in person. "Your father's business has been failing for several years. He's on the verge of bankruptcy. It seems he saw your success, your MacArthur grant, as a source of potential funding. When you didn't offer to bail him out, he decided to... retaliate." Leo felt a wave of sickness wash over him. His father wasn't just trying to destroy him out of spite or disapproval—he was trying to extort him. He was holding Leo's life and reputation hostage in a twisted attempt to get money. "There's m

Five years after the decision to create The Anchor Institute, the day of the official groundbreaking ceremony arrived. The twenty-acre parcel of land had been transformed. The old farmhouse had been beautifully restored to serve as the administrative heart of the campus. The barns had been converted into state-of-the-art workshop spaces for everything from painting and sculpture to woodworking and fiber arts. New buildings had been constructed to house a residential facility for trainees, a dining hall, and a conference center with a stunning view of the valley. Leo stood on the podium, looking out at the crowd of several hundred people who had gathered for the ceremony—local community members, former workshop participants, major donors, and the first cohort of trainees for the new institute. He felt a sense of awe at what they had accomplished. The Anchor Institute was no longer just a dream—it was a reality, a testament to the power of community, resilience, and a shared vision.