Chapter 6 - Matteo Discovered Why His Uncle Had Been Hunting His ChildrenThe shooting changed everything.
The family moved again.
This time, permanently.
Matteo shut down several offices.
Investigators entered Salerno properties.
William Salerno disappeared.
Marcus went underground.
Sabrina vanished.
But Elena stayed.
She refused to run.
“We've been running for eight years.”
Matteo looked at her.
“Then we stop.”
He built a secure compound outside Chicago.
The children had their own rooms.
A classroom.
A garden.
A basketball court.
Nico loved it.
Lia claimed the library.
Theo planted flowers.
For the first time, Matteo experienced something he had never expected.
Domestic happiness.
He woke early.
Made pancakes.
Packed lunches.
Complained about school schedules.
He attended parent meetings.
He learned that Lia could cry over math homework for twenty minutes and then solve the problem in ten seconds.
Theo asked endless questions.
Nico followed him everywhere.
One evening, Nico asked:
“Dad, why didn't you know about us?”
Matteo sat beside him.
“I wasn't told.”
“Whose fault was it?”
Matteo looked at him.
“A lot of people's.”
“Yours?”
“Yes.”
Nico nodded.
“Okay.”
“Are you mad?”
“A little.”
“I deserve that.”
“But I still love you.”
Matteo's eyes filled.
“I love you too.”
Across the hall, Elena heard.
She cried quietly.
Then came the final evidence.
William's accountant confessed.
The children were connected to two hidden trusts.
Their grandfather had created them before his death.
One contained Salerno shares.
The other contained Kane assets.
Together, they formed a voting block capable of controlling multiple corporations.
William wanted them eliminated before they turned eighteen.
Matteo was furious.
“He was going to kill children for stock.”
Elena nodded.
“He always believed family was an investment.”
“And you?”
“I believe family is the thing you protect when investments fail.”
He kissed her forehead.
Then paused.
She looked at him.
“What?”
“I'm falling in love with you again.”
Elena looked away.
“Don't.”
“Why?”
“Because I don't know if I can survive losing you again.”
He touched her cheek.
“You won't.”
“You don't know that.”
“No.”
He smiled.
“But I know I'm not walking away.”
The next week, William was captured.
But Marcus had escaped.
And Sabrina returned.
She came to Elena privately.
“I need to tell you something.”
Elena didn't trust her.
“Talk.”
“I didn't know what he planned.”
“Who?”
“William.”
“Elena.”
Sabrina cried.
“He used me.”
“Why?”
“Because I wanted Matteo.”
Elena looked at her.
“That doesn't make you innocent.”
“I know.”
Sabrina handed her a flash drive.
“Everything is on this.”
Emails.
Bank records.
Voice recordings.
Proof William planned the entire scheme.
Including the ferry terminal.
Elena's face went pale.
“The ferry?”
Sabrina nodded.
“It's where they planned to make Matteo believe you died.”
Elena froze.
“And the children?”
“The plan was to take them afterward.”
Her hands shook.
This was the future she had been spared.
She looked at Matteo.
He was outside with the children.
Laughing.
Alive.
Sabrina whispered:
“You saved him.”
Elena shook her head.
“No.”
May you like
She looked at her children.
“He saved himself.”
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