Chapter 9 - The Last Lie of Don Alessandro
Emily stared at the photograph.
The man standing beside her mother had dark hair, a strong jaw, and a familiar expression.
"Who is he?"
Vanessa swallowed.
"Daniel Carter."
Emily looked confused.
"That's my mother's brother's name."
"No. Daniel was your father's name. Your mother used her maiden name when she registered you."
Luca examined the photograph.
"How do you know?"
"Because I found his death certificate. He died six months after Emily was born."
Emily sat down.
"My mother never told me."
Vanessa's voice softened.
"She was trying to keep you safe."
Luca turned toward her.
"From Adrian?"
Vanessa nodded.
"Daniel discovered that Alessandro had been using newborns to create false identities for children connected to his criminal network. He found out that Sofia's baby had been switched."
Emily looked at her.
"Switched with whom?"
Vanessa hesitated.
"With you."
Silence filled the room.
Luca looked from the photograph to Emily.
"You're saying Emily was raised as Margaret's daughter, but she was actually born to someone else?"
Vanessa nodded.
"Your father wanted to erase Adrian's identity because he believed the boy would become a threat to the family. Daniel helped Margaret escape with the child. But he left another baby in the hospital."
Emily's voice broke.
"Who was the other baby?"
Vanessa looked at Luca.
"Your brother."
Luca stepped backward.
The implications were enormous.
Adrian might have been raised under a false identity, but he was still Alessandro's son.
And Emily might have been the child Alessandro had spent years searching for.
"Why did he want me?"
Vanessa opened another envelope.
Inside was a document establishing a trust for a child born on October 3.
The beneficiary's name had been altered.
But the original writing was visible beneath the correction.
Emily Carter.
Luca read it twice.
"Your father left his fortune to Emily?"
"Not all of it," Vanessa said. "A controlling share of the legitimate family businesses. He intended to transfer it when she turned twenty-five."
Emily shook her head.
"I don't want his money."
"That's not the point," Luca replied. "It's why Adrian wants you."
Marcus entered with a phone.
"Boss, we found Dr. Hayes."
"Where?"
"At a private clinic outside the city. He's agreed to talk."
Luca took the phone.
"Put him through."
A frightened voice answered.
"Mr. Moretti, I didn't know what Alessandro was planning."
"Tell me who helped Adrian."
The doctor began crying.
"Richard Cole arranged everything. He paid me to alter the hospital records. But I didn't know the second child would be taken."
"Who was behind the money?"
A long pause.
Then the doctor whispered:
"Your father's wife."
Luca closed his eyes.
"Elena?"
"No. The other one."
Sofia.
Emily stood.
"That's impossible."
The doctor continued.
"Sofia knew the children had been switched. She agreed to let Margaret take one of them. But she kept the other child close."
Luca's expression hardened.
"Where?"
The doctor gave them an address.
An old estate outside Boston.
"She's been visiting Adrian there for years."
Luca ended the call.
Vanessa shook her head.
"My grandmother wouldn't do that."
Emily looked at the documents.
"Maybe she had no choice."
Luca turned toward the door.
"Marcus, prepare the cars."
But before they could leave, the mansion's power went out.
A second later, every emergency light switched on.
A message appeared on Luca's phone.
Bring Emily to the chapel. Alone. If you want to know who your real mother is.
Emily looked at him.
"Don't go."
Luca took her hand.
"You're not going anywhere without me."
Then his phone rang again.
It was Elena.
Her voice was barely audible.
"Luca, don't trust Sofia."
A crash sounded in the background.
Then Elena screamed.
May you like
"She's not your mother!"
The call ended.
