Chapter 12: The Daughter Everyone Wanted
I spent my entire life believing power came from money.
From influence.
From fear.
I was wrong.
Power came from secrets.
And my family had been built on them.
I stared at the documents in my hand.
My daughter's name appeared everywhere.
Not because she had done anything.
But because people wanted what she represented.
"What is this?""
Antonio looked at me.
"The Moretti family wasn't the only powerful family in New York.""
I said nothing.
He continued.
"Your first wife's family controlled assets that were hidden for decades.""
I looked at the papers.
"And Sophia?""
"She inherited them.""
My stomach tightened.
"She is six years old.""
Antonio's expression didn't change.
"Which makes her easy to control.""
My anger exploded.
"She's a child.""
"And that is why everyone wants her.""
I grabbed the front of his jacket.
"You used my daughter as a target.""
Antonio didn't fight back.
"Because you never understood what she was.""
I pushed him away.
"No.""
I looked at Sophia.
"She's my daughter.""
Not an asset.
Not a weapon.
Not a key.
My daughter.
Sophia stepped closer.
"Daddy.""
I knelt beside her.
"Are you okay?""
She nodded.
But I saw the fear.
The same fear she had carried since Vanessa entered our home.
I looked at Antonio.
"You made her afraid.""
For the first time, his face changed.
A small crack in his cold expression.
"Fear keeps people alive.""
"No.""
I shook my head.
"Love does.""
The room went silent.
Then the door opened.
Adrian walked in.
I turned.
My entire body went still.
"You.""
He looked at Sophia.
Then at me.
"I came to help.""
I laughed.
"You've said that a lot.""
Adrian lowered his eyes.
"I made a mistake.""
"A mistake?""
I stepped toward him.
"You helped poison me.""
"No.""
His voice broke.
"I helped hide the plan.""
The honesty was worse.
"Why?""
Adrian looked at Antonio.
Then back at me.
"Because I wanted him to see me.""
Antonio remained silent.
Adrian continued.
"I spent my whole life trying to be enough.""
I stared at him.
"You were my brother.""
His eyes filled with regret.
"But I was never you.""
The words hung in the air.
Then Sophia spoke.
"Uncle Adrian.""
He looked at her.
She held my hand.
"Why didn't you save me?""
Adrian couldn't answer.
Because there was no answer.
Not a good one.
Suddenly, Marcus' phone rang.
He answered.
His face changed.
"Vincent.""
"What?""
"Vanessa escaped.""
My expression hardened.
"What?""
Marcus looked at Antonio.
Then at me.
"She wasn't alone.""
The warehouse lights flickered.
A screen on the wall suddenly turned on.
Vanessa appeared.
Smiling.
"Did you enjoy finding the truth?""
I stepped toward the screen.
"Where are you?""
She laughed.
"Still trying to save everyone.""
Her expression changed.
"You always had one weakness.""
I looked at Sophia.
Vanessa smiled.
"Your daughter.""
My voice became dangerous.
"If you touch her—"
"Relax.""
She interrupted.
"She's not the one I'm taking.""
I froze.
"Then who?""
Vanessa looked directly into the camera.
And said:
"The person who knows where all the money is hidden.""
A pause.
Then she smiled.
"Your father.""
The screen went black.
I turned toward Antonio.
But he wasn't looking at Vanessa.
He was looking at Adrian.
And that was when I realized...
May you like
Someone had just betrayed someone else.
And this war was far from over.
