Chapter 5 - THE FATHER WHO DIED TWICE
Roman’s father had died eight years earlier.
He had attended the funeral.
Watched the coffin lowered.
Put soil on top himself.
So when Teresa said Vittorio had been alive twelve months ago, Roman’s first instinct was disbelief.
His second was violence.
Norah saw both.
“Roman.”
He looked at her.
“Ask questions before you threaten anyone.”
He inhaled.
Then forced himself.
“What do you mean he wasn’t dead?”
Teresa answered:
“The man buried eight years ago was not Vittorio.”
Roman went still.
“A substitute body.”
“Why?”
“Because someone inside the organization tried to kill him.”
“Who?”
“Matteo Voss.”
The name returned.
Roman’s old CFO.
The man who controlled half the legitimate money flow.
Teresa continued.
“Your father survived the first attack. Carlo and I hid him.”
“From me?”
“From everyone.”
Roman’s voice cracked.
“You let me believe my father was dead.”
“Yes.”
“For eight years?”
“Yes.”
Norah looked away.
The pain in Roman’s face was too private.
“What happened twelve months ago?” he asked.
“Vittorio discovered Matteo had learned Norah was pregnant.”
Norah froze.
“How?”
“Medical insurance.”
Teresa explained.
One prenatal blood panel had accidentally billed through a family policy still linked to the Moretti trust.
Matteo saw it.
Vittorio saw Matteo see it.
So Vittorio acted.
“He sent the threat?”
Norah whispered.
Teresa hesitated.
“He sent a warning.”
“That was not a warning.”
Norah’s voice shook.
“He told me my unborn children would be buried beside Roman’s father.”
Teresa went silent.
Then:
“He never meant it literally.”
Roman looked sick.
“Then what did he mean?”
“To scare you into disappearing before Matteo could find you.”
Norah laughed bitterly.
“So he protected me by making me believe Roman’s family would murder my babies.”
“Yes.”
“No.”
Roman’s voice became cold.
“That was not protection.”
Teresa stopped.
For once, nobody defended Vittorio.
Roman asked:
“Where is my father now?”
Silence.
Then Teresa answered:
“He died six months ago.”
Roman’s eyes closed.
“For real?”
“Yes.”
“Cause?”
“Cancer.”
A cruel ordinary death.
After all the violence.
Roman did not speak.
Norah reached for his hand.
She hesitated.
Then touched him.
He did not move.
Teresa continued.
“Before he died, he recorded messages for you.”
Roman looked up.
“Where?”
“With Carlo.”
Roman’s hand tightened.
“Carlo knew everything.”
“Yes.”
“And he said nothing.”
“He promised Vittorio.”
Roman laughed once.
Broken.
Everyone in his life had confused secrecy with loyalty.
Then Norah asked:
“Why does Matteo care about the twins?”
Teresa’s answer came quickly.
“Because when they are legally acknowledged, every transaction tied to the Elena Trust becomes independently audited.”
Roman’s head snapped up.
“Meaning?”
“Your mother designed it that way.”
Matteo’s crimes would surface.
So would everyone who helped him.
Then Teresa said:
“And there is one more problem.”
Roman stared.
“What?”
“The trust does not recognize both twins equally.”
Norah went pale.
“What?”
Teresa whispered:
“One child inherits the financial holdings.”
“And the other?” Roman asked.
Teresa took a breath.
“The other inherits control of the Moretti Foundation.”
Norah looked at Grace.
Then Elias.
The threat message suddenly made sense.
May you like
CHOOSE WHICH CHILD KEEPS THE NAME.
Someone intended to separate them.
