Chapter 5 - The Betrayal
“Thomas.”
Adrian's voice was barely audible.
Thomas had served the Moretti family for eighteen years.
He had been Adrian's right hand.
His protector.
His friend.
And according to my father...
he was part of the conspiracy.
“No,” Adrian said.
He shook his head.
“That's impossible.”
My father had left evidence.
Bank transfers.
Photographs.
Encrypted communications.
Thomas had been working with Vincent for years.
But there was something else.
Thomas had arranged my contract.
He had found me.
He had made sure I would become Adrian's surrogate.
Not because he wanted a child.
Because he wanted me inside the Moretti mansion.
He wanted the Romano heir where he could watch her.
And the baby?
The baby wasn't part of his original plan.
My son was supposed to become the bridge between the two bloodlines.
A symbol Thomas could use to claim legitimacy after Adrian's death.
Adrian stared at the evidence.
“Bring Thomas to me.”
His guards returned minutes later.
“He's gone.”
The room fell silent.
Adrian looked at me.
“Where's the baby?”
My heart stopped.
The nursery was empty.
I screamed.
“No!”
Adrian moved faster than I had ever seen him move.
He grabbed the wheelchair.
“Lock the mansion!”
Security flooded the halls.
Every door sealed.
Every camera activated.
But our son was gone.
Then my phone rang.
Unknown number.
I answered.
“Hello?”
A man's voice.
“Your father should have killed Marco when he had the chance.”
My blood froze.
“Who are you?”
“You know who.”
Vincent.
“Give me the baby.”
“No.”
“Then Adrian dies.”
Adrian looked at me.
I put the phone on speaker.
Vincent laughed.
“You think the Morettis can protect you?”
“Where is my son?”
“Come to the old Romano estate.”
Adrian shook his head.
“It's a trap.”
Vincent continued.
“Come alone.”
The call ended.
I looked at Adrian.
“I'll go.”
“No.”
“He has our son.”
“I'll go.”
“You'll be killed.”
He stared at me.
“So will you.”
I stepped closer.
“We're not leaving him.”
Adrian's eyes softened.
“You said we.”
“Yes.”
He nodded.
“Then we go together.”
We drove through the night.
The old Romano estate stood abandoned beneath a storm.
The gates opened.
We entered.
The mansion was exactly as I remembered it.
The place where my father died.
The place where my childhood ended.
Vincent waited in the ballroom.
He held my son.
I nearly collapsed.
“Give him to me.”
Vincent smiled.
“You've grown into your mother.”
“Put him down.”
“You know, Melissa, your father was always sentimental.”
Adrian raised his weapon.
“Put the child down.”
Vincent laughed.
“You still think you're the hero, Adrian.”
Then he revealed the final secret.
“Your father didn't save you from the massacre.”
Adrian froze.
“He caused it.”
I stared at Vincent.
“What?”
“Marco Moretti ordered Gabriel Romano's death.”
“No.”
Vincent smiled.
“Ask him.”
He pointed toward a dark corner.
A man stepped forward.
Older.
Gray-haired.
Alive.
Adrian's father.
Marco Moretti.
Adrian's weapon lowered.
“Dad?”
Marco looked at him.
May you like
And said:
“I did what I had to do.”
