Chapter 16 - Alessandro’s MotherAlessandro did not speak for eleven minutes.
I timed it.
Not intentionally.
There are simply moments when every second becomes memorable.
His mother was alive.
For thirty-two years, he had believed she was dead.
Catherine Romano had called my phone.
And her first warning was about our daughter.
Finally Alessandro said, “Call her back.”
The number was disconnected.
Victor looked miserable.
Alessandro turned toward him.
“You knew.”
“I knew she left.”
“For thirty-two years.”
“Yes.”
“You watched me visit her grave.”
Victor closed his eyes.
“Yes.”
I had rarely seen Alessandro truly furious since our marriage.
This was different.
Not explosive.
Worse.
Controlled.
“You let me mourn a woman who was alive.”
“I made a promise to your father.”
“I was a child.”
“I know.”
“No. You don't get to say that.”
Victor absorbed every word.
“You're right.”
That stopped Alessandro.
Victor continued.
“I thought loyalty to Antonio meant protecting his decisions. I understand now that some of those decisions were wrong.”
“Where is she?”
“I never knew.”
Alessandro walked out.
I followed him to the garden.
He stood with both hands against the stone wall.
I waited.
Eventually he said, “I don't know what I'm supposed to feel.”
“Then don't choose.”
He looked at me.
“You can be angry and relieved and hurt at the same time.”
“She abandoned me.”
“Maybe.”
“Claire.”
“You've spent half your life discovering that the first version of a story is rarely the whole story.”
He hated that I was right.
I could tell.
Two hours later, Catherine called again.
This time Alessandro answered.
“Mother?”
Silence.
Then a sob.
A small sound.
It destroyed him more effectively than any gunshot.
“Alessandro.”
He closed his eyes.
“Where are you?”
“Safe for now.”
“Why did you leave me?”
I almost stepped away.
He reached for my hand.
So I stayed.
Catherine told him the truth.
Antonio had loved her.
But love had not made their marriage safe.
Enemies watched the family.
Catherine wanted out.
Antonio promised to leave.
Then Sebastian discovered the plan.
He threatened Catherine.
She fled.
Antonio told Alessandro she died because he believed a dead mother could not be used as leverage.
Years later, Catherine secretly returned.
She worked with Michael Shaw and Gabriel’s family to gather evidence against Sebastian.
She was at the warehouse when Samuel killed Jonathan.
“Why did Samuel kill his own son?” I asked.
“Jonathan wanted to confess.”
Catherine’s voice trembled.
“Samuel couldn't allow it.”
“Why did Antonio take the blame?”
“Because Samuel threatened to expose where I was hiding. Antonio believed Sebastian would use me to control Alessandro.”
My husband stared at nothing.
“So Dad protected you.”
“Yes.”
“And you stayed away.”
“I thought I was protecting you.”
Alessandro laughed once.
Bitterly.
“Everyone protected me so thoroughly that I grew up alone.”
Catherine cried.
“I know.”
“No. You know now.”
He almost ended the call.
I squeezed his hand.
Not to stop him.
Only to remind him he wasn't alone anymore.
“Where is Samuel?” he asked.
“He has spent years building influence through legitimate companies. When your foundation began reopening old compensation cases, he realized the Mercer records might surface.”
“So this started because of Second Chance.”
“Yes.”
“And Evelyn?”
“She is leverage.”
My stomach twisted.
“Where are you?” Alessandro asked again.
“St. Anne’s Cemetery.”
Victor frowned.
“Why?”
Catherine whispered, “Because Samuel asked me to meet him beside my own grave.”
We arrived twenty minutes later.
Catherine stood beneath an oak tree.
She was seventy.
Silver hair.
Dark eyes.
Alessandro’s eyes.
My husband stopped walking.
So did she.
Thirty-two years disappeared between them.
“Hello,” she whispered.
Alessandro looked at the gravestone bearing her name.
Then at the living woman beside it.
“That's disturbing.”
She laughed through tears.
It was exactly his laugh.
He heard it too.
His face broke.
Catherine opened her arms but didn't move toward him.
She waited.
The choice remained his.
Alessandro took one step.
Then another.
And hugged his mother.
I looked away.
Some moments belonged to the people who had survived long enough to reach them.
Then Victor shouted.
“DOWN!”
A shot struck Catherine.
Alessandro caught her.
Blood spread across her coat.
I dropped beside them.
“Call an ambulance!”
Catherine gripped Alessandro’s sleeve.
“He found me.”
“You're going to be fine.”
She shook her head.
“Listen.”
“No.”
“Alessandro.”
Her hand touched his face.
“Samuel isn't trying to kill you.”
“Then what does he want?”
Her lips trembled.
“To make you become your father.”
Sirens approached.
Alessandro held her.
“What does that mean?”
Catherine looked at me.
Then toward the cemetery entrance.
A black car disappeared through the gates.
“He wants you angry enough to murder him.”
May you like
Her eyes closed.
“And he wants Claire to watch.”
