Chapter 9 - THE BRIDE THEY NEVER EXPECTED
I had spent my entire life believing I was an only child.
Now a federal investigator was suggesting otherwise.
My mother's records showed that she'd given birth to another daughter before I was born.
The child had been placed for adoption.
Her name had been changed.
But investigators had found evidence connecting her to Isabella Moretti.
I stared at the documents.
"Are you saying Isabella was my sister?"
"We believe she may have been your half sister," the investigator answered. "We're awaiting genetic confirmation."
Luca sat beside me.
Neither of us spoke.
Suddenly, everything seemed different.
My resemblance to Isabella.
My mother's involvement.
Leo's strange recognition of me.
For the first time, I understood why the little boy had looked at me as though he already knew me.
But there was another possibility.
If Isabella was my sister, Leo might be my nephew.
The DNA results arrived four days later.
The relationship was confirmed.
Isabella was my maternal half sister.
And Leo was her biological son.
I cried when I read the report.
Not because I was frightened.
Because I had unknowingly found the last surviving piece of a family I'd never known existed.
When I told Leo, he frowned.
"Does that mean you're my aunt?"
"Yes, sweetheart."
He considered this.
"Can you still be my mom?"
I pulled him into my arms.
"Of course."
He smiled.
"Good. Because I already picked you."
Luca watched us from the doorway.
His expression softened.
That evening, he asked me to walk with him through the garden.
"I want to marry you again," he said.
I laughed.
"We're already married."
"Legally."
"That usually counts."
He smiled.
"But you never had a wedding. You never got to choose a dress. And you never got the chance to say yes because you loved me."
I stopped walking.
He took a small velvet box from his pocket.
Inside was a simple sapphire ring.
"Then I'm asking properly."
He lowered himself onto one knee.
"Nora Bennett, will you marry me because you want to spend your life with me? Not because Leo needs a mother. Not because of a contract. Just because you choose me?"
Tears blurred my vision.
"Yes."
For the first time in years, the word felt entirely mine.
Our wedding was scheduled for the following month.
The guest list included business leaders, politicians, family friends, and people Luca had known for decades.
The bride's identity was kept private.
Naturally, Sebastian received an invitation through one of his remaining business connections.
He assumed Luca was marrying a wealthy heiress.
And he decided to attend with Vanessa's former social rival, hoping to rebuild his reputation.
On the wedding morning, I stood before a mirror wearing an ivory silk gown.
Leo appeared in the doorway.
He wore a tiny black tuxedo.
"Mom, are you ready?"
I smiled.
"Almost."
He offered his hand.
"Dad says if you're nervous, he'll come carry you."
I laughed.
"Tell your father I can walk."
Leo nodded seriously.
"That's what I told him."
We entered the ballroom together.
Hundreds of guests turned.
At the far end of the aisle stood Luca.
And near the front row sat Sebastian Shaw.
When he saw me, his face went completely white.
He stood so abruptly his chair fell backward.
"NORA?"
Every head turned.
He stared at my gown.
At Leo holding my hand.
At Luca waiting beside the altar.
May you like
Then he shouted:
"THIS WEDDING IS A LIE!"
