Her voice came down the marble like broken glass. *Get out of my house.

By noon, the atmosphere inside the Hudson estate had drastically changed.

The second-floor suite—a magnificent set of rooms decorated in cream silk, mahogany furniture, and floor-to-ceiling windows—was thrown open. Two housekeepers carried up fresh linen, fresh flowers, and brand-new clothes purchased from the city’s top boutiques.

Rosa sat on the edge of the plush canopy bed, staring at her hands. She felt like an intruder in a museum.

"Mama," Lily chimed softly, sitting on a velvet armchair, swinging her small feet in her duck socks. "Look at the big window!"

Rosa looked over at her daughter, tears welling in her eyes. "Lily... you must be very quiet and very good in this house, okay?"

"I am good," Lily said plainly, hugging a brand-new teddy bear the butler had brought up twenty minutes earlier.

The door to the suite opened softly, and Silas walked in. He had removed his heavy coat and wore a simple gray vest and white shirt. He held a small silver tray carrying warm tea and fresh pastries.

"You don't need to serve us, Don Moretti," Rosa said quickly, standing up from the bed.

"Inside these walls, you call me Silas," he corrected gently, setting the tray on the coffee table. He sat down on the sofa, gesturing for Rosa to sit across from him.

"Does... does the rest of your family know?" Rosa asked nervously.

"My two younger sons, Marcus and Dante, are on their way back from the city right now," Silas said, his eyes darkening slightly. "They need to know the truth."

"Will they... will they accept us?"