Chapter 4 - The Sister Who Knew Too Much
Isabella Moretti arrived at the hospital carrying flowers.
White roses.
Elena's favorite.
Julian watched his sister approach the pediatric floor, her heels clicking softly against the polished tiles.
She was thirty-one, beautiful in a carefully controlled way, with dark hair swept into a flawless knot and a cream-colored coat that looked untouched by Chicago's November weather.
She kissed his cheek.
“How's my little nephew?”
“Stable.”
“Thank God.”
She pressed a hand to her chest.
“I've been worried sick.”
Julian looked at the flowers.
“Why roses?”
Isabella blinked.
“What?”
“You always bring white roses.”
“They were Elena's favorite.”
“I know.”
His voice remained calm.
“That's why I asked.”
For a moment, something uncertain moved across her face.
Then she smiled.
“Julian, you look exhausted.”
“I am.”
“You should go home. Let the doctors handle this.”
He stepped aside.
“Leo's sleeping. You can see him through the glass.”
Isabella glanced toward the room.
Then her eyes shifted to Sarah, who was standing beside the nurses' station.
“And who's this?”
“Sarah Bennett.”
Isabella's smile thinned.
“The woman from the restaurant?”
“Yes.”
“How sweet.”
She approached Sarah.
“I'm Isabella. Julian's sister.”
“Nice to meet you.”
“I'm sure.”
The words were pleasant.
The tone was not.
Isabella studied Sarah's repaired coat, worn handbag, and tired face.
“Julian has always been generous to people who help the family.”
Sarah met her gaze.
“I wasn't looking for a reward.”
“Of course not.”
Isabella turned toward Julian.
“Can we talk privately?”
He nodded.
They walked into an empty family consultation room.
The door closed.
Isabella folded her arms.
“Why is that woman here?”
“She helped Leo.”
“Once.”
“She recognized something was wrong.”
“And now she's suddenly part of the family?”
Julian watched her carefully.
“Does that bother you?”
“It worries me.”
“Why?”
“Because you're vulnerable.”
Julian almost laughed.
Isabella continued.
“Elena's gone. Leo's sick. And this woman appears out of nowhere, conveniently knowing exactly how to comfort him.”
“She has a daughter.”
“That doesn't make her trustworthy.”
Julian leaned against the wall.
“Neither does sharing my last name.”
Isabella's expression hardened.
“What is that supposed to mean?”
He took out his phone.
Opened the pharmacy video.
And held it toward her.
The color drained from her face.
“Explain.”
She stared at the screen.
“Where did you get that?”
“Does it matter?”
“Julian—”
“You picked up medication using Elena's identification six weeks after she died.”
Isabella swallowed.
“I can explain.”
“Then do it.”
She looked toward the door.
“Elena had prescriptions that needed to be canceled. I was handling her paperwork.”
“By collecting medication?”
“It was a mistake.”
“Why was the bottle in Leo's nursery?”
Isabella froze.
“What bottle?”
Julian watched her.
He had not told her about the bottle.
And she had asked exactly the question he expected.
“Interesting,” he said quietly.
“Julian, please.”
“Who put it there?”
“I don't know.”
“Then why did you ask about it?”
Isabella's eyes filled with tears.
“You think I would hurt my own nephew?”
“I think you lied to me.”
She looked genuinely wounded.
For a moment, Julian remembered the little girl who used to follow him around their childhood home.
The sister he had protected after their father died.
The person he had trusted to help care for Leo when Elena was gone.
Then he remembered the pharmacy footage.
“I need you to leave.”
“Julian—”
“Until I know what's happening, you don't go near my son.”
Isabella stared at him.
“You're choosing a stranger over your own blood.”
“No.”
His voice hardened.
“I'm choosing my child.”
She picked up her purse.
“You're making a terrible mistake.”
Then she walked out.
That evening, Sarah received a call from Gary.
She was sitting in the hospital cafeteria with a paper cup of coffee.
His name appeared on her screen.
Her stomach tightened.
She answered.
“What do you want?”
“Where's Lily?”
“With Mrs. Alvarez.”
“Why?”
“Because I'm working.”
Gary laughed.
“Working?”
“Yes.”
“At a hospital?”
Sarah stiffened.
“How do you know where I am?”
“Chicago's a small town when people start talking.”
“Gary.”
“I heard you got into a black SUV yesterday.”
She closed her eyes.
“Don't start.”
“Do you have any idea what this looks like?”
“I'm taking care of our daughter.”
“Are you?”
His voice became colder.
“Because my lawyer just filed an emergency motion.”
Sarah stood so abruptly that her chair scraped the floor.
“What?”
“I'm asking for temporary custody.”
“You can't just—”
“Actually, I can ask.”
“On what grounds?”
Gary paused.
“Your new association with Julian Moretti.”
Sarah felt the cafeteria tilt.
“You don't know anything about that.”
“I know enough.”
“Gary, listen to me.”
“No. You listen.”
His voice lowered.
“You've spent two years pretending you're the better parent because you make pancakes and read bedtime stories.”
“That's not what—”
“Now you're hanging around a gangster.”
Sarah gripped the phone.
“I'm helping a sick baby.”
“Tell it to the judge.”
The call ended.
Sarah stood motionless.
Then she called Mrs. Alvarez.
“Is Lily okay?”
“Of course, honey.”
Sarah swallowed.
“Don't let anyone pick her up without calling me.”
“What's happened?”
“I'll explain later.”
She ended the call and pressed her forehead against the cafeteria wall.
For months, she had been fighting to keep her daughter.
Now one act of compassion might cost her everything.
Julian found her twenty minutes later.
She was sitting alone, staring at a custody notification on her phone.
“Sarah?”
She looked up.
Her eyes were red.
“What happened?”
She shook her head.
“Nothing.”
He sat across from her.
“Sarah.”
She laughed bitterly.
“You really don't understand what your name does to people, do you?”
Julian remained silent.
“My ex is trying to take Lily because I helped your son.”
His expression changed.
“Who told him?”
“I don't know.”
“Let me make a call.”
“No.”
She stood.
“You don't get to fix this by frightening someone.”
“I wasn't going to—”
“That's how your world works. Mine doesn't.”
Her voice broke.
“I can't lose my little girl.”
Julian stood too.
For a moment, he seemed about to say something.
Then his phone vibrated.
Marco.
“Boss, we found something in the mansion's security records.”
Julian stepped aside.
“What?”
“The nursery cameras were disconnected three nights before Leo's first breathing episode.”
“Who authorized it?”
“Your sister's office.”
Julian closed his eyes.
Marco continued.
“And there's something worse.”
“Tell me.”
“The housekeeper kept a handwritten feeding log. She says someone ordered her to destroy it.”
“Who?”
Marco hesitated.
“Isabella.”
Julian looked across the cafeteria at Sarah.
She was trying to stop her hands from shaking.
And he realized two children were now caught in the same nightmare.
Then Marco spoke again.
“Boss, the housekeeper says Elena knew someone was tampering with Leo's care before she died.”
Julian's heart seemed to stop.
“That's impossible. Leo was only a few weeks old.”
“I know.”
May you like
Marco's voice dropped.
“But she says Elena left a letter.”
