Chapter 6 - THE DAUGHTER OF A MORETTI
“No.”
The word came out of me like a reflex.
Elena didn't move.
Alessandro's hand tightened around my arm.
“What did you say?”
She looked at him.
“Your father had another child.”
The hallway seemed to shrink.
My heart hammered so hard I could hear it.
“No.”
Elena stepped closer.
“Isabella—”
“Don't call me that like you know me.”
Her face filled with pain.
“I do know you.”
I laughed bitterly.
“Apparently everyone knows my life except me.”
Alessandro turned toward his mother.
“Explain everything.”
Elena nodded.
“Your father, Carlo Moretti, had an affair with a woman named Sofia Rossi.”
My mother's name.
My stomach twisted.
“She became pregnant.”
I couldn't breathe.
“Carlo wanted to acknowledge the child.”
Alessandro's face hardened.
“And Vincent?”
“He believed another heir threatened his control.”
Vincent Moretti.
The vanished uncle.
The man who had apparently killed Alessandro's father.
Elena continued.
“Sofia died during childbirth.”
My eyes filled with tears.
I had always been told my mother died when I was two.
Another lie.
“Giovanni was Sofia's older brother.”
“My uncle.”
“Yes.”
I covered my mouth.
“He raised me as his daughter.”
“Because Carlo asked him to.”
Alessandro looked at me.
We understood at the same time.
If Carlo Moretti was my biological father, Alessandro and I shared a father.
My stomach dropped.
Every strange moment between us suddenly became horrifying.
Alessandro stepped away from me immediately.
His face was pale.
“No.”
Elena looked confused.
Then realization dawned.
“Oh.”
I wanted the floor to open.
Vincent Gallo looked intensely interested in the ceiling.
Alessandro rubbed his face.
“This is unbelievable.”
I stared at Elena.
“Is it true?”
“Yes.”
“Can you prove it?”
She nodded.
“Your father kept records.”
“Records can be forged.”
“A DNA test won't be.”
The answer was obvious.
But I wanted it to be wrong.
Not because of Alessandro.
Not only because of him.
Because if Elena was right, my entire identity had been built on lies.
“Where is Marco?” I asked.
Elena hesitated.
“He isn't your biological brother either.”
I closed my eyes.
“Of course he isn't.”
“But he is Giovanni's son.”
“So he's my cousin.”
“Yes.”
My chest hurt.
Alessandro's voice became hard.
“Where is he?”
Elena looked toward the back hallway.
“He's with someone who can protect him.”
“Who?”
Before she could answer, a gunshot exploded outside.
Elena flinched.
Alessandro pulled me behind him.
Vincent Gallo drew his weapon.
A voice echoed from the clinic entrance.
“Family reunions are always so emotional.”
Elena went white.
Alessandro whispered,
“Vincent.”
A tall older man stepped into the hallway.
Silver hair.
Black coat.
Calm smile.
Vincent Moretti.
He looked at Alessandro.
Then at me.
His smile widened.
“There she is.”
I felt cold.
“The lost little princess.”
Alessandro moved in front of me.
“Don't.”
Vincent laughed.
“You still don't understand.”
“Understand what?”
Vincent's gaze remained on me.
“She isn't your sister.”
Silence.
Alessandro's expression changed.
Elena closed her eyes.
I stared at Vincent.
“What?”
He smiled.
“Carlo Moretti wasn't your father.”
My knees nearly gave out.
“Then who was?”
May you like
Vincent looked directly at me.
“I was.”
