Chapter 4 - THE VIPER IN THE HOUSE
Before Hannah could process the horrific revelation, the heavy oak front doors of Hawthorne House chimed. Mrs. Bell, the housekeeper, answered it. A moment later, heavy footsteps echoed in the marble foyer.
"Adrian! Are you in here?"
It was Nolan.
Hannah gasped, stepping instinctively in front of Maisie. Adrian’s eyes darted to the toolbox. He slammed the false bottom shut, shoved the notebook and burner phone into his suit jacket pocket, and threw a newspaper over the red metal box just as Nolan strolled into the library.
Nolan Mercer was impeccably dressed in a tailored gray suit, his smile sharp and predatory. "There you are. We need to go over the quarterly projections before the board meeting tomorrow—" Nolan stopped, his eyes landing on Hannah and the little girl. He frowned. "What is the help doing in the sanctuary?"
Adrian slipped the sapphire ring into his pocket, his knuckles white. He forced his facial muscles to relax. "Just dealing with a domestic issue, Nolan. Hannah was just leaving."
Nolan’s gaze lingered on Maisie. The little girl stared back, unfazed. "I don't like him," Maisie said plainly. "He smells like the scary man who yelled at Daddy."
Nolan’s smile vanished. "Excuse me?"
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"Take her downstairs, Hannah," Adrian ordered sharply, giving the maid a look that clearly meant run.
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