Chapter 5 - The Mother Who Was Supposed to Be Dead
Rafael had spent fifteen years grieving his mother.
He had never imagined that grief might have been built on another lie.
The company was registered under her maiden name.
Isabella Holloway.
The ship was called The Maribel.
It had been docked in Charleston for six months.
Gianna chartered a private plane.
Rafael came with her.
Neither spoke much during the flight.
Finally, he asked, “Why are you helping me?”
She looked out the window.
“Because I need the truth too.”
“And after that?”
“I don't know.”
He nodded.
He accepted the answer.
When they reached the harbor, they found the ship empty.
Not abandoned.
Prepared.
The cabins had been cleaned.
Food remained on the tables.
A child's toy sat in the captain's quarters.
Gianna picked it up.
“What is this?”
Rafael frowned.
“I'm not sure.”
A recording suddenly played through the ship's speakers.
Isabella's voice.
“If you are hearing this, then my son finally found the truth.”
Rafael froze.
Gianna held his hand.
The recording continued.
“I did not die when your father told you I did.”
Rafael whispered, “Mom.”
“I disappeared because I discovered the trafficking operation.”
Gianna looked at him.
“I tried to expose your father.”
Isabella explained everything.
She had been helping Antonio investigate the network.
Matthew discovered them.
Instead of killing them, he made a deal.
He would help them escape if they helped him take control of the legitimate empire.
But Matthew had a second plan.
He wanted Rafael.
He manipulated him from childhood.
He turned Antonio into a hero in Rafael's mind.
He turned Gianna into a political alliance.
He turned Natalie into a weapon.
And he kept every person around Rafael divided.
The final part of the recording shocked them.
“I knew Gianna would eventually inherit the Rosetti trust.”
Rafael looked at her.
“Your mother knew about me?”
“Yes.”
“Why?”
“Because she knew your grandfather trusted you.”
“Why trust me?”
The recording answered.
“Because you are the one person who was never truly corrupted.”
The room went silent.
Then another voice came from behind them.
“Your mother was wrong.”
Matthew stepped from the shadows.
He held a gun.
Behind him stood Arthur Voss.
Gianna immediately moved closer to Rafael.
Matthew smiled.
“Still protecting him.”
Gianna glared.
“Still hiding behind other people.”
His smile vanished.
“You've always been insolent.”
“And you've always been afraid.”
Matthew raised the gun.
Rafael stepped forward.
“Why?”
“You want the truth?”
“Yes.”
“I watched your father destroy everyone around him.”
Matthew's voice shook.
“I watched him build an empire and then blame everyone else for its violence.”
“You could have walked away.”
“I wanted control.”
Rafael stared.
“So you manipulated me.”
“I protected you.”
“You ruined my life.”
“I gave you one.”
“You took it.”
Matthew's eyes darkened.
“You would have died without me.”
Rafael answered quietly.
“Maybe.”
Then he moved.
The first shot hit the wall.
The second hit Arthur Voss.
Chaos exploded through the ship.
Gianna ran toward the emergency exit.
Matthew chased her.
She slipped.
He caught her wrist.
“You should have stayed the abandoned bride.”
Gianna looked into his eyes.
“You should have remembered one thing.”
“What?”
“I own the company paying your men.”
Matthew froze.
Gianna smiled.
“Your payroll was terminated an hour ago.”
The men behind him began dropping their weapons.
Matthew's face went white.
Arthur Voss was arrested.
Matthew was disarmed.
But before authorities took him away, he whispered something to Gianna.
“The man you trust most is still lying.”
Gianna's expression changed.
She looked at Rafael.
He looked genuinely confused.
“Who?”
Matthew laughed.
May you like
“Ask your grandfather why he really chose Rafael.”
Then he was gone.
