Chapter 5 - THE FAMILY THAT HID THE TRUTH
The next morning, Lorenzo Moretti asked to see me.
I almost refused.
Not because I hated him.
Because I was afraid.
Afraid of answers.
Afraid of finding out everything I believed about my past was wrong.
But I needed the truth.
So I went.
Mia stayed with Elena.
I entered Lorenzo’s room alone.
He looked different now.
Still weak.
Still recovering.
But awake.
Alive.
His eyes followed me.
“Clara.”
I crossed my arms.
“You knew my daughter’s father.”
He looked away.
“Yes.”
“Why didn’t you tell me?”
A long silence.
Then:
“Because I thought Daniel was dead.”
The answer shocked me.
“What?”
Lorenzo looked at the window.
“Daniel disappeared twelve years ago.”
I frowned.
“Twelve?”
My mind raced.
“That’s impossible.”
“Mia is three.”
“I know.”
“Then explain.”
Lorenzo looked at me.
And for the first time, I saw pain in his face.
“Because Daniel wasn’t the man you thought he was.”
I hated that sentence.
Because it sounded like something people said when they wanted to avoid responsibility.
“He was my family.”
Lorenzo nodded.
“I know.”
“He loved Mia.”
“I believe you.”
“Then why did he leave?”
Lorenzo looked down.
“I don’t know.”
The honesty surprised me.
Most powerful people always had answers.
Lorenzo didn’t.
He had regrets.
Before I left, he said:
“Clara.”
I stopped.
“There is something you need to understand.”
“What?”
“Someone wanted Daniel gone.”
The room suddenly felt colder.
“What are you saying?”
“I’m saying his disappearance wasn’t an accident.”
When I returned downstairs, Isabella was waiting.
She looked angry.
Not at me.
At someone else.
“You received a call last night.”
I froze.
“How did you know?”
“Because the person who called you has called this house before.”
My eyes narrowed.
“Who?”
She hesitated.
Then answered.
“Someone who doesn’t want Lorenzo awake.”
That afternoon, something happened that changed everything.
Mia disappeared.
For only five minutes.
But five minutes was enough to destroy me.
I searched every hallway.
Every room.
“Mia!”
Nothing.
Then I heard singing.
Soft.
Coming from upstairs.
My blood froze.
Because the voice was my daughter’s.
And it was coming from the forbidden corridor.
I ran.
“Mia!”
The medical wing door was open.
Inside...
Mia was standing beside Lorenzo’s bed.
But she wasn’t alone.
A man was standing near the window.
A man I had never seen before.
He turned around.
And smiled.
“You must be Clara.”
I stepped between him and Mia.
“Who are you?”
He looked at my daughter.
Then back at me.
“The woman who should have been gone years ago.”
My heart stopped.
“What?”
He smiled.
“Daniel Moretti made one mistake.”
May you like
He stepped closer.
“He trusted you.”
