Chapter 12 - THE TWO CHILDREN I CHOSE TO FIGHT FOR
The newborn was named Lily by the temporary foster family caring for her.
I liked the name.
Soft.
Simple.
Nothing connected to the Morettis or Bellinis.
My attorney explained that legal parentage would take time.
Sophia had carried Lily.
I was her genetic mother.
Michael Grant was her biological father.
But he was dead.
The situation required careful court review.
For once, nobody tried to rush it.
That became important to me.
I had spent years around powerful people who believed speed and control could fix everything.
But children were not assets.
They were not inheritance mechanisms.
They were not weapons.
They deserved patience.
I visited Lily for the first time two weeks later.
Supervised.
She was tiny.
Dark hair.
Serious eyes.
When the caregiver placed her in my arms, I started crying.
“Hi.”
Her fingers wrapped around mine.
My heart broke open.
I thought about Michael.
The man who never knew he had a daughter.
I whispered:
“Your daddy would have loved you.”
Then I thought about the baby inside me.
Vincent’s child.
Another life.
Another complicated beginning.
I placed my hand over my stomach.
“I’ll protect both of you.”
But this time, protection would mean truth.
Not hiding.
Not control.
Not lies.
Vincent began counseling.
Court-ordered and voluntary.
He also entered into legal agreements preventing him from using his businesses or personnel to interfere with the investigation or custody process.
Several associates abandoned him.
Some called him weak.
Arthur remained.
But even Arthur kept professional distance.
The old Moretti organization began breaking apart.
Legitimate companies moved under new oversight.
Illegal operations faced investigation.
Vincent lost money.
Power.
Influence.
But when I saw him weeks later, he looked calmer.
Not happy.
Just honest.
He asked about Lily.
“She’s healthy.”
He nodded.
“And the baby?”
“Also healthy.”
His eyes filled with relief.
Then he whispered:
“Can I ask something?”
“Yes.”
“If Lily eventually becomes part of your life permanently… may I know her too?”
I stared.
He continued quickly.
“Not as her father. Not unless that ever becomes appropriate. Just…”
His voice broke.
“As someone who understands she was used by people who should have protected her.”
My anger softened slightly.
Not forgiveness.
But recognition.
“You can ask again later.”
He nodded.
“Fair.”
Then Detective Bennett called.
Salvatore had agreed to provide information as part of the investigation.
He confirmed the identity scheme.
The embryo theft.
Sophia’s role.
And one final secret.
Sophia had not returned to Chicago only for revenge.
She had been sent because Salvatore believed I possessed something he needed.
I frowned.
“What?”
The detective opened a file.
My late mother’s will.
Inside was a sealed trust.
Established decades earlier.
Beneficiary:
Claire Bennett.
Value:
May you like
More than six hundred million dollars.
And Salvatore had been trying to gain access to it through my marriage.
