Chapter 3 - THE FATHER WHO ERASED HIS GRANDDAUGHTER
My father did not deny it.
We were standing inside a private conference room beneath the auditorium thirty minutes later when Madison placed the digital court records on the screen.
Original filing:
Vincent Moretti acknowledged paternity of Emily Grace Moretti.
Replacement filing:
Vincent Moretti denied paternity and waived parental rights pending genetic confirmation.
The signatures looked identical.
But only one was real.
Vincent stared at my father.
“You forged my name.”
My father’s face hardened.
“I corrected a dangerous situation.”
Vincent crossed the room so quickly two security men moved.
I stepped between them.
“No.”
His eyes came to mine.
“He erased Emily.”
“I know.”
“He erased my daughter from a legal file.”
“And hitting him won’t restore it.”
Vincent’s fists remained clenched.
Slowly, he stepped back.
My father looked almost relieved.
Then Emily spoke.
“Grandpa?”
We all turned.
She stood near Madison holding her trophy against her chest.
My father’s expression softened instantly.
“Sweetheart—”
“Did you know I was his kid?”
He swallowed.
“Yes.”
“Then why did you tell people I wasn’t?”
No one moved.
My father looked at me.
I shook my head.
“Answer her.”
He finally said:
“Because I thought you would have a safer life away from the Moretti family.”
Emily considered that.
Then asked:
“Did my mom ask you to?”
“No.”
“Did my dad?”
“No.”
“So you decided for us?”
My throat tightened.
Seven years old.
And somehow she understood the whole betrayal more clearly than the adults.
My father lowered his gaze.
“Yes.”
Emily nodded slowly.
“That was mean.”
He looked devastated.
Good.
Children should not have to soften truths adults refuse to face.
Madison closed the laptop.
“We can petition to correct the record.”
I looked at Vincent.
“Will that give him rights?”
“Yes.”
My stomach tightened.
Vincent spoke immediately.
“Not unless Claire agrees.”
Everyone looked at him.
He continued.
“I won’t use what happened to force myself into Emily’s life.”
I studied his face.
“Why?”
“Because I already took one choice away from you seven years ago.”
His eyes shifted to Emily.
“I won’t take another.”
I hated that he sounded sincere.
Sophia stood near the window with Lucas.
The boy had barely spoken.
He was seven too.
Blond.
Quiet.
Nothing like Vincent.
I had noticed that years ago in photographs.
I had told myself genetics were unpredictable.
Then Lucas suddenly asked:
“Dad?”
Vincent turned.
“Yeah?”
“Am I really your first son?”
The room froze.
Sophia went rigid.
Vincent frowned.
“What do you mean?”
Lucas looked embarrassed.
“Grandma Linda said something once.”
Sophia grabbed his shoulder.
“Lucas, not now.”
He pulled away.
“What did she say?” Vincent asked.
Sophia’s face drained.
Lucas looked at him.
“She said my real daddy was dead.”
No one breathed.
Sophia snapped:
“She was confused.”
“When?” Vincent asked.
Lucas thought.
“Christmas.”
“What year?”
“Last year.”
Vincent looked at Sophia.
“What did your mother mean?”
“Nothing.”
“Sophia.”
She took a step backward.
“Vincent, we have had a terrible night. Lucas is tired.”
Vincent’s voice turned frighteningly quiet.
“I want a DNA test.”
Sophia’s face changed.
Not anger.
Fear.
I saw it.
So did he.
Lucas looked between them.
“Mom?”
Sophia started crying.
“Vincent, please.”
He stared at her.
Seven years of certainty began collapsing behind his eyes.
“Is Lucas my son?”
Sophia said nothing.
“Answer me.”
She whispered:
“I thought he was.”
Vincent went completely still.
“What does that mean?”
Sophia covered her face.
My mother rushed toward her.
“Sophia, don’t.”
That was the mistake.
Vincent’s head turned.
“You knew.”
My mother froze.
I stared at her.
“Knew what?”
My father looked suddenly sick.
Sophia began sobbing.
“It happened once.”
Vincent’s face turned to stone.
“With whom?”
She shook her head.
“Who?”
Sophia looked toward the door.
A man had just entered.
Vincent’s younger cousin, Dominic Moretti.
He stopped.
Sophia looked at him.
And Vincent understood before she spoke.
“So did I.
May you like
Lucas wasn’t necessarily Vincent’s son at all.
He might be Dominic’s.”
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