Chapter 5 - The Man Hunting Meline’s Baby Was Inside the Vitali Family—and Alessandro Realized His Own Mother Had Been Lied toThe nursery door was open.
Alessandro had locked it himself.
He rushed inside.
The crib was empty.
Meline screamed.
“Where is the baby?”
She wasn't holding the baby.
There was no baby yet.
But the ultrasound machine and medical equipment stored inside had been destroyed.
On the wall was a message.
YOU CANNOT PROTECT WHAT YOU CANNOT SEE.
Alessandro's security team searched every room.
No one.
Then Meline found another clue.
A tiny antique key.
She recognized it.
It came from her father's old pocket watch.
She realized someone had been sending them clues deliberately.
Not threats.
Clues.
Her father had known this would happen.
They followed the clues to an abandoned warehouse.
Inside were dozens of stolen artifacts.
Paintings.
Statues.
Jewelry.
And a hidden office.
Stefano Vitali was waiting.
He looked remarkably healthy for a dead man.
Alessandro raised his weapon.
“You killed my parents.”
Stefano smiled.
“Your father's death was necessary.”
Meline stepped forward.
“My mother?”
“Collateral.”
“And my father?”
“He knew too much.”
Alessandro's voice cracked.
“Why did you target Meline?”
“Because she inherited more than a store.”
“What?”
“Her mother was the legal heir to the Moretti collection.”
Meline froze.
“The collection?”
“The one worth hundreds of millions.”
Alessandro stared.
“That's impossible.”
Stefano laughed.
“Your marriage wasn't an accident.”
Meline looked at Alessandro.
Her heart sank.
“What do you mean?”
Stefano smiled.
“I arranged the debt.”
Alessandro's face hardened.
“You?”
“I needed Meline in your house.”
Meline looked at her husband.
“You knew?”
“No.”
“Then why did your uncle need me there?”
“Because there was something your father hid in the Vitali estate.”
Meline remembered the violin.
The clock.
The basement.
The pieces came together.
Then Stefano raised a gun.
Alessandro stepped in front of Meline.
A shot rang out.
Alessandro fell.
Meline screamed.
But he hadn't been shot.
The bullet hit his shoulder.
Security stormed the building.
Stefano escaped.
Police arrived.
Alessandro was treated.
Meline stayed beside him.
“I thought you were going to die.”
“I've survived worse.”
She cried.
“You're bleeding.”
“I'm fine.”
“No.”
She touched his face.
“I don't want to lose you.”
His eyes softened.
“You won't.”
“You can't promise that.”
“I already did.”
She kissed him.
It was the first time neither of them pretended it was part of the arrangement.
Later that night, Alessandro told her the truth.
“There was never supposed to be a real marriage.”
“I know.”
“I didn't expect to love you.”
She froze.
“You love me?”
“Yes.”
She smiled through tears.
“I love you too.”
For one quiet moment, the world disappeared.
Then the phone rang.
Lucia.
Her voice was trembling.
“Alessandro.”
“What?”
“Stefano has your grandfather's original trust.”
“What does that mean?”
“It means he controls the inheritance.”
“Can he take the baby?”
“No.”
A pause.
“Unless…”
“Unless what?”
“Unless the board believes you are unfit to inherit.”
Alessandro looked at Meline.
“What are you saying?”
“They are planning to declare you mentally unstable.”
Meline whispered,
“They'll use the shooting.”
“Yes.”
Then another message arrived.
A legal notice.
Alessandro was being accused of violent misconduct.
Witnesses claimed he had attacked employees.
The evidence looked convincing.
Meline stared at it.
“It's fake.”
Alessandro nodded.
“But they'll believe it.”
“Who?”
May you like
He looked toward the door.
“Someone inside my company.”
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