Chapter 5 - The Sanctuary of the Penthouse
Within an hour, Adrian had swept Lucía and Mateo out of the hotel’s public areas and up to his private, heavily fortified penthouse on the top floor of the Cole Tower downtown.
The penthouse was a fortress of glass, steel, and state-of-the-art surveillance. Private security detail stood guard at every elevator entrance and private garage bay.
Inside the sprawling living room, Mateo was sitting on a plush sheepskin rug, babbling happily as he played with a set of wooden blocks Jonathan’s team had hastily purchased.
Lucía sat on a velvet sofa, holding a cup of warm tea that Adrian had personally poured for her. She had showered, changed into clean clothes, and finally felt the icy knot of terror in her stomach begin to thaw.
Adrian sat across from her, holding a thick leather dossier.
"Jonathan ran the DNA panel using a cheek swab from Mateo while you were resting," Adrian said gently, pushing a lab report across the table. "It’s a 99.9% match. Mateo is Clara’s son. My biological nephew."
Lucía lowered her gaze, clutching her tea mug tightly. "So... what happens now? Are your lawyers going to take him from me? I don't have money, Mr. Cole. I don't have a high-class home. But I love him. I’ve cared for him every second of his life."
Adrian set his dossier down and looked at Lucía with profound respect.
"Lucía, look at me," Adrian said firmly.
Lucía raised her eyes to meet his.
"You risked your life to save my sister’s baby," Adrian said, his voice thick with genuine emotion. "You lived in poverty, worked double shifts, and hid in shadows just to keep him safe from Julian Vance. Legally, I could petition for custody. But morally? You are his mother. You raised him when I didn't even know he existed."
Tears spilled down Lucía’s cheeks. "You... you won't take him?"
"Never," Adrian promised, reaching across the table to gently touch her hand. "But Julian Vance knows Mateo is alive now. Mrs. Gable was on his payroll. Julian will use every corrupt judge, every hitman, and every loophole to claim Mateo—not because he loves him, but because Clara’s trust fund of four hundred million dollars automatically passes to Mateo on his first birthday."
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Lucía gasped. "Four hundred million?"
"Julian wants the trust," Adrian said, his jaw tightening. "And to get it, he needs Mateo under his legal control. He will destroy anyone who stands in his way. To protect Mateo, Lucía, you and I have to stand together. You cannot go back to that tiny basement apartment. You and Mateo stay with me."
