Chapter 4 - The Wife Who Had Been Protecting His SisterDominic moved Lily into the house before sunrise.
She was six now.
Quiet.
Smart.
Afraid of loud voices.
She looked at him with the same dark eyes Sophia had once had.
Luca immediately hugged her.
“I knew you.”
Lily stared.
“Me too.”
Ethan stood nearby.
He looked at both of them.
“You're my sister.”
Lily nodded.
“I'm Lily.”
“I’m Ethan.”
Luca smiled.
“I'm Luca.”
Three children.
One family.
Three pieces of a puzzle that had taken ten years to assemble.
Dominic looked at Elena.
“Why did you never tell me?”
She cried.
“Because if I told you, they would know I had her.”
“Who?”
“The people who killed Sophia.”
“Vescari.”
“No.”
Elena looked toward the door.
“Someone closer.”
Dominic felt cold.
“Who?”
Elena didn't answer.
She didn't need to.
A familiar voice came from the hallway.
“You always were terrible at keeping secrets, Elena.”
Dominic turned.
His uncle, Matteo Moretti, stood there.
Dominic's father's younger brother.
A man everyone had assumed retired years ago.
Dominic's gun was in his hand instantly.
“Why are you here?”
Matteo smiled.
“I came for the children.”
“No.”
“They belong to the family.”
“They belong with me.”
Matteo laughed.
“You still don't understand.”
“Then explain.”
“Your father built everything for Ethan.”
Dominic stared.
“Why?”
“Because Sophia's father owned half the original organization.”
“What?”
“Your grandfather married into power.”
Matteo explained that Dominic's family had concealed a secret inheritance.
Sophia's mother had belonged to another criminal dynasty.
The Moretti and Carter families had once controlled most of the East Coast shipping routes.
The hidden wealth had been divided among heirs.
Ethan was the legal heir to one section.
Lily to another.
Luca, because he was Dominic's legitimate son, controlled the final portion.
Three children.
One fortune.
Whoever controlled them controlled the empire.
Dominic looked at Matteo.
“That is why my father wanted the children.”
“Yes.”
“And why Sophia was killed.”
“Yes.”
“Did you help him?”
Matteo smiled.
“I was the one who found Sophia.”
Dominic's eyes turned black.
“You killed her.”
“No.”
“I found her.”
“And?”
“I watched your father make the decision.”
Dominic lowered his weapon.
Not because he forgave him.
Because he wanted the truth.
“Who actually killed her?”
Matteo looked at Elena.
“She did.”
Dominic froze.
Elena began crying.
“No.”
Matteo nodded.
“She was forced to choose.”
Dominic looked at his wife.
“Tell me.”
Elena whispered:
“Vittorio made me promise to make Sophia disappear.”
Dominic's face hardened.
“You…”
“I didn't kill her.”
“Then who?”
“Vescari.”
Elena collapsed into a chair.
“I tried to save her.”
“What happened?”
“She gave me Lily.”
“And Ethan?”
“He was taken by another man.”
“Who?”
Elena looked at Dominic.
“Your father.”
Dominic closed his eyes.
So Vittorio had stolen his son.
But Sophia had survived long enough to hide Lily.
Then Vescari found her.
And killed her.
The entire family history was a chain of betrayals.
Matteo reached into his coat.
He removed an old photograph.
Sophia.
She was holding newborn Ethan.
Dominic stared.
“Where did you get this?”
“Your father.”
“Why keep it?”
“Because I knew the boy would matter one day.”
Dominic ripped the photograph from his hand.
“Where is Vescari?”
Matteo smiled.
“Closer than you think.”
A gunshot exploded.
Matteo fell.
Dominic grabbed the children.
Elena screamed.
The shooter disappeared through the back door.
Dominic looked at Matteo.
He was dying.
“Who?”
Matteo whispered:
“Your father's lawyer.”
Dominic froze.
“Blackwood?”
Matteo nodded.
“Always…”
Then he died.
Dominic turned toward his security chief.
“Find Blackwood.”
“He's gone.”
“Where?”
“No one knows.”
Dominic looked at the children.
They were shaking.
He crouched.
“Nothing will happen to you.”
Luca looked at him.
“You promise?”
Dominic nodded.
“I promise.”
That night, Dominic moved them to a private island owned by the family.
No phones.
No cameras.
No outsiders.
Only trusted people.
He sat beside Ethan.
The boy was staring at the medallion.
“Dad?”
“Yes?”
“Why did Mom leave?”
Dominic swallowed.
“She was trying to keep you safe.”
“Did she love you?”
“Yes.”
Ethan looked at him.
“Did you love her?”
Dominic closed his eyes.
“Yes.”
“Do you love me?”
Dominic's voice broke.
“More than anything.”
Ethan leaned against him.
For the first time in ten years, Dominic held a son who should have been his all along.
Across the room, Lily was sleeping beside Luca.
Elena sat alone.
Dominic looked at her.
“You protected Lily.”
“Yes.”
“But you lied.”
“Yes.”
“Why should I forgive you?”
“You shouldn't.”
She looked down.
“I just wanted one child to survive.”
Dominic was silent.
Then she whispered:
“She wasn't the only one.”
Dominic looked up.
“What?”
Elena pulled a hidden photograph from her pocket.
Another child.
A baby girl.
Not Lily.
Not Ethan.
Someone else.
Dominic stared.
“Who's that?”
May you like
Elena whispered:
“Sophia had another child.”
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