Chapter 3 - Damian’s Dead Father Was Alive, and He Had Been Watching My Daughter Since the Day She Was BornAntonio Caruso had supposedly died twelve years earlier.
Heart attack.
Private funeral.
Closed coffin.
But Nicholas had seen him last month.
Alive.
Living in Europe.
Using another name.
Damian didn't believe it.
Until we found the financial records.
The transfers led to a private account.
The account belonged to Antonio.
He had been funding operations.
Buying properties.
Paying doctors.
And paying Evan.
I looked at Damian.
“He knew about Leah.”
“Yes.”
“Why?”
He didn't answer.
Then an old photograph arrived.
Antonio standing beside a newborn baby.
Leah.
My daughter.
My hands shook.
“How?”
Damian stared at the photo.
“He had her from the beginning.”
I felt sick.
He explained.
Antonio believed the child could be used to manipulate the Caruso succession.
If Damian had no heir, Antonio could control everything.
But when Leah was born, he saw an opportunity.
He took her.
He staged her death.
He gave her to a private caretaker.
He waited.
The caretaker became attached.
But Leah never spoke.
Until she smelled my perfume.
I looked at her.
“Why does she remember me?”
The doctor explained that newborns could retain sensory associations.
My scent.
My voice.
My heartbeat.
Her mind had been searching for me.
Damian looked at Leah.
He was devastated.
“I stole two years from her.”
I touched his arm.
“You didn't know.”
“I should have.”
“So should I.”
He looked at me.
“No.”
“You were lied to too.”
We found Antonio.
A private estate outside Geneva.
Damian wanted to go alone.
I refused.
“This is my daughter.”
He nodded.
We entered the estate at midnight.
Antonio was waiting.
He smiled.
“Son.”
Damian raised his weapon.
“You stole my daughter.”
Antonio laughed.
“She was never yours.”
Damian's face hardened.
“She is mine.”
“She is a Caruso heir.”
“She is a child.”
Antonio looked at me.
“Her mother.”
I stepped forward.
“Give her back.”
“She is where she belongs.”
“No.”
I picked up Leah.
“She belongs with me.”
Antonio smiled.
“Then prove you're worthy.”
“What does that mean?”
“Leave Damian.”
I froze.
“Why?”
“Because he will destroy you.”
I looked at Damian.
He shook his head.
“Don't listen.”
Antonio continued.
“He is exactly like me.”
Damian's face changed.
“I am not.”
“You will be.”
“No.”
Damian lowered his weapon.
“I choose my daughter.”
Antonio stared.
“And her mother.”
I felt tears.
For the first time, Damian chose love over power.
We escaped.
Antonio was arrested.
The network collapsed.
The truth came out.
Evan was arrested too.
Dr. Weiss lost her license.
Nicholas became a cooperating witness.
My daughter was finally home.
But going home wasn't easy.
She didn't trust many people.
She only wanted me.
And sometimes Damian.
The three of us slowly built a routine.
Breakfast.
Stories.
Piano lessons.
Bedtime.
Leah began speaking more.
Her first full sentence was:
“Mama, Daddy stay.”
I cried.
Damian cried.
We promised.
We would stay.
No more disappearances.
No more lies.
No more stolen years.
But one final problem remained.
May you like
The Caruso empire.
Damian had to decide what to do with it.
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