Chapter 3 - The Engagement That Was Built on a LieCamille arrived at the Castellanos residence before sunrise.
She didn't knock.
She had a key.
Raphael found her in his father's study.
“What are you doing?”
She smiled.
“Waiting.”
“For?”
“You.”
Raphael closed the door.
“You used the hospital.”
“I used what was available.”
“You threatened Dela's brother.”
“I needed the key.”
“You almost got Toby killed.”
Camille shrugged.
“He survived.”
Raphael's voice became dangerous.
“Don't speak about him like that.”
She looked at him.
“You're defending her.”
“Yes.”
“Why?”
“Because she's innocent.”
Camille laughed.
“Everyone is innocent when they don't have power.”
She stepped closer.
“She doesn't belong in this world.”
Raphael stared.
“Neither do you.”
Camille's expression changed.
“You're supposed to marry me.”
“I was.”
“You promised.”
“I was wrong.”
Her smile vanished.
“You're ending our engagement?”
“Yes.”
“You can't.”
“I just did.”
She looked at him.
Then smiled again.
“You'll regret this.”
“I doubt it.”
She walked away.
At the doorway, she stopped.
“Raphael?”
He waited.
“You don't know who Dela really is.”
“What does that mean?”
“She isn't just an heir.”
Then she left.
Raphael went to Dela's apartment.
She was sitting at the kitchen table.
Toby slept in the next room.
Dela looked exhausted.
“You should rest.”
“I can't.”
“I'll stay.”
She looked at him.
“Why?”
“Because I don't want you alone.”
She looked away.
“That's dangerous.”
“I know.”
“You could lose everything.”
He smiled.
“I already lost the things I thought mattered.”
She looked at him.
“You love your family.”
“I did.”
“And now?”
“Now I don't know who my family is.”
Silence.
Dela reached for his hand.
He let her.
“What did Camille mean?”
“She said you're not just an heir.”
Dela frowned.
“Then what am I?”
He handed her another file.
Her mother.
Anna Delaor.
She stared.
The photograph showed her mother standing beside Raphael's father.
They looked close.
Too close.
Dela's chest tightened.
“Were they lovers?”
“Maybe.”
“Did my father know?”
“I don't know.”
Dela turned another page.
A birth record.
Her mother's name.
Raphael's father's name.
And another name.
Matteo Delaor.
She stared.
“Wait.”
Raphael looked.
There was a discrepancy.
Her mother's pregnancy had been recorded three months before her marriage.
The father's name had been changed.
Dela's voice shook.
“That's me.”
Raphael nodded.
“Maybe.”
“No.”
She stood.
“My father is Matteo.”
“Are you sure?”
“I know.”
“Then why was his name altered?”
Dela didn't answer.
A knock came at the door.
Tobias woke.
“Dela?”
“Stay inside.”
Raphael moved toward the door.
A woman stood outside.
Dr. Elena Ward.
The silver-haired doctor from the gala.
Dela recognized her.
“Come in.”
Elena entered.
“I've been searching for you.”
“Why?”
“Because your mother asked me to.”
Dela froze.
“My mother?”
Elena nodded.
“She is alive.”
Dela couldn't breathe.
“No.”
“Yes.”
“Where?”
“Safe.”
“Why didn't she come home?”
“Because she was protecting you.”
Dela looked at Raphael.
“Everyone keeps saying that.”
Elena sighed.
“She was forced to disappear.”
“By whom?”
“Your father.”
Dela recoiled.
“My father?”
Elena nodded.
“Matteo discovered your mother was involved with the Castellanos trust.”
“What trust?”
“The original one.”
Raphael looked toward her.
“You know about my family?”
“Yes.”
“How?”
“I was there when the trust was created.”
Elena sat.
“Your mothers created it.”
Dela looked confused.
“Your mother and Raphael's mother.”
Raphael froze.
“They were friends.”
“More than friends.”
Dela's heart raced.
“They built the foundation together.”
“Then why did everything collapse?”
“Because men took control.”
Elena's voice softened.
“Your father tried to stop them.”
“And my mother?”
“She helped.”
“Then why hide?”
“Because she knew someone would use you.”
Dela closed her eyes.
“I spent my whole life thinking she abandoned me.”
“She didn't.”
A tear fell.
“Where is she?”
Elena handed her a photograph.
A woman standing in a snowy field.
Alive.
Older.
Smiling.
On the back:
I am sorry.
Dela cried.
Raphael placed a hand on her shoulder.
She leaned into him.
For a moment, neither spoke.
Then Tobias came from the bedroom.
“Dela?”
She turned.
Toby looked at Raphael.
“Are you the scary man?”
Raphael blinked.
“I've been called worse.”
Toby nodded.
“Dela says scary men don't bring flowers.”
Raphael glanced at Dela.
“What flowers?”
She smiled.
“You brought some?”
He laughed.
“I did.”
He had left them in the car.
Toby smiled.
“You're okay.”
Raphael looked at Dela.
“So I'm approved.”
“Barely.”
The room became warmer.
For the first time in days.
Then Dela's phone rang.
Unknown number.
She answered.
A man's voice said:
“You should not trust Raphael.”
She frowned.
“Who is this?”
The man laughed.
“Someone who knows what happened the night your father disappeared.”
“What happened?”
“Ask your new boyfriend.”
The line ended.
Dela looked at Raphael.
“What did he mean?”
“I don't know.”
She wanted to believe him.
Then she saw something on his hand.
A small scar.
A crescent shape.
Exactly like the scar in her father's photograph.
“What happened to your hand?”
Raphael looked down.
“Glass.”
“From when?”
“A fire.”
“When?”
“Twenty years ago.”
Dela went still.
The same night her father disappeared.
Raphael understood.
“You think I was there.”
“I don't know.”
He looked at her.
“I was.”
Silence.
Dela stepped back.
“What happened?”
Raphael answered:
“I saved someone.”
May you like
“Who?”
“Your mother.”
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