Chapter 5 - My Dead Father Called My Sister and Told Her He Was Ready to Take Back His FamilyThe call lasted twelve seconds.
Long enough to destroy everything I believed.
My father was alive.
Maya knew his voice.
She had been waiting for him.
I took the phone.
“Where are you?”
Silence.
Then:
“Daniel.”
I hadn't heard that voice in fifteen years.
My father's voice.
Calm.
Smooth.
Cold.
“You've grown.”
I gripped the phone.
“I thought you were dead.”
“I needed you to believe that.”
“You destroyed our family.”
“No.”
“You hid Elena.”
“I protected her.”
“You manipulated me.”
“I trained you.”
“Why?”
“Because power requires sacrifice.”
I hated him.
“What do you want?”
“Everything.”
The call ended.
Maya was shaking.
“You okay?”
“No.”
“Why did he contact you?”
“I don't know.”
I looked at the ledger.
“He wants the trust.”
“Yes.”
“And Chloe's family?”
“Part of the plan.”
“And Marcus?”
“His brother.”
“How many people are involved?”
She whispered:
“Almost everyone.”
I sat down.
The family had become a machine.
And my father had built it.
We returned to the city.
The next morning, Chloe was waiting at my penthouse.
She stood by the window.
Beautiful.
Perfect.
Terrified.
“I can explain.”
“Try.”
She looked at me.
“I knew about Elena.”
“For how long?”
“Six months.”
My chest tightened.
“You knew she was alive.”
“Yes.”
“You knew who she was.”
“Yes.”
“You slapped her anyway.”
“I was scared.”
“Of her?”
“Of what would happen.”
“What would happen?”
“My father would lose everything.”
I stared.
“You chose money over a person.”
“I chose survival.”
“That's what everyone says.”
She started crying.
“I loved you.”
I laughed bitterly.
“No.”
She looked at me.
“I did.”
“You loved the empire.”
“I loved the life.”
“Same thing.”
She wiped her tears.
“Your father made a deal with mine.”
“What deal?”
“If I married you, the companies would merge.”
“And Elena?”
“She would disappear permanently.”
I felt sick.
“You were going to kill my sister.”
“No.”
“Then what?”
“Send her away.”
“Where?”
She didn't answer.
“Chloe.”
“Europe.”
“Alone?”
“Yes.”
I stared.
“You were going to erase her.”
“No.”
“Same thing.”
She broke down.
“I didn't know how to stop it.”
“You could have told me.”
“I was afraid.”
“Of my father?”
“Yes.”
“And now?”
“Now I'm afraid of you.”
“Good.”
She looked at me.
“I deserve that.”
I didn't respond.
The door opened.
Maya walked in.
Chloe froze.
They looked at each other.
Then Maya said:
“You were the woman who told Mrs. Gable to make sure I stayed hidden.”
Chloe lowered her head.
“Yes.”
“Why?”
“Because my father threatened my family.”
Maya stared.
“Everyone has an excuse.”
I looked away.
She was right.
Then Victor appeared.
“Boss.”
“What?”
“The media found the old photographs.”
My stomach dropped.
“What photographs?”
“Your father and Elena.”
“They're everywhere.”
The story exploded.
MISSING MORETTI HEIRESS FOUND.
MAFIA DYNASTY HID DAUGHTER FOR SIXTEEN YEARS.
ENGAGEMENT SHOCKER.
People flooded the streets.
Police arrived.
Federal agents.
The entire city watched.
Then my father's face appeared on every television.
A prerecorded message.
“My son Daniel is unstable.”
“He has been manipulated by enemies.”
“The girl claiming to be Elena is an impostor.”
Maya stared at the screen.
“He's lying.”
“I know.”
My father's voice continued.
“Until DNA testing is completed, no one should trust her.”
I looked at Victor.
“Get the real DNA results.”
He nodded.
Then the screen changed.
A second message.
From Howard.
“Daniel.”
I froze.
“You have forty-eight hours.”
“To return the trust.”
“Or I release evidence showing your involvement in crimes you did not commit.”
The message ended.
Maya looked at me.
“He has something.”
“What?”
“Control of the old evidence.”
“What evidence?”
“The crimes your family committed.”
I stared.
“If he releases them, the entire empire collapses.”
“And you go to prison.”
“Yes.”
She stepped closer.
“He planned that.”
“What?”
“He wants you to take responsibility.”
“For him.”
“Yes.”
“Why?”
“Because if you go down, nobody can challenge him.”
I looked at my sister.
“For sixteen years he hid you.”
“Now he wants me to carry his crimes.”
“Yes.”
I smiled bitterly.
“He should have known better.”
“Why?”
“Because I don't lose.”
May you like
Maya smiled.
“That's the brother I remember.”
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