Chapter 4 - THE WOMAN WHO WANTED THE FALCONE NAME
For three years, Isabella Cross had presented herself as the woman Marcus Falcone could trust.
Elegant.
Intelligent.
Patient.
She managed charitable events, attended business dinners, and cared for Marcus after his father's death.
When Elena Moretti disappeared, Isabella had been there.
She had comforted him.
Encouraged him to move forward.
And slowly convinced him Elena had never truly loved him.
Now Marcus understood something terrible.
Isabella hadn't been helping him recover from losing Elena.
She'd been making sure Elena could never return.
Marcus met with his attorney, Anthony Bellini, at the hospital.
"I want a complete investigation into Cross Medical Holdings."
Anthony nodded.
"We're already preserving financial and ownership records."
"Who owns the facility?"
"Isabella controls the parent company."
Marcus's expression darkened.
"How long?"
"Six years."
Marcus stared.
Six years.
Three years before he'd met her.
"Why would she hide that?"
Anthony hesitated.
"There may be more to her relationship with the Falcone family than you've been told."
Marcus looked up.
"Explain."
Anthony opened a file.
"Isabella's father was a man named Leonard Cross."
Marcus frowned.
The name sounded familiar.
"Who was he?"
"A former financial adviser to your father."
Marcus went still.
His father, Antonio Falcone, had died eight years earlier.
Leonard Cross had worked for him before suddenly disappearing from company records.
"What happened to Leonard?"
Anthony lowered his voice.
"He was dismissed after an internal investigation uncovered missing funds."
Marcus stared.
"And Isabella?"
"She was twenty-three at the time."
Marcus felt cold.
Had she entered his life for revenge?
For money?
For access to his family?
Anthony continued.
"There's also a private agreement involving your father's estate."
Marcus frowned.
"What agreement?"
"Leonard Cross claimed your father promised him a percentage of certain family assets."
"Was it legitimate?"
"The claim was disputed."
Marcus looked toward the hospital window.
"How much money?"
Anthony hesitated.
"Approximately eighty million dollars."
Marcus slowly turned.
Eighty million.
Then he remembered the documents he'd been reviewing when Lucia entered the dining room.
The proposed family restructuring.
The new trust arrangement.
Isabella had insisted he sign before the end of the month.
He'd assumed she was helping simplify his estate.
Now he wondered whether she'd been preparing to seize it.
Anthony placed another document on the table.
"This was discovered in the hospital transfer records."
It was a draft guardianship agreement.
Two children were listed.
Both sons of Marcus Falcone and Elena Moretti.
The proposed guardian was Isabella Cross.
Marcus stared.
"She was trying to become their guardian?"
Anthony nodded.
"Without either parent's valid consent."
Marcus's hands trembled.
Then he noticed the children's names.
The first was listed as Matteo Falcone.
The second as Gabriel Falcone.
But beside Gabriel's name was a handwritten notation.
Transfer completed.
Marcus looked up.
"What transfer?"
Anthony swallowed.
"That's what investigators are trying to determine."
Then his phone rang.
He answered.
Listened.
And went pale.
"Marcus..."
"What?"
"Police have located the vehicle used to transport Elena."
Marcus stood.
"Where?"
"At Cross Medical Holdings."
"And Elena?"
Anthony hesitated.
"The facility claims she was never admitted."
Marcus stared.
May you like
Then Anthony added:
"But they found a nursery. And inside it was a second newborn wearing Gabriel Falcone's hospital bracelet."
