Chapter 8 - The Heir Nobody Knew Existed
Luca stared at Margaret.
“My father had another son?”
Margaret nodded.
“His name was Adrian.”
Luca searched his memory.
There had never been an Adrian Moretti in the family photographs. No mention in his father's will. No relative who could possibly fit the description.
“Where is he?”
Margaret hesitated.
“He lives in New York.”
“Then why has he never contacted me?”
“Because your father told him you stole his life.”
Luca laughed bitterly.
“My father died twelve years ago. If Adrian wanted to meet me, he had plenty of time.”
Margaret looked down.
“He wasn't free to.”
She explained that Adrian had been born before Luca, to a woman named Catherine Bellini.
Catherine had died shortly after childbirth. Luca's father had taken the infant away and placed him with a family who owed him money.
Years later, when Adrian discovered his identity, he tried to claim his inheritance.
Luca's father refused.
Instead, he created a trust that would transfer control of the Moretti empire to Luca's biological children once they reached a certain age.
Adrian had spent years trying to access it.
Vanessa's father had learned about the arrangement and offered to help.
“Why did Vanessa get involved?” Elena asked.
Margaret's expression hardened.
“Because she was promised a position in the family once Adrian took control.”
Luca paced across the room.
“So the engagement was never about marriage.”
“No,” Margaret answered. “It was about making you vulnerable.”
Elena looked toward the staircase, where Isabella and Noah were playing together under the watch of a nanny.
“Then why did they take the children?”
Margaret hesitated.
“Because the trust requires the biological heirs to be identified and protected. If the children disappeared, the estate could be placed under temporary control.”
Luca stopped walking.
“And Adrian would become the administrator.”
Margaret nodded.
A sudden noise came from the hallway.
One of the guards rushed into the room.
“Boss, we've lost contact with the east wing.”
Luca reached for his gun.
“Where are the children?”
The guard looked pale.
“Their nanny is missing.”
Elena ran upstairs.
Isabella's bedroom was empty.
Noah's bed was empty, too.
A window stood open.
On the floor lay a small red ribbon.
Elena recognized it.
Vanessa had worn the same ribbon around her wrist at the engagement party.
Luca's phone rang.
He answered immediately.
A man's voice came through.
“Hello, little brother.”
Luca went still.
“Adrian.”
“I'm glad you remember the family name.”
“Where are my children?”
Adrian chuckled.
“Safe. For now.”
“If you touch them—”
“You'll do what? Kill me? You haven't even met me.”
Luca's jaw tightened.
“Tell me what you want.”
“The trust. The family company. And the truth about our father.”
“Bring the children home.”
“Tomorrow night. The old waterfront warehouse.”
“Why should I trust you?”
“Because if you don't come, you'll never discover why your mother really died.”
The line disconnected.
Elena stood in the doorway, tears running down her face.
Luca turned toward her.
“I'm getting them back.”
She grabbed his hand.
“Not alone.”
He shook his head.
“Elena—”
“They are our children. I won't spend another night waiting for someone to decide whether I deserve to be their mother.”
For a moment, Luca said nothing.
Then he kissed her forehead.
“Then we finish this together.”
But neither noticed Margaret quietly slipping out of the mansion.
She stopped beside a black car.
Someone was waiting inside.
A man lowered the window.
Margaret whispered, “They're going to the warehouse.”
The man smiled.
“Good.”
It was Adrian.
And he was holding an old photograph of Luca's mother.
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On the back were three words:
SHE HAD TWINS.
