Chapter 13 - THE SECRET OF THE NIGHT MY DAUGHTER WAS BORN
For seventeen years, Sofia had carried another secret.
Not about money.
Not about violence.
About the night Elena was born.
I looked at the unfinished letter.
Then at my daughter.
"Where did you find this?"
Elena lowered her eyes.
"In Mom's old jewelry box."
"Did she know you read it?"
She shook her head.
"I found it after we moved last year."
I nodded slowly.
"Thank you for telling me."
Elena studied my face.
"Are you upset?"
"No."
I smiled gently.
"Just surprised."
That evening, I asked Sofia about the letter.
She looked devastated.
"Luca, I never meant for Elena to find it."
I sat beside her.
"What happened the night she was born?"
Sofia closed her eyes.
Then began.
"Elena came early."
My chest tightened.
"How early?"
"Seven weeks."
I stared.
"She was born prematurely?"
Sofia nodded.
"She spent weeks in neonatal intensive care."
I felt sick.
Another moment I'd missed.
Another fear she'd faced alone.
Sofia continued.
"She had breathing difficulties. The doctors were concerned."
I swallowed.
"Did anyone help you?"
"Daniel Vasquez did. My mother too."
I nodded.
Sofia wiped her tears.
"One night, when Elena's condition became serious, I tried to contact you."
My heart stopped.
"You did?"
She nodded.
"I called the Mancini estate."
"What happened?"
"Vittorio answered."
A cold sensation moved through me.
"He told me you were engaged to someone else."
I stared.
"What?"
"He said you wanted nothing to do with me or the baby."
My hands trembled.
"He lied."
"I know."
Tears rolled down her cheeks.
"Then he said if I called again, Elena wouldn't survive the week."
I covered my face.
Seventeen years.
All built on lies.
Sofia reached toward my hand.
"But that's not the only thing."
I looked up.
"After Elena recovered, I discovered she'd received medical assistance from a charitable fund."
I frowned.
"What fund?"
"The Isabella Mancini Children's Foundation."
My mother's name.
I stared.
"That foundation closed after she died."
Sofia shook her head.
"Apparently not."
She handed me a copy of an old financial statement.
A protected account had paid for Elena's hospital treatment.
And the authorization had been signed by someone I recognized.
Enzo Caruso.
My closest friend.
The man who had known about my daughter.
The man who had been secretly protecting her.
I closed my eyes.
Sofia continued.
"Enzo said your mother arranged for the fund to help children affected by family violence."
I looked down.
My mother had been protecting children long after her death.
Including her own granddaughter.
I began crying.
For the first time, I understood how much love had existed around Elena even when fear kept us apart.
Then Sofia whispered:
"Luca, there's something else about Enzo."
I looked up.
"What?"
She hesitated.
"He wasn't simply your friend."
My stomach tightened.
"What do you mean?"
Sofia looked toward the door.
Then whispered:
"Your father trusted him with a secret."
I stared.
She continued.
"Enzo isn't just the man who protected Elena."
May you like
A tear rolled down her cheek.
"He's your father's son."
