Chapter 5 - The Night Lucien Finally Remembered
Lucien returned to his estate and locked himself in his study.
Saraphina followed.
"You owe me an explanation."
"I know."
"You were there."
"I know."
"With my father."
"I don't remember why."
"That's convenient."
His expression hardened.
"Don't."
She froze.
"Don't what?"
"Assume I know more than I do."
Saraphina looked away.
"I'm sorry."
He sighed.
"I understand."
He sat.
"I was twenty."
Saraphina stared.
"Twenty?"
"Yes."
"How?"
"My father had business with Dominico."
"What kind?"
"I don't know."
"You don't remember?"
"No."
Lucien rubbed his forehead.
"That night changed my life."
"How?"
"My brother disappeared."
"He died."
"I know."
"But you said disappeared."
"Because they lied."
Saraphina waited.
Lucien finally told her.
After Matteo died, Lucien was told his brother had been killed during a robbery.
He believed it.
Until years later when witnesses began dying.
He started investigating.
Every path led back to the Duca family.
But every time he got close, someone erased the evidence.
"I thought your father killed Matteo."
Saraphina whispered.
"And now?"
"I think he tried to protect him."
She looked confused.
"Why?"
"Because Matteo was going to expose Silas."
"And my father knew?"
"Yes."
Then a voice came from the doorway.
Dominico.
Saraphina froze.
"Father."
He looked older than she had ever seen him.
He had no security with him.
No arrogance.
No polished smile.
Only exhaustion.
Lucien stood.
"What are you doing here?"
Dominico looked at Saraphina.
"I came to tell her the truth."
Saraphina crossed her arms.
"You should have done that twenty-five years ago."
"I know."
"Tell me."
Dominico sat.
"When your mother discovered what Silas was doing, she tried to expose him."
Saraphina listened.
"Matteo helped her."
"But Matteo was Lucien's brother."
"Yes."
"Then why was he killed?"
Dominico looked at Lucien.
"Because someone inside my organization betrayed him."
"Who?"
Dominico swallowed.
"My brother."
Saraphina's eyes widened.
"Uncle Enzo?"
Dominico nodded.
"Enzo wanted control of everything."
Lucien stared.
"My uncle?"
"Yes."
"Why didn't you tell me?"
"Because Enzo threatened your life."
Lucien stepped closer.
"Where is he now?"
"Dead."
Saraphina's father looked at her.
"But his son runs the network."
Silas.
The pieces clicked.
"Then why did Viviana say not to trust you?"
Dominico looked heartbroken.
"Because I failed both of you."
He confessed everything.
He had loved Saraphina's mother.
But when she became pregnant, Dominico was already married.
The truth would have destroyed the family.
Her mother chose to hide the pregnancy.
Saraphina had been brought up as Dominico's daughter publicly.
But the truth was more complicated.
"Then who is my biological father?"
Silence.
Dominico looked at Lucien.
Then Saraphina.
"Matteo Moretti."
Lucien went completely still.
Saraphina couldn't breathe.
"No."
Dominico nodded.
"Your mother and Matteo were together before the accident."
Saraphina shook her head.
"Then my whole life..."
"Was built around protecting a secret."
Lucien stared at her.
His brother's daughter.
The little girl Matteo died trying to protect.
The witness.
The child he had been searching for.
Saraphina looked at him.
"What does that make me to you?"
Lucien's voice broke.
"My family."
She cried.
He stepped toward her.
But she backed away.
Everything was too much.
She had spent twenty-five years believing she belonged nowhere.
Now she had discovered that she belonged to the one family she had never known existed.
Then a shot shattered the window.
Dominico fell.
Blood spread across his shirt.
Saraphina screamed.
Lucien caught her.
Security flooded the room.
Dominico whispered:
"Protect her."
Lucien looked toward the broken window.
His expression became lethal.
"I will."
Then he looked at Saraphina.
And something inside him changed permanently.
She was no longer just the woman he had chosen.
May you like
She was family.
And anyone who touched her would answer to him.
