Chapter 5 - THE WOMAN WHO SHOULD HAVE BEEN DEAD
The photograph changed everything.
Lorenzo locked himself inside his office with Hunter and Matteo.
The photograph lay between them.
Sophia.
Alive.
Holding Noah.
Hunter couldn't understand it.
“That picture was taken at the hospital.”
Lorenzo looked at her.
“How do you know?”
“The curtains.”
She pointed.
“That was the neonatal wing.”
Lorenzo stared.
His hands tightened.
“My wife died before Leo was born.”
Hunter shook her head.
“No.”
He looked at her.
“The date.”
She pointed to the corner.
A timestamp.
Two days after Sophia's supposed death.
Lorenzo's face drained of color.
“My wife was alive.”
Matteo immediately began searching records.
Within an hour, they found a private security video.
Sophia entering a hidden medical facility.
Alive.
Pregnant.
And accompanied by Dr. Vale.
Hunter covered her mouth.
“Why would she hide?”
Lorenzo watched the footage.
Then another file appeared.
A DNA report.
Leo was not Lorenzo's biological son.
The room went silent.
Hunter looked at Lorenzo.
He stared at the paper.
Then slowly laughed.
It wasn't a happy sound.
“My wife lied to me.”
Matteo looked uncomfortable.
“Boss.”
Lorenzo continued reading.
Then stopped.
“The DNA isn't complete.”
“What does that mean?”
“They tested the wrong sample.”
Hunter frowned.
Lorenzo looked at her.
“They tested blood from the nursery.”
Hunter suddenly understood.
“The blood could belong to anyone.”
Lorenzo's eyes sharpened.
“Exactly.”
Then his phone rang.
He answered.
A woman's voice came through.
“Lorenzo.”
He froze.
Hunter recognized the voice from the photograph.
Sophia.
“Hello, husband.”
Lorenzo couldn't speak.
Sophia continued.
“I know you found the truth.”
“Where are you?”
“Close.”
“Why did you let me believe you were dead?”
“Because if you knew I was alive, they would have killed Leo.”
Lorenzo's face changed.
“Who?”
“You know who.”
A pause.
“Your father.”
Lorenzo's blood went cold.
“My father died twelve years ago.”
Sophia laughed softly.
“No, Lorenzo.”
“He's alive.”
The call ended.
Lorenzo stood motionless.
Then Hunter noticed something.
The photograph.
There was another image beneath it.
A man standing behind Sophia.
Hunter recognized him.
She had seen him in the mansion.
Every Sunday.
Sitting quietly in the library.
Lorenzo's uncle.
Matteo whispered,
“Impossible.”
Lorenzo looked at him.
“What?”
“Your uncle has been missing for twelve years.”
Hunter stared.
“No.”
She pointed toward the photograph.
“He's been here.”
Everyone turned toward her.
“He comes every Sunday.”
Lorenzo's expression hardened.
“Who?”
May you like
Hunter whispered his name.
“Antonio Rossi.”
