Chapter 2 - THE CHILD THEY ALREADY KNEW
Raphael had believed the recording threatened Clara.
The text about Noel changed everything.
He took the phone from Clara’s hand.
“Where is your daughter?”
Clara’s face collapsed.
“With Mrs. Dora.”
“Here?”
“At the house.”
Raphael turned.
“Milo.”
His driver was already moving.
“Bring Noel here. Four men. Nobody approaches her.”
Bianca stared at him.
“You cannot seriously believe a servant over me.”
Raphael looked at her.
“I believe evidence.”
“You were going to marry me.”
“Thirty seconds ago.”
That silenced the room.
Anthony Morelli tried to speak.
Raphael stopped him.
“You’ll get your turn.”
Clara swayed.
Raphael caught her elbow.
Her skin was freezing.
“Sit down.”
“I’m fine.”
“You’re not.”
“I said I’m—”
Her knees buckled.
Raphael caught her before she hit the marble.
For one terrible second, Clara’s eyes rolled back.
The church exploded into movement.
A doctor among the guests rushed forward.
He checked her pulse.
“Her heart rhythm is unstable.”
Raphael’s voice changed.
“What does that mean?”
“Call an ambulance.”
Clara woke moments later.
The first word she whispered was not her own name.
“Noel.”
Raphael crouched beside her.
“She’s protected.”
Clara gripped his sleeve.
“No. You don’t understand.”
“What?”
“They know where we live because Anthony Morelli has known me for years.”
Anthony’s face changed.
Raphael looked up.
“How?”
Clara began trembling.
“When I was nineteen, I worked at a restaurant near the harbor.”
Anthony closed his eyes.
“There was a man who used to come after closing.”
Clara continued.
“He drank. He hit me. He said nobody would believe a girl like me over a man like him.”
Raphael slowly stood.
Every eye in the church moved toward Anthony.
But Clara shook her head.
“Not him.”
Confusion passed through the room.
“Then who?”
Clara looked directly at Bianca.
“Her father.”
Bianca’s face emptied.
“My father died seven years ago.”
“Yes.”
Clara touched her injured leg.
“He’s why I walk like this.”
Nobody breathed.
Then Clara said something even worse.
“The night he hurt me, someone else was there.”
Raphael’s jaw tightened.
“Who?”
Clara looked at Anthony Morelli.
“He was.”
Anthony whispered, “Clara…”
“You watched.”
Tears filled her eyes.
“You watched your brother destroy my life, and you paid me to disappear.”
Then the church doors opened.
Milo stepped inside alone.
Raphael’s blood turned cold.
“Where is Noel?”
May you like
Milo’s face told him before his mouth did.
“She’s gone.”
