Chapter 4 - Raphael Learned My Brother’s Treatment Had Been Secretly Funded by His Father, and I Realized My Life Had Been Connected to the Orsini Family Long Before I Met RaphaelI stared at Thomas.
“What did you say?”
“Your brother's treatment.”
“He paid for it.”
“No.”
Thomas shook his head.
“Raphael's father paid for it.”
Raphael didn't move.
“My father is dead.”
“He was.”
“But why would he pay for her brother?”
Thomas smiled.
“That depends on how much you know about your mother.”
My stomach dropped.
“My mother?”
“She knew the Orsini family.”
I felt sick.
“No.”
Thomas continued.
“She worked for your father's charity foundation.”
Raphael looked at me.
I had never told him my mother worked anywhere near the Orsinis.
Because I didn't know.
I looked at Thomas.
“How?”
“Your mother was an accountant.”
“She never told me.”
“She didn't want you involved.”
“Why?”
“Because your mother discovered something.”
“What?”
Thomas stepped closer.
“The Orsini family was laundering money through medical charities.”
Raphael's expression hardened.
“My father?”
“Yes.”
“Did he know?”
Thomas nodded.
“And your mother found proof.”
I couldn't breathe.
“What happened?”
Thomas smiled.
“She was killed.”
My legs weakened.
“My mother died in an accident.”
“No.”
He looked at Raphael.
“It was arranged.”
Raphael's face became completely still.
I had never seen him look so shaken.
Thomas continued:
“Your mother tried to expose the organization.”
“Why didn't she?”
“She failed.”
“Then why did your father help Micah?”
“Because he regretted it.”
Raphael stepped forward.
“What happened after that?”
Thomas shook his head.
“Your father wanted out.”
“Out of the organization.”
“Yes.”
“And your mother?”
“She had already died.”
I looked at Raphael.
“Your father knew my family.”
“Yes.”
“He knew Micah was sick?”
“He knew everything.”
My world changed.
The job.
The mansion.
Raphael.
Micah's treatment.
My life had been connected to the Orsini family long before I met him.
But then Thomas said something worse.
“Your mother left something.”
“What?”
“A ledger.”
Raphael's eyes narrowed.
“Where?”
Thomas smiled.
“That's what everyone has been searching for.”
I realized.
My mother's death.
The anonymous medical payments.
Thomas watching me.
Raphael protecting me.
Everything revolved around a ledger.
“What does it contain?”
“Names.”
“Of whom?”
“Everyone.”
He looked at Raphael.
“Politicians.”
“Judges.”
“Police commanders.”
“Your father's partners.”
“And mine.”
Silence.
I asked:
“Why me?”
Thomas answered:
“Because your mother didn't trust the Orsinis.”
“Then why did she leave me near them?”
“She didn't.”
He smiled.
“You came to Raphael by accident.”
“But the ledger…”
“Was hidden in your family.”
I looked at Raphael.
He was staring at me.
“You have it.”
I shook my head.
“I don't.”
Thomas laughed.
“You do.”
He pointed at my necklace.
The one I wore every day.
My mother's necklace.
I touched it.
A small silver pendant.
May you like
Thomas smiled.
“That's the key.”
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