Chapter 7 - The Uncle Who Stole a Son
Richard Moretti had never died.
He had disappeared.
And according to Isabella, he had taken Gabriel with him.
“Why would he do that?” Luca demanded.
“Because he wanted the Moretti empire,” Isabella replied.
She explained that Anthony had planned to eliminate Gabriel and use Luca as the sole heir.
Richard had discovered the plan.
He stole Gabriel from the hospital and raised him under a false identity.
But Richard wasn't a hero.
He had used the boy as insurance.
For thirteen years, he had controlled Gabriel's movements, friendships, and money.
He had convinced him that Elena had abandoned him.
He had convinced him that Luca had stolen his place.
And he had convinced him that Vanessa had betrayed him.
Luca clenched his fists.
“Where is he now?”
Isabella shook her head.
“Richard moves constantly.”
“Then how do we find him?”
She looked toward the window.
“He'll come to you.”
***
That night, Elena received a package.
It contained a small chocolate cake.
No candles.
No greeting card.
Just a black ribbon around the box.
Emily opened it carefully.
Underneath the cake was a photograph.
Elena holding two newborn boys.
On the back was written:
ONE SON WAS YOURS.
THE OTHER WAS MINE.
Elena began trembling.
Luca grabbed the photograph.
“Who sent this?”
Emily examined the packaging.
“There is a delivery label.”
It carried the name of a private nursing facility.
St. Catherine's.
Luca recognized the address.
It was the same facility where his father had supposedly spent his final months.
He called his security chief.
“Get the cars ready.”
***
At St. Catherine's, the night supervisor initially refused to speak.
Luca placed his father's photograph on the desk.
“I need every record connected to Anthony Moretti.”
The supervisor looked nervous.
“We destroyed those files years ago.”
“Try again.”
After several minutes, he brought out an old ledger.
One entry stood out.
ROOM 308.
PATIENT: GABRIEL M.
GUARDIAN: RICHARD MORETTI.
DATE: TWO DAYS AFTER REPORTED DEATH.
Luca stared.
“Was he treated here?”
The supervisor nodded.
“For several months.”
“What happened to him?”
“He left.”
“With Richard?”
The supervisor hesitated.
“No.”
“Then who?”
The old man looked toward the security cameras.
“A woman.”
“Who?”
He lowered his voice.
“Your fiancée.”
Luca went still.
Vanessa had been there.
She had helped Gabriel escape.
But why had she later become engaged to Luca?
The supervisor handed him a second document.
It was a visitor's log.
Vanessa's signature appeared dozens of times.
The final entry was dated three months earlier.
Under the signature was a note.
PATIENT REQUESTS TO SEE BROTHER.
Luca stared.
Gabriel had tried to contact him.
And someone had stopped him.
***
On the drive back, Luca received a call.
This time, he recognized the number.
Vanessa.
“Where are you?”
“Somewhere safe.”
“Are you with Sofia?”
“Yes.”
“Is she my daughter?”
Silence.
Then Vanessa whispered:
“Yes.”
Luca closed his eyes.
“Why didn't you tell me?”
“Your father made me believe you would never accept her.”
“He was wrong.”
“I know that now.”
“Where is Gabriel?”
Vanessa began crying.
“He's been trying to reach you.”
“Then give me his location.”
“I can't.”
“Why?”
“Because Richard is watching us.”
Luca's jaw tightened.
“Let him watch.”
Vanessa took a shaky breath.
“There's something I haven't told you.”
“What?”
“Gabriel wasn't the one who stole the cake tonight.”
Luca froze.
“Then who?”
Vanessa whispered:
“Your mother.”
The call ended.
Luca stared at the phone.
His mother had hidden something.
Something so dangerous that she had staged the entire birthday incident.
When he returned to the mansion, Elena was waiting in the dining room.
The cake stand had been replaced.
And beside it sat another chocolate cake.
Elena looked up.
“I was hoping you'd come alone.”
Luca slowly approached.
“Mother, what have you done?”
She lifted a small silver knife.
Then she cut the cake in half.
Inside was a tiny black recording device.
She pressed the button.
A voice emerged.
Anthony Moretti.
“If my sons ever discover the truth, tell them the third child was never mine.”
The recording stopped.
Luca stared at his mother.
“What third child?”
Elena began crying.
“Your father had another son.”
May you like
Then she looked directly at him.
“And he is living inside this house.”
