Chapter 9 - The Last Door
We thought everything was over.
We were wrong.
Three days before the wedding, a package arrived.
No return address.
Inside was a key.
And a note.
“Your father left one room unopened.”
I stared at it.
Luca came beside me.
“What does it say?”
I handed it to him.
His expression changed.
“My father?”
“The key isn't for your house.”
I turned it over.
A number was etched into the metal.
“Room 217.”
He thought.
“St. Mary's.”
We went that night.
Room 217 had been sealed for years.
The hospital records showed the room belonged to Evelyn Brooks.
My mother.
I couldn't breathe.
Luca unlocked it.
Inside was a small table.
A bed.
A cabinet.
And a photograph.
My mother.
Holding me as a baby.
Beside her stood Adrian Moretti.
I stared.
“Why was my mother here?”
A hidden drawer contained letters.
The final letter was from my mother.
Natalie,
If you ever find this, it means the danger is finally gone.
I cried before reading the rest.
Your father did not die because of Northstar alone.
He died because he discovered what Anthony planned to do to you.
I looked at Luca.
My father's final act had been protecting me.
The letter continued.
Eleanor Moretti promised to protect you.
Adrian promised to expose Anthony.
Julian promised to keep Vanessa alive.
Everyone made sacrifices.
I made mine by letting you believe I was gone.
I looked at Luca.
“What does that mean?”
Then another document appeared.
My mother had survived the accident.
She had lived for four more years.
She had watched me from a distance.
She had seen me graduate.
She had seen me start working.
She had seen me enter the Moretti mansion.
And then she had died from complications related to her injuries.
I collapsed.
“She was alive.”
Luca knelt beside me.
“Yes.”
“For years.”
“Yes.”
“She watched me.”
“Yes.”
“Why didn't she come back?”
“Because she believed it would put you in danger.”
I cried.
All the anger I had carried for years suddenly had nowhere to go.
I didn't know whether to forgive her or mourn her.
Maybe both.
Then I found one last envelope.
It was addressed to Luca.
He opened it.
Adrian's handwriting.
“Protect Natalie.”
Only two words.
Nothing else.
Luca stared at the paper.
Then he said:
“He loved your mother.”
I looked at him.
“What?”
“He helped her survive.”
“They loved each other?”
“Maybe not.”
“But?”
“He respected her.”
The room became quiet.
We left the hospital after midnight.
Neither of us spoke.
Then I stopped.
“Luca.”
“Yes?”
“I don't want secrets anymore.”
“Neither do I.”
“Promise?”
He took my hand.
“Promise.”
We returned home.
And that night, I finally slept without fear.
The wedding came two days later.
Margaret cried.
Julian cried.
My brother cried.
Even Daniel cried and then denied it.
Luca stood beside me.
When it was time for vows, he didn't talk about power.
He didn't promise to protect me from the entire world.
He promised something better.
“To listen.”
“To tell the truth.”
“To never make decisions for you because I'm afraid.”
I cried.
When my turn came, I said:
“You found me when everyone else looked past me.”
“You believed me when I was too afraid to speak.”
“You gave me a choice when my whole life had been decided by other people.”
“I choose you.”
He smiled.
We kissed.
Everyone applauded.
May you like
For the first time, I didn't feel like the girl from the staff room.
I felt like myself.
