Chapter 8 - The Mother Who Was Never Buried
Luca returned to the mansion before noon.
He ordered additional guards around Sophia's room and instructed Marco to investigate every employee who had worked for his mother.
Emily remained beside the child.
When Sophia woke, she immediately asked for Luca.
He sat on the edge of the bed.
“I'm here, sweetheart.”
“Are you angry with me?”
The question broke something inside him.
“No. Why would I be angry?”
“Uncle Tony said you would be.”
Luca gently brushed the hair away from her forehead.
“Uncle Tony told you many things that weren't true.”
Sophia looked down at her stuffed rabbit.
“Mommy said you used to sing.”
Luca smiled faintly.
“Your mother loved terrible singing.”
Sophia giggled.
It was the first time he had heard her laugh.
Then she reached into her pocket.
“I have something.”
She produced a small silver locket.
Luca recognized it immediately.
It had belonged to Isabella.
“Where did you get that?”
“An old lady gave it to me.”
“Which old lady?”
Sophia thought.
“She visited me sometimes. She smelled like roses.”
Luca opened the locket.
Inside was a tiny photograph of Elena holding a newborn baby.
On the other side was an inscription.
MY TWO GIRLS. FOREVER.
His mother had been protecting both of them.
But why had she hidden her survival?
That evening, Marco received a message from an encrypted account.
A location.
An old seaside chapel.
No explanation.
Luca went alone, but kept a security team several hundred yards away.
Inside the chapel, a woman stood near the altar.
Her silver hair was tucked beneath a dark scarf.
She turned.
Luca stopped.
“Mother.”
Isabella Moretti smiled sadly.
“You've grown older.”
He stared at her.
“You let me bury an empty coffin.”
“I know.”
“You let me believe Elena and my daughter were dead.”
“I was trying to keep you alive.”
“By destroying me?”
Isabella lowered her eyes.
“Your father built an empire on loyalty. Your brother built one on betrayal. I spent years trying to keep the family from tearing itself apart.”
“Did you help Anthony?”
“No.”
“Did you know what Richard was doing?”
“I discovered the clinic operation too late.”
Luca stepped closer.
“Why didn't you come to me?”
“Because Anthony had men inside your security team. Every message I sent was intercepted.”
She explained that after Elena's escape attempt, Anthony had arranged a car explosion using a vehicle registered to Isabella.
She survived because she had changed cars at the last moment.
Everyone believed she had died.
She disappeared and began quietly gathering evidence.
“Why didn't you tell me you were alive when Anthony was supposedly killed?”
“Because he wasn't dead. I knew that. I also knew he would return when the time was right.”
Luca looked away.
“Who is protecting Sophia now?”
Isabella hesitated.
“Someone you have already welcomed into your home.”
“Who?”
Before she could answer, a gunshot shattered the chapel window.
Isabella pushed Luca to the floor.
A second shot struck the altar.
His guards rushed inside.
“Get down!”
Luca dragged his mother behind a stone pillar.
When the shooting stopped, the attacker was gone.
But Isabella was bleeding.
Luca pressed his hand against her shoulder.
“Mother!”
She caught his wrist.
“Listen carefully.”
“Don't speak.”
“Vanessa knows where Elena is.”
Luca froze.
“What?”
“She helped me find her years ago.”
“Where?”
Isabella struggled to breathe.
“Under the name... Catherine Bell.”
Luca stared at her.
Elena had been living under another identity.
His wife might still be alive.
Then Isabella grabbed his jacket.
“One more thing.”
“What?”
“Vanessa isn't the only person who knows. Emily has been receiving messages from Elena for months.”
Luca looked toward the chapel entrance.
Emily wasn't there.
He immediately called Marco.
“Find Emily Carter. Now.”
Marco answered after several seconds.
“Boss, there's a problem.”
“What?”
“The nursery is empty.”
Luca's heart stopped.
“And Sophia?”
May you like
Marco's voice dropped.
“She's gone too.”
