All Chapters of MARRIED TO MY MOTHER’S KILLER : Chapter 51 - Chapter 60

The drive back to Blackwood Estate was silent. No one spoke. Rain streaked across the windows of the SUV, blurring the city into smears of gold and gray. The same streets that had once made New York feel like Eliam’s kingdom now seemed strangely unfamiliar. Avaline sat beside him. Close enough to feel the warmth of his body. Far enough to feel like a stranger. Eliam hadn’t looked at her since they left the warehouse. Not once. His attention remained fixed on the city outside. His face was expressionless, but Avaline knew him well enough now to recognize the tension in his jaw. He was hurting. And she was the reason. She lowered her eyes. “I didn’t know.” Nothing. “I swear, Eliam.” His gaze remained on the window. “I never knew what Dante intended to do with the information.” Still nothing. Avaline swallowed. “I thought it was about security. Schedules. Movements. Nothing more.” Eliam finally spoke. “You gave them access.” Her heart sank. “Yes.” “You gave them i

Eliam stared at the photographs scattered across the library floor.Each one captured a moment he had almost forgotten.Avaline laughing at something Gabriella had said.Avaline asleep on the sofa while Gabriella rested against her.The three of them walking through the garden.His hand resting unconsciously against Avaline’s back at a charity gala.A photograph from their wedding day.He remembered every moment.That was the problem.Gabriella walked between them and picked up one of the photographs.“This one is my favorite.”Eliam looked down.It showed Avaline standing beside him beneath the wedding arch.They weren’t looking at the camera.They were looking at each other.He remembered that moment too.He had been surprised by how beautiful she looked.More than that, he remembered the feeling.For once, he hadn’t been thinking about the contract.He hadn’t been thinking about business.He had simply been looking at his wife.Gabriella held the photograph toward him.“You smiled.

The first alarm sounded before Eliam reached the ground floor.A sharp, continuous warning echoed through Blackwood Estate.Gabriella woke immediately.Avaline ran toward her bedroom.“Gabby!”The little girl sat upright, frightened.“What happened?”Avaline crossed the room and lifted her into her arms.“I don’t know yet.”Eliam appeared in the doorway.His expression was controlled, but his eyes had changed.“We’re leaving.”“Where?”“Safe room.”Gabriella wrapped her arms around Avaline’s neck.“Is someone coming?”Eliam stepped closer.“No one is getting near you.”He looked at Avaline.“Stay with me.”They moved quickly through the hallway.Luca’s voice came through Eliam’s earpiece.“Eliam, the estate perimeter has been breached.”“How many?”“Unknown.”“Lock down every entrance.”“Already done.”A gunshot echoed somewhere outside.Gabriella flinched.Avaline held her tighter.Eliam immediately stepped in front of them.“Keep moving.”They reached the hidden passage leading towa

The sound of the opening door echoed through the dark hallway.Eliam immediately pulled Avaline behind him.“Stay here.”She tightened her hold on Gabriella.“Whoever is inside knows the estate.”Luca raised his weapon.“Which means they have access.”Eliam’s eyes moved through the darkness.“Check the west corridor.”Luca nodded and disappeared.Avaline whispered, “Where is Eleanor?”“I don’t know.”“You think she took the music box?”“No.”The answer came instantly.Avaline looked at him.“You’re sure?”“Not about anything anymore.”A faint click came from the end of the hallway.Eliam raised his weapon.“Who’s there?”Nothing.Then a voice answered.“Eliam.”He froze.“Grandmother?”Eleanor stepped into the emergency light.She looked calm.Almost too calm.Avaline watched her carefully.Eleanor’s eyes moved to Gabriella.“Come here, sweetheart.”Gabriella hesitated.Eliam stepped between them.“Where were you?”“Safe room.”“You weren’t there.”Eleanor’s expression remained compos

By dawn, Blackwood Estate looked like a wounded fortress.Smoke still drifted above the eastern wing.Several windows had been shattered.Security vehicles filled the driveway, while firefighters moved through the damaged sections of the mansion.The attack was over.But nobody believed they were safe.Eliam stood outside the estate, watching the smoke disappear into the pale morning sky.Beside him, Avaline held Gabriella.The little girl had barely spoken since the attack.Eliam turned toward them.“Is she okay?”Avaline nodded.“She finally slept.”His eyes softened.“Good.”For a moment, neither spoke.The distance between them from the previous days was still there.But it wasn’t as sharp.Not after what they had survived together.Eliam looked at Avaline.“Thank you.”She blinked.“For what?”“For protecting her.”“I would always protect Gabriella.”“I know.”Their eyes met.Then Gabriella stirred.“Eliam?”He immediately walked over.“Yes?”“Is our house broken?”“Only part of