Chapter 5 - Lorenzo’s Dead Father Was Alive—and Isabella Revealed Why He Had Hidden a Second Daughter From His Own SonThe Rossi mansion became a war room.
Isabella told us everything.
Seven years earlier, she had discovered Matteo's plan.
He wanted control of the Rossi company.
He had manipulated Lorenzo's father.
He had arranged the staged accident.
He kidnapped Isabella.
But she escaped before she could be killed.
The newborn—
Lucia—
was taken.
Isabella searched for her.
She eventually found her living under another identity.
But every time she tried to bring her home, Matteo threatened Mia.
So she stayed away.
I looked at Lorenzo.
“You didn't know any of this?”
“No.”
His face looked devastated.
“I thought my wife was dead.”
Isabella reached for his hand.
“I wanted to come back.”
“Why didn't you?”
“Because I was afraid.”
He nodded.
“I understand.”
Then came the worst revelation.
Lorenzo's father was alive.
Living under a private identity.
He had been hiding because he feared Matteo would kill him.
But he still controlled the trust.
And he knew where Lucia was.
We found him two days later.
He lived in a quiet coastal house.
When Lorenzo walked through the door, the older man stood.
“Son.”
Lorenzo stopped.
“You're alive.”
“Yes.”
“You let me believe you were dead.”
“I had no choice.”
“You always had a choice.”
His father looked ashamed.
“I failed you.”
“Yes.”
“I failed Isabella.”
“Yes.”
“You failed Mia.”
Silence.
The old man nodded.
“You're right.”
Then he turned to me.
“And you must be Karen.”
I froze.
“How do you know my name?”
He smiled.
“Because I have been watching you.”
Lorenzo stepped forward.
“What?”
“I knew you would need someone like her.”
I stared.
“What does that mean?”
“The Rossi family has always survived because someone outside it chooses to stay.”
He looked at me.
“You were that person.”
I didn't understand.
Then he handed Lorenzo a file.
Inside—
my employment application.
My medical history.
My family's financial records.
I felt sick.
“You knew me before I met you?”
“Yes.”
Lorenzo stared at his father.
“Why?”
“Because Matteo had been searching for someone to manipulate your daughter.”
The old man pointed toward me.
“But Karen was different.”
I looked at him.
“How?”
“She couldn't be bought.”
I laughed bitterly.
“I'm broke.”
“Exactly.”
“You had nothing worth stealing.”
He smiled.
“And yet you were the most valuable person in that building.”
Lorenzo looked at me.
I couldn't meet his eyes.
We found Lucia that evening.
She was sixteen.
Dark hair.
Green eyes.
Quiet.
When she saw Isabella, she cried.
When she saw Mia, she froze.
Then she smiled.
“Little sister.”
Mia ran to her.
They hugged.
Lorenzo watched.
He looked overwhelmed.
He had spent seven years believing he had lost everything.
Now his family was standing in front of him.
His wife.
His daughters.
And me.
He turned toward me.
“You did this.”
“No.”
“Yes.”
“I only helped.”
“You changed everything.”
I smiled.
“You paid me.”
He laughed.
For the first time in days, he genuinely smiled.
Then his father spoke.
“There is one problem.”
We all looked at him.
“Matteo escaped custody.”
Lorenzo's expression hardened.
“How?”
“Someone inside the police department helped him.”
“Who?”
“We don't know.”
His father looked at me.
“But he left a message.”
“What?”
He handed me a note.
THE GIRL FROM MAISON DELACOUR WILL PAY.
My stomach dropped.
Lorenzo took the paper.
His jaw tightened.
“It's over.”
May you like
“No,” his father said.
“It has just begun.”
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