Chapter 3 - The Woman Behind the Hospital Records
Luca had spent six years believing Elena was dead.
He had built a mausoleum in the family cemetery.
He had placed fresh flowers there every Sunday for the first year.
He had stopped visiting only when the pain became something he could no longer explain to anyone.
Now a stranger had just told him she was alive.
He stood in his private office while his security chief, Marcus Bell, examined the electronic device recovered from Grace's blanket.
"Encrypted," Marcus reported. "It's not connected to a normal phone network. Whoever planted it wanted us to find the message."
"Trace it."
"Already trying."
Luca looked through the glass wall.
Emily sat on the couch with Grace sleeping against her chest.
Vanessa was being questioned in the adjacent room.
Dr. Hayes had been locked inside the old study.
"Bring Vanessa in."
A minute later, she entered.
Her wedding dress was stained with dust, and her makeup had run down her cheeks.
Luca remained standing.
"Tell me about Elena."
Vanessa lowered her eyes.
"I met her before she married you."
"I know."
"No, Luca. You don't."
He waited.
Vanessa took a shaky breath.
"Elena was working as a nurse when your father became ill. She was the only person who could speak to him without being afraid. He trusted her. Eventually, he discovered she had access to documents concerning the family business."
"What documents?"
"Financial transfers. Secret accounts. Payments made to politicians, judges, and police officials."
Luca's expression darkened.
"My father controlled those accounts."
"Your father was already dead when the money disappeared."
Luca stared at her.
"Who took it?"
"Michael."
The room became silent.
Vanessa continued.
"Your brother discovered that your father had been using the organization to fund something much bigger. Michael wanted to expose him. Elena helped him."
Luca shook his head.
"Michael never told me."
"Because he believed you were being watched."
"By whom?"
Vanessa looked at the closed door.
"Richard."
Luca's face hardened.
"Where does Elena fit into this?"
"She discovered that your father had ordered a plan to eliminate both children if they inherited the wrong portion of the family assets."
Luca felt something tighten in his chest.
"Why would my father care about his grandchildren?"
"Because the children weren't only yours."
Luca stared at her.
"What does that mean?"
Vanessa closed her eyes.
"Elena had another reason for keeping the pregnancy secret."
Before Luca could respond, Marcus entered.
"We found something."
He placed a tablet on the desk.
It showed a scanned hospital document.
The delivery date was October 3, six years earlier.
The mother's name was Elena Moretti.
Two children were listed.
The first was a girl.
The second was a boy.
But the father's name on the original document was not Luca.
It was Michael.
Luca looked at the screen.
Then at Vanessa.
"Tell me that's fake."
Vanessa couldn't answer.
He slammed his hand against the desk.
"Tell me!"
Vanessa flinched.
"Michael was listed as the biological father."
Luca stared at her.
The room seemed to tilt.
"Are you telling me my brother fathered my children?"
"I don't know."
"Then why is his name there?"
"Because Richard changed the original records."
Luca turned toward Marcus.
"Find the original doctor who delivered Elena."
Marcus hesitated.
"There's another problem."
"What?"
"The doctor who signed the original delivery record was a woman named Dr. Sophia Reed. She disappeared shortly after the birth."
Luca looked back at the tablet.
"Find her."
Meanwhile, Emily was sitting in the adjoining room when Grace began crying.
She gently rocked the child.
"You're safe, sweetheart."
A woman's voice came from behind her.
"Don't be so sure."
Emily turned.
A nurse stood in the doorway.
She wore a gray coat and carried a small medical bag.
Emily immediately recognized her.
It was the same woman who had given her the hospital bracelet.
"You're the nurse."
The woman nodded.
"My name is Claire."
"Where is the other baby?"
Claire looked toward the hallway.
"He's alive."
Emily stood.
"Where?"
"Somewhere your employer cannot find him."
Emily's expression changed.
"Why are you doing this?"
Claire stepped closer.
"Because I promised Elena I would protect both children."
Emily looked down at Grace.
"Then why did you give her to me?"
"Because somebody has been watching this mansion for months. You were the only person who could get the baby inside without raising suspicion."
Emily felt her stomach turn.
"You used me."
"I trusted you."
Before Emily could answer, the office door opened.
Luca stood there.
His eyes moved from Claire to Grace.
"Who are you?"
Claire lowered her bag.
"The woman who delivered your children."
Luca stepped forward.
"Then tell me the truth."
Claire looked at him.
"Your brother is not the children's father."
Luca exhaled.
For the first time in several minutes, he felt relief.
Then Claire continued.
"But Michael is the reason they survived."
She reached into her bag and pulled out an old photograph.
It showed Elena in a hospital bed.
Beside her stood Michael.
He was holding a newborn boy.
Luca stared at the photograph.
On the back, someone had written:
If Luca ever finds out what happened, tell him who ordered the second transfer.
Luca turned the picture over again.
A name was written beneath the message.
ANTHONY MORETTI.
His grandfather.
May you like
The man who had supposedly died twenty years earlier.
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