Chapter 4 - THE WOMAN WHO LOOKED LIKE ME
Her name was Isabella Moretti.
She had been Luca's closest friend since childhood.
And according to him, she was Leo's biological mother.
But she had never been his wife.
"Isabella and I weren't romantically involved," Luca explained. "Leo came into my care through circumstances that are complicated."
I frowned.
"What does that mean?"
"It means there are things about his birth I haven't been able to explain to him."
He looked toward the photograph.
"Isabella was killed during the kidnapping."
My breath caught.
"I thought you said she disappeared."
"We never recovered her body."
Silence filled the room.
I studied the woman's face again.
The resemblance was unsettling.
Not identical.
But close enough to explain why Leo might have recognized me.
"Did you hire me because I look like her?"
Luca's eyes met mine.
"No."
"Then why didn't you tell me?"
"Because I didn't want you to think you were replacing someone."
I set the photograph down.
"I'm not Isabella."
"I know."
"And Leo deserves to understand that."
"I agree."
His answer surprised me.
For the first time, I realized Luca wasn't trying to control every part of his son's life.
He was terrified of making another mistake.
The following week, he invited me to a charity gala.
I hesitated.
Sebastian had spent years convincing me I embarrassed him in public.
"I don't know how to behave around your friends."
Luca looked almost offended.
"You don't need to perform for anyone."
"But what if they judge me?"
"Then they can leave."
That evening, I wore a midnight-blue gown.
When I came downstairs, Luca stopped speaking.
Leo grinned.
"Daddy forgot how to talk."
At the gala, Luca introduced me as his wife.
For a few wonderful minutes, I forgot my past.
Then Sebastian appeared.
He stared at me.
"Nora?"
I turned.
He looked me up and down.
"Well, I'll be damned. You finally learned how to dress."
I said nothing.
He stepped closer.
"I heard you were working as a nanny. I suppose this is your employer's party?"
"Sebastian, leave me alone."
He smiled.
"Still pretending you're too good for me?"
Then he leaned toward my ear.
"Come home, apologize to my mother, and maybe I'll forgive you."
I stepped backward.
"We're divorced."
"That was supposed to teach you a lesson."
His words made something inside me snap.
"You threw me onto the street."
"And look how much you've improved because of it."
Before I could answer, Luca appeared beside me.
"Is there a problem?"
Sebastian straightened immediately.
"Mr. Castellano. Sebastian Shaw, Shaw Medical."
He extended his hand.
Luca ignored it.
Instead, he rested his hand gently against my back.
"Nora, do you know this man?"
"My ex-husband."
Sebastian laughed nervously.
"Yes, unfortunately. She was never suited to my family's lifestyle."
Luca's expression darkened.
"Interesting."
He looked at Sebastian.
"Your company has been requesting a meeting with mine."
"Yes, sir."
"Consider the request denied."
Sebastian went pale.
"Because of her?"
"No," Luca answered. "Because you've just demonstrated how you treat people when you believe they have no power."
He guided me away.
But as we approached the ballroom, a woman wearing a silver dress stepped into our path.
She looked at me.
Then at Luca.
Her face drained of color.
"Isabella?" she whispered.
Luca stopped.
"Vanessa?"
The woman backed away.
"That's impossible."
May you like
Then she dropped her champagne glass.
"Because I watched Isabella die."
