Chapter 3 - THE WOMAN WHO DISAPPEARED
I didn't sleep that night.
The newspaper clipping remained open on my phone, and every time I closed my eyes, I saw the woman's face.
Isabella Moretti.
She was beautiful, with dark hair, delicate features, and the same silver ring design Alexander and I had worn.
The headline read:
MISSING HEIRESS PRESUMED DEAD AFTER PRIVATE PLANE DISAPPEARS OVER LAKE MICHIGAN.
I read the article several times.
Isabella had been engaged to Alexander before she disappeared.
Not married, according to the newspaper.
But the photograph told a different story.
Her hand rested on Alexander's chest, and a silver band was visible on her finger.
I called the only person I trusted who might know something.
Nathan Cole.
Alexander's oldest friend.
He answered after three rings.
“Claire?”
“I need to ask you something.”
A pause.
“Is this about the baby?”
“It's about Isabella Moretti.”
Silence.
Then he said, “Where did you hear that name?”
“Someone sent me an article.”
“Delete it.”
My stomach tightened.
“Why?”
“Because you have no idea what you're getting involved in.”
“That's exactly why I'm calling you.”
Nathan sighed.
“Meet me tomorrow. Somewhere public.”
We arranged to meet at a small café downtown.
I arrived early and chose a table near the window.
Nathan came in wearing a gray coat, looking exhausted.
He ordered coffee but barely touched it.
“Isabella was Alexander's first fiancée,” he began. “Their families arranged the engagement when they were young. They were supposed to take over the Moretti organization together.”
“Were they married?”
He looked at me.
“Legally? No.”
“But they wore rings.”
“It was a family tradition.”
I stared at him.
“Then why did Alexander react so strongly when I threw mine away?”
Nathan rubbed his forehead.
“Because your marriage meant something to him, Claire. More than he ever admitted.”
“Then why did he hide it?”
“Because the Moretti family has enemies. Anyone connected to Alexander becomes a target.”
I almost smiled.
“That's what he told me when we got married.”
Nathan nodded.
“And it was true.”
“Then why could he hug Sophia in front of two hundred people?”
Nathan didn't answer.
I leaned forward.
“Tell me about Isabella.”
He lowered his voice.
“She disappeared after discovering something about the family business. Alexander believed she had been killed.”
“By whom?”
“We never found out.”
“Did Sophia know her?”
Nathan's eyes changed.
That tiny reaction was enough.
“She was around back then,” he said carefully.
“How?”
“Her family had business connections with the Morettis.”
I stared at him.
Sophia hadn't simply been Alexander's first love returning after three years.
She had been connected to the family long before that.
“Why did she leave Chicago?”
Nathan stood abruptly.
“Claire, I shouldn't have told you any of this.”
“Wait.”
He hesitated.
“Did Alexander know Isabella was pregnant?”
His face went pale.
“What?”
I repeated the question.
For several seconds, he said nothing.
Then he looked directly at me.
“Who told you that?”
“Nobody.”
He sat down again.
“Isabella disappeared before anyone could confirm anything.”
My fingers tightened around my coffee cup.
“Was she pregnant?”
Nathan swallowed.
“There was a medical report. Alexander never saw it.”
“Who did?”
Nathan looked toward the café entrance.
I followed his gaze.
Sophia stood outside the window.
She was watching us.
Nathan immediately reached for his coat.
“We need to leave.”
“Why?”
“Because she knows we're talking.”
Sophia entered the café before he could answer.
Her smile was warm, but her eyes were cold.
“Claire. What a coincidence.”
I remained seated.
“Is it?”
She glanced at Nathan.
“Alexander has been looking everywhere for you.”
“I didn't ask him to.”
Sophia sat across from me without permission.
“Listen, Claire. I know you're hurt, but Alexander is under enormous pressure right now.”
I looked at her.
“And you think returning to his life makes that easier?”
She smiled faintly.
“Alexander and I have history.”
“So do we. Five years of marriage.”
Her smile disappeared.
Then she leaned closer.
“You should be careful about assuming that child gives you any claim over him.”
My blood went cold.
Nathan stood.
“That's enough, Sophia.”
She ignored him.
“Did Alexander tell you about the family agreement?”
I frowned.
“What agreement?”
Sophia straightened.
“Ask him why he married you in the first place.”
Then she stood and walked away.
Nathan looked as though he had seen a ghost.
I turned to him.
“What agreement?”
He didn't answer.
Instead, he took out his phone and showed me a photograph.
It was an old document bearing Alexander's signature.
At the top were the words:
CONFIDENTIAL FAMILY SUCCESSION AGREEMENT.
And beneath Alexander's name was mine.
May you like
But the date was two months before our wedding.
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