Chapter 9 - The Price of the Truth
Luca rushed toward Vincent.
“Where is Isabella?”
Vincent pressed a hand against his side.
“I don't know.”
“Who took her?”
“I told you. I don't know!”
Luca grabbed his collar.
“Who took my sister?”
Vincent's eyes moved toward the ceiling.
A small red light blinked above the doorway.
A camera.
Luca understood.
Someone had been watching them.
He ordered his men to search the entire estate.
Vanessa stayed with Sophie while Antonio helped Vincent onto a chair.
Luca hated that he had to keep his uncle alive.
But Vincent was the only person who might know where Isabella had gone.
“You knew Catherine,” Luca said.
Vincent closed his eyes.
“She was the only woman I ever loved.”
“Then why did you let her die?”
Vincent gave a bitter laugh.
“Because I was weak.”
Antonio stepped forward.
“You were a coward.”
Vincent looked at him.
“You married Elena. You took my family, my position, and the child Catherine left behind.”
Antonio's expression darkened.
“Catherine chose me.”
“She chose you because you promised her a life you couldn't give her.”
Luca stared at Vincent.
“What happened?”
Vincent finally spoke.
Catherine had been Vincent's wife for less than a year when she discovered he was involved in illegal financial operations. She planned to leave him.
During that time, she met Antonio.
The two fell in love.
Catherine became pregnant with Luca.
Vincent discovered the truth shortly before Luca was born.
He threatened to expose the affair and take the child.
Antonio arranged for Catherine and Luca to disappear.
But Vincent found them.
One night, Catherine was killed during an ambush.
Antonio managed to escape with the baby.
He later married Elena, who raised Luca as her own.
“Why didn't you tell me?” Luca asked.
Antonio looked at him.
“Because I wanted you to grow up believing you belonged to a family that loved you. I couldn't let Vincent turn your birth into another weapon.”
Luca looked away.
The truth was complicated, but one thing was clear.
Antonio had protected him.
Vincent had manipulated him.
And Vanessa had kept secrets that nearly destroyed everything.
A guard entered.
“We found something.”
He placed a phone on the table.
It belonged to Isabella.
There was one new message.
COME TO THE RIVERFRONT WAREHOUSE. BRING THE ORIGINAL RECORDING. NO POLICE.
Luca stared at the screen.
“It's a trap.”
Antonio nodded.
“Of course.”
Vanessa stood.
“Then don't go.”
Luca looked at her.
“She could be hurt.”
“I know. But Vincent isn't the only person involved.”
She pulled a small key from her necklace.
“My brother gave me this before he died. He said if Vincent ever found Isabella, I should give it to Luca.”
Luca took it.
“What does it open?”
“A safe deposit box.”
“Where?”
“First National Bank. Downtown.”
Antonio frowned.
“What's inside?”
Vanessa shook her head.
“I never opened it.”
Luca ordered two men to retrieve the box while the others secured Sophie.
But before they could leave, the warehouse message changed.
A second message appeared.
ISABELLA IS NOT YOUR ENEMY. THE WOMAN YOU CALL YOUR SISTER IS.
Luca looked up.
Antonio's expression had turned grim.
“Someone wants us to doubt her.”
Then the phone rang.
Luca answered.
A woman's voice whispered.
“Luca, don't trust Antonio.”
He froze.
“Who is this?”
The woman breathed shakily.
“I'm Catherine.”
Luca's blood ran cold.
“That isn't possible.”
“I know what your father told you. I know what Vincent told you. But neither of them told you the truth about your birth.”
Luca gripped the phone.
“Where are you?”
The voice broke.
“Ask Antonio why he buried two women under my name.”
The call ended.
Luca slowly turned toward his father.
Antonio looked as if he had just seen a ghost.
May you like
Then he whispered:
“Catherine was never buried.”
