Chapter 3 - The Woman Who Wasn't Supposed to Be His MaidTessa told Zo the story her mother had never wanted anyone to know.
Rose had been twenty-four when she was hired by the Rossis.
Elena had been pregnant.
Her marriage to Elias Rossi was already failing.
Elias was involved in criminal business.
Elena hated it.
Rose became her confidante.
Then Elena gave birth.
To a baby girl.
Not Zo.
A girl named Anna.
The child was sick.
Very sick.
A heart condition.
Elena wanted to leave the family.
Elias refused.
So Rose helped her.
They planned to escape.
But someone found them.
Daniel Rossi.
Elias's brother.
He believed the baby threatened the family.
A vulnerable child.
An heir.
A liability.
He ordered Rose to take the baby.
Rose refused.
So Daniel took her instead.
The child disappeared.
Elena was told she died.
Zo was told nothing.
Rose was forced to flee.
She took another child with her.
Tessa.
A baby whose biological parents were unknown.
Or so Tessa had believed.
Zo sat silently.
“Who was Anna's father?”
Rose had told Tessa one thing.
“Elias wasn't.”
Zo frowned.
“What?”
Tessa looked at him.
“She said Elena had been in love with someone else.”
“Who?”
“I don't know.”
Zo stood.
“Find out.”
Gabe entered.
“Boss.”
Zo handed him the papers.
“Find Anna.”
“We don't know the name.”
“Find her anyway.”
That night, Zo couldn't sleep.
He thought about the child.
A hidden sister.
A trust.
Rose.
Tessa.
The foundation.
Everything connected.
Then he found something inside his father's old safe.
A cassette tape.
He played it.
Elena's voice.
Trembling.
“Rose, if something happens to me…”
Zo froze.
“She has to live.”
A man's voice replied.
“I'll take care of it.”
Elena whispered:
“You promised.”
The man was Elias.
Zo's father.
He continued:
“Daniel doesn't know.”
Zo sat back.
His father knew.
He had protected Elena.
Then another voice appeared.
Daniel.
“You should have told me.”
Zo's blood ran cold.
The recording ended.
He played it again.
Then again.
The hidden child was alive.
Daniel knew.
His father had tried to protect her.
But where was she?
Zo went to Tessa.
“Your mother.”
“Yes?”
“Did she ever say who your father was?”
Tessa hesitated.
“No.”
“Did she say you were adopted?”
“She said I was chosen.”
“Chosen?”
“Yes.”
Zo stared.
“By whom?”
Tessa shook her head.
“That's all she said.”
He looked at her.
“You may be more important than you realize.”
“I don't want to be important.”
“I know.”
She looked at him.
“I just want Lena to get better.”
Zo's voice softened.
“She will.”
Tessa looked surprised.
“You can't promise that.”
“I can promise we'll give her every chance.”
Tessa's eyes filled.
“Why?”
He didn't know how to answer.
Because somewhere along the way, the maid had become a person.
Then someone attacked the clinic.
The foundation records were destroyed.
The doctor was beaten.
Lena's medical file disappeared.
Tessa received a message.
You should have kept your mouth shut.
She showed Zo.
His anger became cold.
Someone was watching them.
Someone who knew about the foundation.
Someone who knew about Anna.
Someone who feared the truth.
Zo moved Tessa and Lena into the Rossi estate.
She resisted.
“I don't belong here.”
“You work here.”
“That's different.”
“Not anymore.”
He assigned guards.
She hated it.
But Lena was safe.
For the first time in years, the little girl slept without waking in pain.
Zo watched from the doorway.
Tessa noticed.
“You like children?”
“No.”
“Then why do you look at her like that?”
“Because she reminds me of someone.”
“Who?”
“My mother.”
Tessa looked at him.
Zo didn't explain.
That night, he received a call.
From Daniel.
“Stop investigating.”
Zo smiled.
“Why?”
“Because you're opening a grave that should stay closed.”
“The child is alive.”
Silence.
Daniel said:
“No.”
Zo's voice turned cold.
“Then why are you afraid?”
Daniel hung up.
Zo stared at the phone.
The next morning, Gabe arrived with a report.
“We found a possible Anna.”
“Where?”
“Chicago.”
“Age?”
“Twenty-six.”
“Family?”
“Adopted.”
“Medical history?”
“Congenital heart defect.”
Zo went still.
“Name?”
Gabe placed the file down.
“Anna Cole.”
Tessa saw it.
Her face went white.
“Anna.”
Zo looked at her.
May you like
“What?”
“My mother had another daughter.”
Related Stories
