Golden Cage Mommy Mutiny (Elyse) novel Chapter 78

The sight of the mansion left me speechless.

It rose twelve stories high, spread across what had to be ten acres, the entire structure gleaming white like a private version of the White House–grand, regal, and untouchable.

The gardens stretched for what must’ve been a hundred acres of manicured perfection–towering oaks, a private lake, winding paths, and an open gazebo overlooking the water. It looked less like a house and more like a private estate hidden from the world.

If I hadn’t seen it myself, I wouldn’t have believed that such a place could belong to a single family.

Julian jumped out of the car and tugged me along, running straight to a tall silver fir near the main

path.

“Mira, look!” he said, grinning. “I planted this tree when I was nine. Almost ten years ago now. Look how tall it’s gotten.”

I tilted my head back, impressed. “You’ve got quite the green thumb. It’s grown tall and strong.”

He laughed proudly. “Of course! I’m the tree–planting king around here. My mom gave me that title before she passed.”

The light in his eyes dimmed for a moment, sadness flickering across his face.

I opened my mouth to comfort him, but he lifted his gaze again, earnest and bright. “Mira, can I plant another one next to it? For you. So it won’t be lonely anymore.”

Something tugged in my chest.

From our talk in the car, I’d learned how Vincent’s paranoia had built this fortress around his son.

He had enemies everywhere, so Julian had grown up sealed inside this estate, tutored at home, watched by guards, escorted by convoys.

Even now, as we walked through the gardens, at least a dozen bodyguards followed from a polite

distance.

He’d lived his whole life in safety–and isolation. It was no wonder he’d run away; no wonder he’d wanted to breathe.

But the moment he stepped out, he ran straight into people like Tessa and her gang.

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I nodded. “Sure. Let’s plant one together. I’m a pretty good gardener myself.”

His face lit up like the sun, and he jumped for joy.

After showing me his tree, he took me to the pond where he fed his fish, then to the stables where he kept his horses.

He told me how his father never let him get close to anyone, so animals had always been his only

friends.

When he said it, his voice wavered with uncertainty, but he quickly forced a laugh.

“Mira, I think my dad actually likes you,” he said. “Usually, if anyone gets near me, he drives them off. But when I said I wanted to bring you home, he didn’t say a word. I think he’s fine with it.”

His grin widened, boyish and sincere. “You should stay here. Be my friend. Forever.”

I froze, unsure how to answer.

When he saw my hesitation, his eyes dimmed and filled with moisture. “You don’t like me, do you? You don’t want to be my friend.”

The sight of his trembling mouth broke my heart.

I couldn’t bring myself to refuse, so I nodded. “Of course, Julian. I’d love to be your friend.”

He lit up instantly and wrapped his arms around me in a tight, almost desperate hug.

Across the courtyard, Vincent cleared his throat–once, twice, déliberately.

I quickly stepped back, prying Julian off me.

Vincent waved over a butler and said with a smile that didn’t reach his eyes, “Dinner’s ready.”

After the meal, one of the staff escorted me to a guest suite on the top floor.

Julian wanted to follow, but Vincent stopped him with a word.

As I climbed the stairs alone, unease prickled through me.

Stories whispered through my head–about the people who’d gotten too close to the Crowes and were never seen again.

Chapter 7