Hidden Enemy

The night passed in a tense silence, the air heavy with unease. Despite Alexander's insistence, Mia refused to retreat to bed. She stayed with him in the study, her presence offering him a calm he desperately needed. Every so often, he would glance at her and find her hand resting on her belly, her expression a mix of worry and determination.

Morning came, but with it, no answers—only more questions. The shattered window and Emily's cryptic warning lingered in Alexander's mind like a puzzle missing too many pieces.

As breakfast was served in the grand dining room, Emily was notably absent. Alexander's sharp gaze swept over the staff, his mind working quickly. He wouldn't let anyone slip through the cracks.

"Where's Emily?" Mia finally asked, breaking the silence.

"She called in sick this morning," said the head of housekeeping, glancing nervously at Alexander.

"Sick?" Alexander repeated, his voice cold and sharp enough to make the woman flinch.

"Yes, sir. She said she wasn't feeling well and needed a day to rest."

Alexander exchanged a look with one of his security team members stationed by the door. "Find her. Bring her here now," he ordered.

An hour later, Emily was brought to the estate. She looked disheveled, her usual composure replaced by a raw, frightened energy.

"Why did you leave without permission?" Alexander demanded, his tone icy.

Emily wrung her hands, avoiding his gaze. "I…I was scared," she stammered.

"Of what?" Mia asked gently, stepping forward despite Alexander's protective hand on her arm.

Emily hesitated, her eyes darting around the room before finally settling on Mia. "Of them," she whispered.

"Who is 'them'?" Alexander asked, his patience clearly wearing thin.

"I don't know exactly," Emily admitted, her voice trembling. "But there's been talk. Whispers among some of the staff. I overheard someone say that you and your family…that you're being watched. That someone on the inside is helping them."

"Helping who?" Mia pressed, her heart pounding.

Emily shook her head, tears brimming in her eyes. "I don't know. I swear. But I heard them say something about the baby. That they're waiting for the right moment."

Mia's blood ran cold, and she instinctively placed her hand over her growing belly.

Alexander stood, his towering presence radiating fury. "You should have reported this the moment you heard it," he snapped.

"I was scared!" Emily cried. "I didn't know who to trust. Please, believe me—I would never hurt you or Mrs. Blackwood."

Alexander regarded her with a hard stare before motioning to one of his guards. "Take her to a secure location. I want every word she says recorded."

As Emily was escorted out, Mia turned to Alexander, her voice shaking. "They're targeting our baby, Alexander. What are we going to do?"

That afternoon, Alexander gathered his most trusted allies in his private office. Mia sat beside him, refusing to be excluded despite his initial protests.

"We have a mole," Alexander began, his voice steely. "Someone inside this estate is feeding information to whoever is behind this. Until we find them, no one is above suspicion."

"What about Emily?" one of his security leads asked.

"Keep her under surveillance," Alexander replied. "I don't trust her, but she might lead us to the real threat."

As the meeting progressed, Mia couldn't shake the feeling that they were missing something critical. She thought back to Emily's words: They're waiting for the right moment.

"What if it's not just one person?" Mia said suddenly, her voice cutting through the tense room.

Everyone turned to her, and Alexander frowned. "What do you mean?"

"What if there's more than one mole?" she said. "It would explain why we haven't been able to catch anyone. They're covering for each other."

The room fell silent as her words sank in. Alexander's expression hardened. "Then we'll find every last one of them."

That night, Alexander set a trap. He instructed his security team to spread false information about Mia and the baby's movements, hoping to draw out the traitor.

Mia, though nervous, trusted Alexander's plan. She knew he would do whatever it took to protect her and their unborn child.

Hours passed without incident, and Mia began to hope that perhaps the threat had been exaggerated. But as the clock struck midnight, the sound of hurried footsteps echoed through the estate.

Alexander, watching from a hidden surveillance room, leaned forward, his eyes narrowing as one of the staff members slipped into his private office.

"Got you," he muttered, signaling his team.

Within moments, the traitor was apprehended—a young man who worked in the kitchens.

Under intense interrogation, he revealed that he had been feeding information to an unknown contact in exchange for money.

"I don't know who they are," he confessed, his voice shaking. "They always contacted me through burner phones. But they wanted updates on Mrs. Blackwood. Especially her pregnancy."

Alexander's hands clenched into fists. "Did they say why?"

The man shook his head. "No. Just that they needed to know as much as possible about her schedule."

Alexander dismissed the man with a cold glare, turning to his team. "Find out who he's been communicating with. I want answers by morning."

As the traitor was dragged away, Mia leaned against Alexander, her fear finally spilling over.

"They're not going to stop, are they?" she whispered.

Alexander wrapped his arms around her, his jaw tightening. "No," he said. "But neither am I. And I swear, Mia—I'll destroy anyone who dares to threaten our family."