Chapter 10 - THE BROTHER NORAH NEVER KNEW SHE HAD
Norah had no brother.
That was what she told Roman.
“My mother had one child.”
Roman’s face changed when she repeated Teresa’s claim.
“What?”
She watched him.
“Don’t.”
“Don’t what?”
“Lie.”
Roman looked away.
That was enough.
Norah’s stomach dropped.
“Roman.”
“Your mother had a son before you.”
She went cold.
“What?”
“He was adopted.”
“Why do you know this?”
Roman sat down.
“Because he came looking for you.”
Her breathing changed.
“When?”
“Three days before our wedding.”
“Name.”
“Daniel Pierce.”
Norah remembered.
A man outside the rehearsal dinner.
She thought he was press.
Roman’s security removed him.
“Was he my brother?”
“Yes.”
“And you killed him?”
“No.”
She exhaled.
Barely.
“But?”
“He died because he came to me.”
Norah closed her eyes.
“Explain.”
Daniel had discovered their shared mother years earlier.
He also worked as a forensic accountant.
He found irregularities tied to Matteo Voss.
Daniel approached Roman.
Wanted protection.
Wanted to meet Norah.
Roman told him to wait until after the wedding.
“Why?”
“Because I thought he might be lying.”
Norah stared.
“You delayed telling me I had a brother because you wanted to verify him.”
“Yes.”
“What happened?”
“He was killed that night.”
Norah covered her mouth.
Roman continued.
“Matteo arranged it.”
“Did you know?”
“Not until later.”
“Why didn’t you tell me?”
Roman’s voice broke.
“Because I thought the truth would destroy our wedding.”
She laughed bitterly.
“So you buried it.”
“Yes.”
“You chose for me.”
“Yes.”
Again.
The pattern.
Roman looked ashamed.
“I am sorry.”
Norah stood.
“You don’t get forgiveness because you finally learned the word.”
“I know.”
She paced.
Her brother.
Someone she never met.
Dead because powerful men believed information was theirs to manage.
Then Roman handed her something.
A sealed envelope.
Daniel’s.
Addressed:
NORAH.
Roman had kept it.
For years.
She stared.
“You had this the whole time?”
“Yes.”
Her eyes filled.
“Get out.”
Roman stood immediately.
No argument.
He left.
Norah opened the letter alone.
Daniel wrote about their mother.
About being adopted.
About wanting to meet her.
Then the final page:
I found something in Moretti financial records that may matter someday.
Norah read faster.
Vittorio Moretti had a daughter before Roman.
Norah stopped.
Roman had a sister.
Unknown.
She was hidden for safety.
Then:
Her name is Sofia.
Norah stared.
Sofia Moretti.
Daniel had traced her to one place.
Denver.
The same city where Elias’s cardiologist worked.
The same city where Roman had been lured.
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And according to Daniel:
SOFIA IS THE TRUE TRUSTEE OF THE ELENA MORETTI ESTATE.
