Chapter 6 - The Secret Lucia Discovered
Lucia Moretti hadn't disappeared because she feared her brother.
According to Dr. Price, she disappeared because she discovered something Antonio had done.
Elena stared at Rebecca.
"What did she discover?"
Rebecca opened the investigator's preliminary report.
"Lucia had been working with an accountant who uncovered irregularities in several charitable accounts controlled by the Moretti family."
Aleandro's face hardened.
"My father handled those accounts."
Rebecca nodded.
"That's consistent with the records."
Elena felt sick.
"Was he stealing?"
"The evidence suggests charitable funds were diverted through shell companies. Investigators are still determining who authorized the transfers."
Aleandro looked away.
For years, his father's reputation had shaped his entire life.
Now that reputation was beginning to crumble.
"Why would Lucia care about the money?" Elena asked.
Aleandro answered quietly.
"Because she created the charity."
Elena turned.
"What?"
"She started a program supporting children whose parents were incarcerated or missing."
Her heart tightened.
"Children like me?"
Aleandro nodded.
"Exactly."
For a long moment, Elena couldn't speak.
Her mother had spent her life trying to protect children.
And then had been forced to hide her own.
The thought nearly broke her.
Rebecca continued.
"Lucia believed Antonio was using the charity's accounts to move illegal money."
Elena swallowed.
"Did she confront him?"
"Yes."
"And?"
"She threatened to report him."
Aleandro closed his eyes.
The report described an argument at the Moretti estate.
Lucia wanted access to the original financial records.
Antonio refused.
Two days later, Lucia left the house with her baby.
Within a week, the family was told she'd died.
Elena looked toward Aleandro.
"Did anyone try to find her?"
"My grandmother did."
His voice tightened.
"She hired investigators. My father told her to stop."
"Did she?"
"No."
Aleandro looked at Elena.
"Nonna never believed the story completely."
Elena remembered Isabella's trembling hands.
The way she'd stared at the necklace.
The hope in her eyes.
A hope that had survived twenty-two years.
"Why didn't your grandmother find me?" Elena whispered.
Aleandro swallowed.
"Because the records were changed."
Rebecca turned another page.
"Dr. Price also claims someone paid him to alter the Saint Jude's intake information."
Elena stared.
"Who?"
"An account controlled by a company associated with Antonio."
Her hands tightened into fists.
"So he knew where I was."
Aleandro nodded slowly.
"And he kept you hidden."
Elena's eyes filled.
All the birthdays.
All the foster homes.
All the nights she'd cried herself to sleep wondering why nobody came.
Someone might have known exactly where she was.
And chosen to leave her there.
"I hate him," she whispered.
Aleandro looked toward her.
"I understand."
She turned sharply.
"No, you don't."
He accepted the words.
For a moment, neither spoke.
Then he answered quietly.
"You're right. I had a family. You didn't."
The admission stopped her.
His face was filled with shame.
"I can't change what happened. But I can help you find the truth."
Elena wiped her eyes.
Before she could respond, Detective Mitchell called.
Rebecca answered.
Her expression changed immediately.
"What?"
Elena's heart accelerated.
Mitchell had discovered a financial transfer from twenty-two years earlier.
The recipient was a private medical facility in Pennsylvania.
The payment was made less than forty-eight hours after Lucia supposedly died.
The amount was enormous.
Enough to cover years of private care.
Elena leaned forward.
"Who was the patient?"
Rebecca read the name.
"Laura Mills."
Elena frowned.
"Who is Laura Mills?"
Rebecca looked at the report.
Then slowly raised her eyes.
"The patient's date of birth matches Lucia Moretti."
A terrible silence filled the room.
Elena whispered, "My mother?"
Rebecca nodded.
"And according to the facility's records, Laura Mills remained a patient for seventeen years."
Elena stopped breathing.
Then Rebecca revealed the final detail.
"The facility discharged her five years ago."
"And where did she go?"
May you like
Rebecca swallowed.
"That's what we're trying to find out."
