Chapter 3 - Claire Told Me My Mother Had Hidden Another Daughter From Everyone, and the Silver Locket Was the Key to a Fortune Built on SecretsClaire sat across from me.
Victor remained standing behind her.
I didn't know what to feel.
I had spent my entire life believing I was an only child.
Now, within two hours, I had discovered a father I thought was dead, a grandfather I had never met, and a sister I never knew existed.
Claire stared at me.
“I was born three years after you.”
“Why didn't I know?”
“Because your mother believed the less you knew, the safer you'd be.”
“She left you too?”
“No.”
Claire looked down.
“I stayed with her.”
“What?”
“She sent you away first.”
My chest tightened.
“Where?”
“A family in Brooklyn.”
My mother had told me she was a single parent.
She hadn't been.
She had protected me by separating us.
Claire continued:
“She knew your father's family wanted the locket.”
“Why?”
“Because it opens the Rossi archive.”
“The archive.”
“Yes.”
“What is inside?”
“Evidence.”
“Against the Morettis?”
“Against everyone.”
That frightened me.
“What do you mean?”
Claire looked at Victor.
“Tell her.”
He sighed.
“The Rossi archive contains records of every illegal agreement my father made.”
“Why would my mother have it?”
“Because it was her inheritance.”
I touched Lily's locket.
“And this opens it?”
“Yes.”
“Where is it?”
“Unknown.”
Claire pointed at the locket.
“That's what everyone has been searching for.”
“But my mother gave it to me.”
“Yes.”
“Why?”
“Because she knew someone would eventually come for you.”
I looked at Lily.
“Why my daughter?”
Claire hesitated.
“Because the locket can only be activated by a direct Rossi descendant.”
I stared.
“My daughter.”
“Yes.”
Victor looked at Lily.
“That's why they came.”
The people outside weren't trying to kill Victor.
They were trying to capture Lily.
The archive belonged to my daughter.
She was the only person capable of opening it.
That meant the attackers knew more than we did.
“How did they know about her?”
Claire whispered:
“Someone inside the hospital leaked the birth record.”
Dr. Grant.
Derek.
Someone.
I thought of Derek.
He had refused the birth certificate.
Maybe because he knew.
Maybe he had been afraid.
“Is Derek involved?”
Victor looked at me.
“We don't know.”
Claire shook her head.
“He may be.”
I felt sick.
The man who had left me alone after childbirth.
The man who refused to sign.
The man who had demanded DNA.
Maybe he wasn't questioning paternity.
Maybe he was trying to protect himself.
Or perhaps he was part of the network.
My phone rang.
Derek.
I answered.
“Emma.”
“What do you want?”
“Where are you?”
“Why?”
“I need to talk to you.”
“You've already said enough.”
“No.”
His voice sounded frightened.
“I know who your daughter is.”
I froze.
“You knew?”
“I didn't know everything.”
“What do you know?”
“That she's being hunted.”
“By whom?”
“Your family.”
“My family doesn't include you.”
He hesitated.
“That's why you need to listen.”
I stared at Victor.
“What?”
Derek said:
“Meet me.”
“Where?”
“The old Saint Clare chapel.”
“When?”
“Tonight.”
“Why?”
“Because I have proof.”
The call ended.
I looked at Victor.
He didn't like it.
“Don't go.”
“I need answers.”
“I can get them.”
“No.”
I looked down at Lily.
“This concerns her.”
May you like
Victor sighed.
“Then you don't go alone.”
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