Chapter 6 - Sophia's Real Motive
I didn't tell Emma about the photograph immediately.
I wanted to know who had sent it first.
Rebecca arranged temporary security for both of us, and Daniel agreed to provide every corporate document he could legally access.
Meanwhile, Alexander's public behavior became increasingly erratic.
He stopped posting photographs with Sophia.
He canceled two major appearances.
Rumors began circulating through Chicago's business community that the Moretti family was facing internal disagreements.
Then Sophia called me.
I almost declined.
But something made me answer.
"Claire."
Her voice was soft.
"Why are you calling?"
"I need to speak with you."
"Speak."
"Not over the phone."
I laughed.
"You've got some nerve."
"I know you hate me."
"You're mistaken. I don't spend enough time thinking about you to hate you."
Silence.
Then she said, "Alexander isn't telling you the truth."
"That's not exactly breaking news."
"Meet me tomorrow. Alone."
"No."
"Please. It's about Victoria."
My fingers tightened around the phone.
"How do you know that name?"
"Because I was looking for the same thing you found."
"What thing?"
"The original ownership ledger."
I looked toward Rebecca's office.
"Why?"
Sophia's voice dropped.
"Because Victoria wasn't Alexander's father's first wife in the way everyone believes."
I waited.
"She was the biological mother of Alexander's older brother."
My mind struggled to process the words.
"Alexander has an older brother?"
"Had."
"What happened to him?"
"Everyone was told he died in the fire that destroyed the family residence twenty-six years ago."
"And you don't believe that?"
"I know he survived."
I sat down.
"How?"
"Because I've seen him."
"When?"
"Three years ago."
"Where?"
Sophia hesitated.
"At a private medical facility outside Chicago."
I didn't speak.
She continued.
"Alexander knows the truth. His father knows. Isabella knows. They've all spent years pretending the boy died."
"Why are you telling me this?"
"Because I need your help."
I almost laughed.
"You publicly announced that you were finally together with my husband. You walked into his father's birthday party holding his hand. And now you want my help?"
"I never wanted Alexander."
The words were so unexpected that I said nothing.
Sophia took a breath.
"I grew up around the Moretti family. My father worked for them. When I was younger, I believed Alexander would eventually marry me. But that was never the real reason I stayed close."
"Then what was?"
"Your ring."
I looked down at the sapphire resting inside my handbag.
"Why?"
"It belonged to Victoria. She gave it to someone before she disappeared."
"Alexander told me it belonged to his grandmother."
"He lied."
"Who gave it to me?"
Sophia paused.
"His brother."
The room seemed to tilt.
"That's impossible."
"Not if he's alive."
"Why would he give me a ring?"
"Because he knew who you were."
I felt a chill.
"What does that mean?"
Sophia's voice became urgent.
"Claire, the company you discovered wasn't created to hide money. It was created to protect something Victoria left behind. Something that can destroy the Moretti empire."
Before I could ask another question, the line went dead.
A second later, my phone rang again.
Alexander.
I answered.
"Did Sophia call you?"
My stomach tightened.
"How do you know?"
"Because she's been trying to reach me for two days."
"She told me about your brother."
Silence.
Then Alexander said, "You need to stay away from her."
"Is he alive?"
"Claire—"
"Is your brother alive?"
His voice dropped.
"Yes."
I closed my eyes.
"Why didn't you tell me?"
"Because I was trying to keep you safe."
"From whom?"
He didn't answer.
Then I heard another voice in the background.
A man's voice.
"Alexander, she's found the ring."
Alexander went silent.
I recognized the voice.
It was the same voice from the birthday party.
His father.
And before Alexander could disconnect, the older man spoke again.
May you like
"Bring her home. If she has the ring, the boy will come looking for her."
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