The Heir He Left Behind Chapter 06
“It’s me.” He set the damp handkerchief aside.
I struggled to sit up. “Landon, I swear I took every pill you gave me. You can check. I don’t know how I got
pregnant. As soon as I found out, I went to the clinic. But there was an explosion. The power went out. They
couldn’t finish.”
I knew better than to lie to a man like him.
“You can schedule the surgery now. If you don’t trust me, you can stay and watch.”
“Cassie Moretti.” He cut me off.
“I don’t hurt women or children.” His eyes moved over my face. “Especially not my own.”
He leaned down, brushing damp hair from my forehead with his long fingers. “Rest. Stop worrying.”
I didn’t understand.
The day I was discharged, Landon asked me.
“Cassie Moretti. Will you come with me?”
He stood there in a simple black coat, surrounded by bodyguards.
Going with him meant safety. Luxury. No worries.
It also meant being a bird in a gilded cage.
His eyes were soft- but how long would that softness last?
It took me a long time to find my voice. “Landon, I’m grateful. Truly. But I’m sorry. I can’t come with you.”
The air froze. Behind him, his men bowed their heads, not daring to breathe. My palms were slick with sweat.
“All right.” His voice broke the silence. His face was still unreadable. “This must be hard for you.”
I shook my head quickly. “No, I’m fine. Please don’t worry.”
He nodded slightly. “Do you have enough money?”
“Yes.”
“If you need anything, contact me.”
“Okay.”
“Cassie Moretti, I mean it.” He emphasized each word.
“I know, Landon. I won’t do anything stupid.”
“Good.” He gave me one last look, then turned and got into the car.
I watched the taillights disappear, then slowly put my hand on my belly and let out a long breath.
After they’d driven a while, Landon spoke. “David. Do I look scary?”
“Don, there’s no one gentler than you. Why would you ask?”
“She seems afraid of me.”
David paused. “Miss Moretti just doesn’t know you well yet. You haven’t spent much time together.”
Landon didn’t seem to hear. He stared out the window, turning the cross bracelet on his wrist.
“Even with a child, she still won’t stay with me.”
David fell silent. When Miss Moretti had screamed for help, he’d thought the Don was just showing a rare
moment of kindness.
Even after Landon brought her home, David hadn’t thought much of it. Landon had been single for years. The old lady worried constantly. Even the servants hoped he would marry soon.
But in the end, the girl left.
David watched her struggle in the slums, working herself ragged just to survive.
Miss Moretti had been a Mafia princess. She’d probably never even washed a dish. Yet she endured all that
suffering.
That stubborn resilience clearly captivated Landon. He sent men to watch over her from the shadows. When he learned she’d nearly miscarried, he walked out of a critical negotiation and flew home.
On that flight, everyone could see how exhausted he was.
David had thought the family would finally have a lady of the house. But she still said no.
David tried to comfort him. “Don, if it’s too hard… I could just bring her back by force?”
Landon glanced at him, cold. “David. Nobody touches her.”
“But, Don -”
David was so anxious he forgot his place.
“If she wants that kind of life, let her have it. As long as she’s happy.”
“Don..”
“Enough.” Landon closed his eyes. David had no choice but to shut up.