Chapter 12 - THE MOTHER WHO WAS NEVER BURIED
Isabella had stood beside her mother's grave for twelve years.
She'd brought flowers every birthday.
Every Christmas.
Every Mother's Day.
She'd cried beside the stone until her knees hurt.
And now she was staring at a document suggesting her mother might have survived.
“I need to see her,” she whispered.
Marco looked toward the investigator.
“Can you confirm the records?”
“We're working on it.”
Rosa held Isabella's hand.
“Sweetheart, we don't know yet.”
But Isabella couldn't stop hoping.
For twelve years, she'd imagined hearing her mother's voice again.
The sound of her laughter.
The way she said Isabella's name.
The way she brushed curls from Isabella's forehead when she was sick.
Now there might be a chance.
Investigators contacted the Wisconsin facility.
The records were incomplete.
Several files had been transferred.
But a patient matching Adriana's description had been admitted under the name Anna Rossi.
Isabella felt her heart racing.
“Is she still there?”
A pause.
Then the investigator nodded.
“Yes.”
Isabella began crying.
Marco turned away, visibly emotional.
Rosa covered her mouth.
But the investigator continued.
“Her condition is complicated. She's been receiving long-term neurological care.”
Isabella wiped her eyes.
“Can I visit?”
“We'll coordinate with her medical team.”
Two days later, Isabella entered a quiet room overlooking a garden.
An older woman sat beside the window.
Her dark hair had turned silver.
Her face was thinner.
But her eyes—
Isabella stopped breathing.
“Mom?”
The woman looked up.
For several seconds, she stared.
Then her lips trembled.
“Bella?”
Isabella covered her mouth.
Nobody had called her Bella like that since she was fourteen.
She crossed the room.
“Mommy.”
Adriana began crying.
“My baby.”
Isabella fell into her arms.
Twelve years disappeared in one embrace.
She sobbed against her mother's shoulder.
“I thought you were dead.”
Adriana held her tightly.
“I know.”
“Why didn't you come home?”
Her mother's expression filled with pain.
“They told me you were safe.”
Isabella pulled back.
“Who?”
“Enzo.”
Her stomach tightened.
Adriana continued.
“He said you didn't want to see me.”
Isabella began crying harder.
“I would never.”
“I know that now.”
For a long moment, they held each other.
Then Adriana looked toward Marco.
Her expression changed.
“You're Vittorio's son.”
Marco nodded.
“Yes.”
Adriana closed her eyes.
“Then you need to know something.”
He stepped closer.
“What?”
She looked toward Rosa.
Her voice trembled.
“The money wasn't the reason they kept me here.”
Isabella swallowed.
“Then why?”
Adriana reached for her daughter's hand.
“Because I saw who ordered Sofia taken.”
The room fell silent.
Marco's jaw tightened.
“Who?”
Adriana looked directly at him.
May you like
Then whispered:
“Your father's brother.”
