Chapter 6 - The Boy in the Locked Room
Luca returned to the mansion before sunrise.
He had left Michael in the care of a private medical team and ordered Marcus to secure Elena at a safe location.
But Michael's final words had followed him through every mile.
The boy has been living in your house.
Luca entered the main hallway.
Everything looked exactly as it had before the wedding.
The portraits.
The marble staircase.
The antique furniture.
The locked rooms.
He looked toward the east wing.
There was a room his father had forbidden anyone to enter.
Luca had not opened it since childhood.
"Marcus."
His security chief approached.
"Yes, boss?"
"Who has access to the east wing?"
"Housekeeping. Security. Your personal staff."
"Get everyone downstairs."
Within ten minutes, the entire household had assembled.
Emily stood near the staircase, holding Grace.
Luca looked at her.
"Where is the key to the east wing?"
Emily hesitated.
"I don't have it."
"Who does?"
She glanced toward the head housekeeper.
Mrs. Collins looked terrified.
"I do, sir."
"Bring it."
The woman handed him a small brass key.
Luca walked down the corridor.
He unlocked the door.
The room smelled of dust and old wood.
A child's drawing hung on the wall.
A house.
Three people.
A woman holding a baby.
And a man standing beside them.
Underneath, in uneven handwriting, were the words:
MOMMY, DADDY, AND ME.
Luca stared at it.
There was a small bed near the window.
A toy airplane.
A half-finished puzzle.
And a school backpack.
Someone had been using the room recently.
"Who's been here?" Luca asked.
Mrs. Collins began crying.
"Sir, please."
"Answer me."
She looked toward the floor.
"Your father told me to keep the room ready."
"Why?"
"Because he said a child would return one day."
Luca felt his chest tighten.
"Which child?"
Before she could answer, a soft noise came from the wardrobe.
A small voice whispered:
"Is Mommy back?"
Everyone froze.
Luca slowly approached the wardrobe.
He opened the door.
A little boy sat inside, holding a stuffed rabbit.
He had dark hair and gray eyes.
He looked terrified.
Luca crouched.
"Hey, buddy."
The boy clutched the rabbit.
"Are you going to take me away?"
Luca shook his head.
"No."
"Grandpa said people would come."
Luca's heart stopped.
"What did you call him?"
The boy looked down.
"Grandpa."
"What's your name?"
The child hesitated.
"Daniel."
Luca glanced toward Emily.
She covered her mouth.
"Daniel," Luca repeated.
"Mommy called me that."
"Where is your mommy?"
The boy pointed toward the wall.
"She lives in the pictures."
Luca looked at the photograph on the bedside table.
It showed Elena holding a baby.
He picked it up.
"Do you know this woman?"
Daniel nodded.
"That's Mommy."
"Where did you last see her?"
The boy thought for a moment.
"At the hospital. Grandpa said she had to go away."
Luca's voice softened.
"Did he hurt you?"
Daniel shook his head.
"Not me."
"Who did he hurt?"
The boy looked toward the hallway.
"Uncle Richard."
Luca turned.
Dr. Hayes stood behind Marcus.
The doctor had been brought back from the study for questioning.
Now his face was gray.
"Richard," Luca said quietly. "What did you do?"
The doctor began shaking.
"I didn't know the child was still here."
Luca stood.
"You signed the death certificate."
"I was ordered to."
"You changed the records."
"Yes."
"You separated my children."
Richard looked at Daniel.
"I was trying to keep him alive."
Luca grabbed his collar.
"By hiding him in my house?"
Richard struggled.
"Your father believed the boy was the key to the family trust."
"Then why leave him here?"
"Because he wanted you to discover him when the time was right."
Luca released him.
"Why?"
Richard looked at the boy.
"Because your father knew you would never abandon your own child."
Emily stepped forward.
"Mr. Moretti."
She held out a small envelope.
"I found this in the baby's blanket."
Inside was a handwritten note.
Luca recognized Elena's handwriting immediately.
It contained only one sentence.
The boy in your house is not the son you think he is.
Luca looked at Daniel.
The little boy was crying silently.
Then he noticed something.
Daniel's left wrist carried a crescent-shaped birthmark.
Exactly like Grace's.
But underneath it was another mark.
A small number tattooed in faded blue ink.
Luca looked at Richard.
"What does this mean?"
The doctor closed his eyes.
"Your father didn't just hide one child."
He looked at Daniel.
May you like
"He switched them."
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