Chapter 16 - THE FAMILY SECRET
The birth certificate was not Claire's.
It belonged to someone else.
A child born twenty-six years ago.
The mother was Margaret Bennett.
The father was listed as unknown.
But beneath the original name was a handwritten note.
Protected by Moretti Trust.
Claire stared at it.
“What does this mean?”
Margaret sat down.
“There was another child.”
Adrian looked at her.
“Who?”
Margaret shook her head.
“He died.”
Claire frowned.
“No.”
Margaret's eyes filled with tears.
“He was taken.”
The story became more complicated than either of them expected.
Years ago, Vincent had discovered that Adrian's grandfather had secretly funded a network protecting children of employees threatened by organized crime.
Claire's mother had been one of those protected people.
But one child had disappeared.
A boy.
His name was Gabriel.
Claire whispered, “Why does that matter now?”
Margaret looked at Adrian.
“Because Gabriel didn't disappear.”
Adrian's face hardened.
“Where is he?”
Margaret pointed toward the ledger.
“He became someone else.”
Daniel opened the file.
The identity was hidden behind several layers of false records.
Finally, they found it.
Gabriel Bennett had been living under the name—
Victor Kane.
Claire stepped backward.
“No.”
Adrian looked at Vincent.
“You're saying Victor is Claire's brother?”
Vincent nodded.
“He believed your family stole his life.”
Claire covered her mouth.
“That’s why he came after us.”
“Not only that,” Margaret said.
“He believed Adrian's father murdered their father.”
Adrian's expression changed.
“My father?”
Margaret shook her head.
“Your father tried to protect him.”
Everything fell into place.
Victor wasn't simply seeking power.
He was seeking revenge based on a lie.
Vincent had spent years manipulating him.
But Vincent had another reason.
He wanted the Moretti empire.
The ledger contained evidence that could destroy him.
He needed Victor to remain angry.
He needed Adrian dead.
He needed Claire isolated.
And he needed Lily.
Because Lily had unknowingly inherited a trust created by Adrian's grandfather.
The trust controlled a portion of Moretti property.
If Claire died, Vincent could manipulate the guardianship process.
Adrian looked at Lily.
“No.”
Claire understood.
“He was never after the estate.”
“He was after her.”
Adrian's face became terrifyingly calm.
“No one touches my family.”
Vincent attacked that night.
But this time Adrian was ready.
The estate became a fortress.
Security lights illuminated the grounds.
Doors locked.
Vehicles moved into defensive positions.
The attackers came from the woods.
Adrian didn't chase them.
He waited.
Because he knew something Vincent didn't.
The ledger wasn't the real weapon.
The evidence had already been copied.
Claire had sent it to federal investigators.
At dawn, helicopters appeared above the estate.
Vincent escaped.
But several of his men were arrested.
The empire began collapsing.
For the first time, Adrian saw something he had never expected.
Freedom.
May you like
But Victor was still missing.
And Lily was gone.
