Chapter 10: The Man Wearing My Face
For several seconds, I couldn't speak.
The photograph on Bennett's phone showed a man with my face, my eyes, and the same small scar above his left eyebrow.
Even the slight crookedness of his smile was identical.
But I had never seen him before.
“That's not me,” I said.
Bennett enlarged the photograph.
“The hospital records say he was admitted six months ago following a car accident. He was unconscious for three days.””
“Under my name?””
“Yes.””
I looked at Sarah.
“Could someone have stolen my identity?””
She shook her head.
“Not just your identity. Look at the medical identification number.””
I leaned closer.
The number matched the one on my original childhood medical records.
Sarah continued.
“Someone had access to your family's private medical archive. They didn't simply invent another Dominic Valerio. They created a second medical identity using your original information.””
Michael stepped into the room.
“There's something else you should know.””
I turned toward him.
“I'm beginning to dislike that sentence.””
He looked at the photograph.
“Five years ago, Charles brought a man to the hotel claiming to be you. He said you had returned from overseas and wanted to inspect the properties.””
My jaw tightened.
“What?””
“I refused to let him enter your father's office without verification. Charles became furious. Two days later, I was ordered to transfer the security records to his private company.””
“Did you see the man?””
Michael nodded.
“He looked exactly like you.””
My mother slowly sat down.
“Oh, God.””
I turned toward her.
“Did you know?””
She shook her head.
“I thought you had returned. Charles told me you were alive but didn't want contact with me.””
My blood ran cold.
“Why didn't you ask to see me?””
“Because he showed me photographs. He told me you were recovering from the accident and needed time.””
Sarah placed both hands on the desk.
“That's how he controlled everyone. He used Dominic's identity to convince people that Dominic was making decisions.””
Bennett examined the medical record again.
“There's a note attached to the admission.””
He read aloud.
“Patient transferred from private residence. Identity verified by Dr. Adrian Keller.””
I felt a familiar anger rising.
“Where is the hospital?””
“St. Catherine's in Boston.””
“We're going there.””
My mother stood immediately.
“I'm coming.””
Sarah grabbed her coat.
“So am I.””
I looked toward Michael.
“You're staying here.””
He nodded.
“Of course, sir.””
But as I turned toward the staircase, he spoke again.
“Dominic, there's one more thing.””
I stopped.
He reached into his jacket and removed an old photograph.
It showed a younger version of me standing outside the Grand Meridian.
Beside me was a boy who looked almost identical.
The only visible difference was a small mole beneath his right eye.
“Where did you get that?”” I asked.
“Your grandfather gave it to me.””
“Who is the boy?””
Michael lowered his voice.
“His name was Daniel. He was brought into the Valerio household shortly after your father discovered the financial fraud.””
I stared at him.
“Why?””
“Your grandfather said he was a distant relative. He lived in a private residence and received the same education as you.””
Sarah looked at the photograph.
“Are you saying there were two Dominics?””
Michael nodded.
“Your grandfather wanted a replacement heir. Someone who could take your place if you became an obstacle.””
I looked again at the boy's face.
The resemblance was terrifying.
“Where is he now?””
Michael swallowed.
“I don't know.””
Bennett checked the hospital record again.
“Dominic, the patient in Boston has a small mole beneath his right eye.””
Nobody spoke.
I looked at the photograph.
Then at the hospital record.
The man in Boston was Daniel.
He had been trained to become me.
And someone had finally given him the legal identity he needed.
My phone rang.
Unknown number.
I answered.
“Dominic Valerio.””
A man's voice responded.
“Hello, brother.””
I stopped walking.
It was my voice.
Exactly my voice.
“Daniel?””
He laughed.
“I'm glad you remember me.””
“Where is Margaret?””
“Safe enough.””
“Don't touch her.””
“That's an interesting request coming from someone who abandoned this family for five years.””
I clenched my jaw.
“You stole my identity.””
“No. I inherited it.””
“Who told you that?””
“Our grandfather.””
I looked toward Sarah.
Daniel continued.
“He said you were too weak to protect the family. He said you would eventually destroy everything Arthur built.””
“And you believed him?””
“I believed the man who raised me.””
I closed my eyes.
“Daniel, you're being used.””
He laughed again.
“Perhaps. But I have something you don't.””
“What?””
“The original inheritance certificate. The one that proves I'm the legitimate Dominic Valerio.””
I heard a door closing in the background.
Then Daniel whispered:
“And tomorrow morning, I'm taking control of your hotel.””
The call ended.
I lowered the phone.
Sarah looked at me.
“What did he say?””
I stared at the photograph in my hand.
“He's coming for everything.””
Then Bennett's phone vibrated.
A message from the Boston hospital.
*Patient Daniel Valerio has requested an immediate meeting with Dominic Arthur Valerio.*
Underneath it was a second message.
*He claims he has evidence that Eleanor Valerio ordered Arthur Valerio's murder.*
My mother began crying.
May you like
And I realized the final battle wasn't going to be about who inherited the Valerio fortune.
It was going to be about which of us was telling the truth.
