Chapter 4 - THE WOMAN FROM HIS PAST
Luca read the message three times.
Then he placed the ultrasound photograph on the desk.
"Find Victoria."
Marco nodded.
"Already working on it."
I stared at the picture.
"Someone else is pregnant?"
"Apparently."
"Is it yours?"
Luca's eyes met mine.
"I haven't seen Victoria in twelve years."
"That's not an answer."
He came closer.
"Evelyn, before you, there was no woman in my life. Not for years. Whatever this is, I will find out."
I wanted to believe him.
But the photograph had planted something ugly inside me.
Doubt.
That afternoon, Luca received a call from an unknown number.
He answered.
A woman's voice spoke.
"Hello, Luca."
He froze.
"Victoria."
I watched his expression change.
"Where are you?"
"Somewhere your uncle can't reach me."
"Why are you leaving photographs at my properties?"
"Because you wouldn't listen to anyone else."
"Tell me what you know."
A short silence followed.
Then Victoria said:
"Your father didn't die because of a car accident. He was murdered."
Luca's fingers tightened around the phone.
"I know."
"No, Luca. You don't. Salvatore didn't act alone."
"Who helped him?"
Victoria hesitated.
Then she said a name.
"Your mother."
The call ended.
Luca didn't move.
I looked at him.
"Do you believe her?"
He slowly lowered the phone.
"I don't know."
For the first time since our marriage, I saw something more frightening than anger in his eyes.
Betrayal.
That evening, he went to Isabella's estate.
I wanted to accompany him, but he insisted I stay with Marco's security team.
"You're not safe until I understand what's happening."
I hated hearing it.
I hated being treated like something fragile.
But I also understood that someone had already entered a supposedly secure property to leave a message about my unborn child.
So I stayed.
At eight forty-five, Luca called.
"How are you feeling?"
"Fine."
"Have you eaten?"
"Yes."
"Good."
There was a pause.
Then he said:
"Evelyn, whatever you hear tonight, don't believe anyone without proof."
My stomach tightened.
"What happened?"
"Mother admitted she knew about the forged medical diagnosis."
I closed my eyes.
"Why didn't she tell you?"
"She claims Salvatore threatened to kill me if she exposed him."
"That's terrible."
"There's more."
His voice lowered.
"She says my father asked her to help hide something before he died."
"What?"
"An original laboratory report."
I looked toward the bedroom.
"What kind of report?"
"One that could prove I was never infertile."
My heart began pounding.
Before I could respond, a loud crash sounded downstairs.
I heard a guard shouting.
Then another voice.
"Mrs. Varenna!"
I dropped the phone.
A man in a dark jacket stood in the doorway.
He wasn't one of our guards.
He held a small black envelope.
"Mrs. Varenna," he said, "I have something your husband needs to see."
I backed away.
"Who are you?"
He placed the envelope on the table.
Then he stepped backward into the hallway.
By the time security reached the room, he was gone.
Inside the envelope was a photograph.
It showed Luca standing beside Victoria outside a hospital.
The date was printed beneath it.
Eight weeks ago.
My hands went cold.
Luca had told me he hadn't seen her in twelve years.
But the photograph showed him entering the hospital with her.
May you like
And beside the photograph was a handwritten note.
Ask your husband why he visited the fertility clinic before he married you.
