Chapter 4 - The Secret Buried in the Moretti Family
“My brother?”
The word echoed through the consultation room.
Alexander stood in the doorway, looking like a man who had finally reached the edge of a cliff.
I stared at him.
“Your father died eight years ago.”
“I know.”
“And you're telling me he had another son?”
Alexander nodded.
“Ethan was born from an affair my father had with a woman named Margaret Hayes.”
“Olivia's mother?”
“Yes.”
I looked at Dr. Ross.
Then Daniel.
Then back at my husband.
“So Olivia is your half sister?”
“No. Olivia is Margaret's daughter from an earlier relationship. Ethan is my father's son.”
The explanation was almost absurdly simple.
And somehow worse.
Because it meant Alexander had been telling the truth about one thing.
Olivia wasn't his mistress.
At least, not necessarily.
But he had still humiliated me for her.
“Why didn't you tell me?”
Alexander's voice was low.
“My father made arrangements before he died. Ethan's existence was concealed because several people believed he could become a target.”
“A target for what?”
“Control of the family assets.”
I laughed bitterly.
“Of course. Everything in your world eventually comes back to money.”
“Claire—”
“No. You don't get to say my name like that.”
He fell silent.
I gestured toward my stomach.
“Someone tried to access our baby's medical information. Did you authorize it?”
His expression changed instantly.
“What?”
“Answer me.”
“No.”
“Do you know about Halcyon Medical Research?”
He hesitated.
That hesitation was enough.
“Alexander.”
“I know the company.”
“Did you transfer twelve million dollars from my family's trust into it?”
His jaw tightened.
“I authorized certain investments.”
“With a forged signature?”
He looked genuinely confused.
“What forged signature?”
Daniel opened his briefcase and placed the document on the table.
Alexander examined it.
For the first time since I had known him, I watched genuine shock break through his composure.
“I've never seen this.”
“Your company filed it,” Daniel said.
Alexander looked at him.
“Then someone used my company's authority without my knowledge.”
“That's a serious allegation,” Daniel replied. “And one we'll verify.”
I crossed my arms.
“Tell me about Ethan.”
Alexander sat down.
“He has a rare blood disorder. He's been receiving treatment for years.”
“Is he dying?”
Alexander looked at Dr. Ross.
She answered carefully.
“His prognosis is private. But I can confirm that the medical situation is serious and requires specialist care.”
Alexander rubbed his face.
“I've been trying to help him.”
“By giving Olivia jewelry?”
His eyes closed.
“Claire, the necklace was never supposed to happen like that.”
I stared at him.
“Then explain how it was supposed to happen.”
He hesitated.
“Olivia had been receiving threats. Someone demanded that I publicly acknowledge her importance to me.”
“And you obeyed?”
“I thought it would protect Ethan.”
“From whom?”
“I don't know.”
I stepped back.
“That's not an answer.”
“I know.”
“No, Alexander. You don't know. Because if you understood what you did, you wouldn't still be explaining it as though humiliating your pregnant wife was an unfortunate business decision.”
He looked devastated.
But I was finished protecting his feelings.
“Did Olivia know the necklace was promised to me?”
Alexander said nothing.
I nodded.
“She did.”
He looked down.
“Yes.”
There it was.
The truth.
Small.
Ugly.
Unavoidable.
“She asked you to give it to her anyway.”
“Yes.”
“And you agreed.”
He swallowed.
“Yes.”
I turned toward the door.
“Claire, wait.”
I stopped.
“There's one more thing,” he said.
I didn't turn around.
“What?”
“Ethan doesn't know who his father was.”
That made me pause.
“Why?”
“Because my father's will contains a provision that could change everything if Ethan's identity becomes public.”
Daniel looked up sharply.
“What provision?”
Alexander hesitated.
Then said, “A controlling interest in Moretti Global passes to any previously unacknowledged biological child who comes forward before turning eighteen.”
I turned slowly.
“How old is Ethan?”
“Seventeen.”
“When does he turn eighteen?”
Alexander's face tightened.
“In nineteen days.”
Before anyone could speak, his phone rang.
He answered.
A man's frantic voice filled the room.
“Mr. Moretti, there's been an incident at Ethan's school.”
Alexander went rigid.
“What kind of incident?”
May you like
The answer came through clearly.
“Someone tried to take him. His security guard is in the hospital.”
