KICKED LIKE A DOG, RETURNED LIKE A HIDDEN HEIR

Staying low

Chapter 9

“Fine,” Alexander muttered, his voice clipped as he pushed open the car door. Aria quickly followed, her heels clicking softly against the pavement. The driver slid into his seat, shutting the door behind him before starting the engine. The car rolled smoothly through the quiet streets, neither Alexander nor Aria speaking much during the ride. He sat with his arms folded, his mind racing, while she kept stealing glances at him, wondering what was going through his head.

By the time they reached the house, the sky was already deepening into shades of orange and purple. As soon as they stepped inside, Alexander’s eyes immediately caught sight of his mother, Chloe. She was in the sitting room, carefully folding and arranging clothes on a wide couch, her delicate hands moving with practiced ease.

“Mother!” Alexander’s voice broke as he hurried forward. He wrapped his arms around her, clinging tightly like the boy he used to be, not the composed man he had become. “Why didn’t you tell me about it?” His words carried both hurt and desperation.

Chloe froze for a moment before resting her hand gently on his shoulder. Her smile was soft but tinged with sorrow. “I am sorry, my dear,” she said quietly, stroking his hair. “I can’t do that. I can’t tell you because everything I’ve done is only to protect you—from the evil eyes watching us, from dangers you cannot yet see.”

Her words, though meant to soothe, only deepened the ache in his chest. Alexander pulled back slightly, searching her eyes for answers she refused to give.

“Good evening, Mrs. Marcello,” Aria’s voice chimed softly from behind. She had stood respectfully at the door, not wanting to intrude.

Chloe turned, her expression brightening with a small smile as she gave a gentle nod. “Aria, right?”

“Yes, ma,” Aria answered politely, returning her smile.

“I’ve heard about you,” Chloe said, her voice carrying a tone of both curiosity and warmth. “How is your father doing these days?”

Aria hesitated for a moment, taken aback by the question, before her lips curved into a soft, practiced smile. She stepped forward, folding her hands politely in front of her.

"He is fine, and I am here to protect the young master. That is my duty, after all," Aria replied firmly, her voice carrying both loyalty and reassurance. Chloe’s eyes softened at her words, and she gave a gentle nod.

"I trust you, Aria," Chloe said, her tone calm but weighted with unspoken fears.

Alexander, who had been quietly observing, suddenly broke the silence. His brows furrowed, his voice uncertain yet laced with curiosity. "Mother… don’t you ever regret it?"

Chloe tilted her head, studying her son. "Regret what, my love?" she asked softly, though she already sensed where his thoughts were leading.

"Regret being poor when you’re actually rich," Alexander said, his voice rising slightly as he gestured around the modest home they lived in. "Look at where we are staying now, compared to where you once were. You’ve lived in a mansion, you’ve tasted true luxury, and yet here we are in a place that doesn’t befit your status. Doesn’t it… hurt you?"

Chloe let out a quiet sigh, her gaze drifting to the window as though she were staring into memories long buried. When she turned back to him, her expression carried both strength and sorrow.

"If pretending to be poor and living here means my son will be alive, then I would gladly choose it—over and over again," she said with conviction. "Alexander, you speak this way because you do not fully understand the kind of influence our family holds in society. With influence comes envy, with envy comes rivalry, and with rivalry… enemies. Many enemies. Too many to count. And the truth is, you, my son, are the one they fear the most. That is why we hide. That is why we sacrifice."

Her words hung heavy in the air, sinking into Alexander’s chest. He swallowed hard, realizing that the life of simplicity he had despised might be the very thing keeping him alive.

Alexander clenched his fists, frustration building in him. "But Mother, how long will we keep hiding? How long will I live in fear of enemies I haven’t even seen? You say they fear me, but I don’t even know why. What have I done?"

Chloe’s eyes softened, but there was a flicker of pain she could not conceal. She reached out, brushing his cheek with her palm. "You were born, Alexander. That is enough. Sometimes, being who you are is more dangerous than anything you could ever do."

Aria, who had been silently listening, shifted uncomfortably. Her hand rested on the hilt of her dagger as though the mere mention of danger brought enemies closer. "The young master is right to ask, Mrs Machello" she said carefully. "He deserves to know why so many would wish him harm. Secrets can protect him only for so long."

Chloe’s lips pressed into a thin line. For a moment she looked torn, caught between the instinct to protect her son and the weight of the truth she carried. Finally, she exhaled slowly, her voice low and deliberate.

"Our family… is not ordinary, Alexander. Your father came from a bloodline that controlled more than wealth. They controlled power—real power—hidden from the common eye. It made us untouchable, yet it cursed us at the same time. Many sought that power, and when your father was alive, enemies multiplied like shadows at sunset."

Alexander’s chest tightened. "And you never told me this before? You let me grow up thinking we were just… normal? Poor?"

"Normal is what kept you alive," Chloe replied firmly, her voice breaking slightly. "If the world knew who you truly are, Alexander, you would not even live to see tomorrow."

"I am sorry, Alexander. I am so sorry you had to hear it from a stranger instead of from me," Chloe said, her voice trembling with guilt.

Alexander lowered his gaze, his tone heavy with worry. "So… what happens now? Are we moving out of here? Because I may have already made things worse today. I used the card Langston gave me, and I found out people already know I’m alive. Are we still pretending to lie low?"

Chloe inhaled deeply, steadying herself before answering. "Yes. For now, we stay exactly where we are. They may know you’re alive, but they still don’t know who you truly are. That secret is the only shield we have left."