Chapter 5 - My Father Was Supposed to Have Been Dead for Ten Years—But Chiara's Cassette Revealed He Had Been Controlling Us All From the BeginningMy father had been dead for ten years.

At least, that's what everyone believed.

Valentina showed me old documents.

No death certificate.

No hospital record.

No funeral.

Just an empty grave.

"Why did you let me believe he was dead?"

"Because he wanted you to."

"Who was running the family?"

"Someone else."

"Who?"

"Me."

I stared.

"Why?"

"Because he ordered me to."

Valentina explained.

Our father had built the network.

He had recruited doctors.

Politicians.

Scientists.

Criminals.

He believed genetic research could create enormous power.

He also believed certain families were born with valuable biological traits.

Mine was one.

Chiara discovered the truth.

She threatened to expose him.

He ordered her silenced.

Valentina had been instructed to arrange it.

But she didn't.

Instead, she helped Chiara hide.

"Then what happened?"

"Chiara disappeared."

"She was killed."

"I thought so."

"Thought?"

Valentina nodded.

"Her death was staged."

I stared.

"What?"

"The car accident was fake."

"Then where was she?"

"That's what I don't know."

My heart stopped.

"She's alive?"

"I don't know."

"You lied."

"I was protecting you."

"From whom?"

"My father."

The cassette suddenly clicked on.

We looked toward the old player.

Chiara's voice.

"Dante."

I froze.

"If you're hearing this, Valentina probably failed to stop them."

Valentina covered her mouth.

Chiara continued:

"Your father is alive."

I looked at Valentina.

The recording went on.

"He wants your blood."

"Not your money."

"Your blood."

Then:

"If I die, find the child."

A pause.

"The child knows where I am."

I stopped breathing.

"What child?"

The recording ended.

Valentina stared at me.

"I didn't know about that."

"Maybe you didn't."

"Who could know?"

Mia appeared in the doorway.

She was holding her cloth doll.

She looked at me.

Then said:

"Chiara."

I froze.

"What?"

"She talked to me."

Valentina went white.

"That's impossible."

Mia nodded.

"She came when Mommy was cleaning."

I knelt.

"Where?"

"By the piano."

"When?"

"Last week."

My heart pounded.

"What did she say?"

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Mia thought.

"She said to tell you she was waiting."