Chapter 3 - The Daughter Arthur Was Told Had DiedIsabella Moretti had disappeared eleven years earlier.
Arthur had been told she died during childbirth.
He had never seen the hospital records.
Never seen a body.
Never seen a grave.
He had believed the story because Matteo had told him.
That mistake had cost him eleven years with his daughter.
Clara helped him search.
They found a private adoption record.
A baby girl.
Name at birth:
Sophia Moretti.
Adopted at three weeks.
The adoptive parents were dead.
The child had been placed in a boarding school.
Now she was sixteen.
Arthur stared at the photograph.
She had his eyes.
The same stubborn chin.
The same dark hair.
He sat silently for a long time.
Clara touched his shoulder.
“You should meet her.”
Arthur nodded.
The meeting took place at the school.
Sophia was suspicious.
“Who are you?”
Arthur swallowed.
“My name is Arthur Moretti.”
She stared.
“That name means something.”
“It should.”
“Why?”
“Because I'm your father.”
Sophia laughed.
Then stopped.
Arthur showed her the DNA report.
Her face changed.
“Why didn't you find me?”
“I thought you died.”
She whispered:
“I'm sorry.”
He closed his eyes.
“Me too.”
Sophia stared.
“Who took me?”
“I don't know yet.”
“Then find out.”
Arthur smiled.
“She sounds like me.”
Clara laughed.
Sophia looked at her.
“Who are you?”
“Clara.”
“My father's employee?”
Arthur answered:
“No.”
He looked at Clara.
“My sister.”
Sophia's eyes widened.
Arthur explained everything.
Clara was Thomas Bennett's sister.
Thomas had been Arthur's ally.
Matteo had betrayed them.
Sophia had been hidden to prevent her from inheriting Arthur's assets.
But there was another revelation.
Thomas wasn't the only person Matteo had kept alive.
Sophia's mother, Isabella, was alive too.
Clara found her living under another name in Pennsylvania.
Isabella had been imprisoned by Matteo after she refused to give up Sophia.
When Arthur found her, she could barely speak.
“You're alive.”
She nodded.
“I waited.”
Arthur knelt.
“I thought you were dead.”
“I know.”
“Who told me?”
“Matteo.”
Arthur's face hardened.
“He destroyed everything.”
Isabella looked at Clara.
“You're Thomas's sister.”
“Yes.”
“Then he trusted you.”
“Why?”
“Because Thomas knew you were the only person Matteo never thought to watch.”
Isabella gave Clara another key.
“Your brother left one more message.”
The key opened a safe.
Inside was a ledger.
The names of every person Matteo had paid.
Judges.
Police officers.
Politicians.
Bankers.
And one final name.
Enzo Moretti.
Arthur stared.
His lieutenant had been betraying him for years.
But the ledger contained something more disturbing.
Payments from Enzo to Matteo.
And payments from Matteo to a private security company.
The same company that protected Arthur.
Clara whispered:
“They were planning something.”
“Yes.”
“What?”
Arthur read the final page.
His face went cold.
ASSASSINATION OF ARTHUR MORETTI — AFTER MARRIAGE.
Clara looked up.
“Marriage?”
Arthur frowned.
“Who am I marrying?”
She pointed to another page.
A photograph.
Arthur's fiancée.
Bianca Rossi.
Clara stared.
Bianca was one of the most powerful women in New York.
Arthur had been engaged to her for six months.
The wedding was scheduled for Saturday.
Three days away.
The contract would transfer major Moretti assets after marriage.
Arthur looked at the page.
“Bianca knew.”
Isabella whispered:
“She isn't the one controlling it.”
“Who is?”
Isabella looked terrified.
“Her father.”
Arthur stood.
“Then the wedding isn't a wedding.”
Clara shook her head.
“It’s a trap.”
Arthur looked toward Sophia.
His daughter.
Then Clara.
The woman who had spent years hating him.
The woman who had just helped save his life.
And finally at Isabella.
The woman he once believed was dead.
May you like
His entire life had been built on lies.
Now he had three days to destroy them.
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