Chapter 7 - THE CHAPEL OF LIES
The old Moretti chapel had been abandoned for years.
Its stained-glass windows were cracked, its wooden pews rotted, and ivy crept across the stone walls. Generations of Morettis had been buried beneath its floor, their names engraved on marble slabs.
Dominic arrived shortly before midnight, carrying a briefcase containing copies of the birth certificates.
He had brought no visible guards.
But Marco and several trusted men were positioned beyond the cemetery wall, waiting for his signal.
Robert Sterling stood near the altar.
Daniel was tied to a chair beside him, a bruise darkening his cheek.
Vanessa stood several feet away, pale and trembling.
Dominic stopped.
"You have my brother."
Robert smiled.
"I have the only person who can make your inheritance uncertain."
Daniel spat blood onto the stone floor.
"He's lying. The records will prove who we are."
Robert's smile disappeared.
"Records prove whatever the right people pay them to prove."
Dominic placed the briefcase on the altar.
"Release him."
"First, we settle the question of identity."
Robert opened the briefcase and examined the documents.
"Your father was a coward. He wanted the power of a single heir without the inconvenience of telling either child the truth. I merely helped him maintain order."
"You imprisoned my mother."
"I prevented a delusional woman from destabilizing two powerful families."
"You stole a child."
"I gave him a life."
Daniel strained against the ropes.
"You gave me foster homes, false records, and a childhood spent wondering why nobody wanted me."
Robert shrugged.
"Your suffering was unfortunate."
Dominic's hands curled into fists.
Vanessa stepped forward.
"Father, this has gone too far."
Robert turned on her.
"Be quiet."
"No." Her voice shook, but she did not retreat. "You told me Eleanor was dangerous. You told me Daniel was dead. You made me visit that nursing home and threaten a woman who had done nothing to me."
"You benefited from my decisions."
"I was going to marry Dominic because you told me it would protect our family. You never told me you were using me to control his inheritance."
Robert's eyes narrowed.
"You will do exactly as I say."
For a moment, Vanessa looked like the frightened girl he had raised.
Then she reached into her purse.
Dominic saw the small recording device in her hand.
"I recorded our conversation three days ago," she said. "You admitted that you paid the clinic to keep Eleanor confined. You also said the original birth records would prove you changed the twins' identities."
Robert lunged toward her.
Dominic moved first.
He struck Robert's arm aside, and the recording device skidded across the floor.
Marco's men entered through the side doors.
Weapons were raised, but Dominic lifted a hand.
"No one fires."
Robert was restrained.
Daniel was freed.
Then Dominic crossed to the altar and examined the stone beneath his grandfather's name. With help from Daniel, he moved it aside.
An iron box lay beneath.
Inside were two original hospital bracelets, a handwritten delivery record, and a signed statement from the attending physician.
The record confirmed the truth.
Dominic had been born first.
Daniel had been born nine minutes later.
The names had never been switched at birth. Robert had forged later documents to make it appear that they had, intending to keep both brothers dependent on the Sterling family.
Dominic stared at the papers.
The mystery had finally been answered.
But one question remained.
He turned toward Robert.
"Why did you need control of my family so badly?"
Robert's expression twisted into hatred.
"Because your grandfather destroyed mine. The Morettis took our business, our property, and our name. I spent thirty years making sure the next generation would belong to me."
Dominic stepped closer.
"You tried to steal two children to settle a business dispute."
Robert said nothing.
Sirens sounded beyond the cemetery.
May you like
Marco had contacted the authorities with the evidence Vanessa had recorded.
As officers entered the chapel, Robert Sterling finally understood that the secret he had protected for thirty-two years was no longer his to control.
