Chapter 4: The Woman Who Buried My Truth
My mother was standing beside my sons.
Alive.
Breathing.
Sleeping peacefully in two small hospital cribs.
For several seconds, my mind refused to understand what I was seeing.
The woman who had held me while I cried at my sons’ funeral.
The woman who told me she would never forgive the universe for taking them from me.
The woman who had helped me pack away their tiny clothes.
She had known.
My hands shook as I stared at the screen.
“No,” I whispered.
Daniel looked away.
“I tried to tell you.””
I turned toward him so quickly my neck hurt.
“You knew?””
His silence was enough.
A scream built in my chest.
“You knew my children were alive?””
“Elena—”
“How long?””
He looked at the floor.
“How long, Daniel?””
“Since the day they were born.””
The world tilted.
Matteo immediately stepped between us.
“Explain.””
Daniel swallowed.
“The hospital wasn’t safe. Someone had accessed the birth records before Elena even delivered. They were looking for the boys.””
“Who?”” Matteo demanded.
Daniel looked at him.
“The same people who are after you.””
The cabin fell silent.
I stared at Daniel.
“You let me believe they were dead.””
His eyes filled with regret.
“I thought keeping you away would keep you alive.””
“You watched me break.””
“I know.””
“No,” I whispered.
“You don’t.””
My voice cracked.
“You watched me stand over empty graves.””
Daniel closed his eyes.
“I’m sorry.””
I slapped him.
The sound echoed through the cabin.
Nobody moved.
Nobody spoke.
“You don’t get to say sorry,” I said.
My hand burned.
“My babies were alive, and I was mourning ghosts.””
Daniel accepted the anger.
Maybe because he deserved it.
Matteo stepped closer.
“Elena.””
I looked at him.
His expression was calmer than everyone else’s.
But his eyes were different.
He understood loss.
Maybe because he had almost lost his daughter tonight.
The security officer interrupted.
“Boss, we need to move.””
Matteo looked at the screen.
“Where is that warehouse?””
The officer hesitated.
“We’re still tracing the location.””
Daniel laughed quietly.
“You won’t find it.””
Matteo turned.
“Why?””
“Because my mother-in-law wants Elena to come willingly.””
My stomach tightened.
“My mother?””
Daniel nodded.
“She sent the message.””
I grabbed the phone.
“What does she want?””
Daniel looked at me.
“The same thing everyone wants.””
“What?””
“Your sons.””
I felt sick.
“Why?””
Nobody answered.
Then Matteo’s phone rang.
He picked it up.
A woman’s voice came through.
“Elena.””
I froze.
Even after everything.
Even after three months of lies.
I knew that voice.
“Mom?””
My mother sighed.
“I knew you would find out eventually.””
I stepped closer.
“Where are my babies?””
A pause.
Then she said:
“They’re safe.””
My eyes burned.
“You stole my children.””
“No.””
Her voice became sharp.
“I saved them.””
“You let me bury them.””
“I protected them from people who would have killed them.””
I looked at Matteo.
Then Daniel.
Everyone had a different version of the truth.
But only one thing mattered.
My sons were alive.
“Let me see them.””
My mother was silent.
Then:
“Come alone.””
Matteo immediately shook his head.
“No.””
My mother heard him.
“Of course Matteo Volkov is there.””
His face changed.
“How do you know me?””
A small laugh came through the phone.
“Elena, did you really think your life crossed paths with him by accident?””
My heart stopped.
“What are you saying?””
My mother continued.
“The flight. The baby. The milk.””
I looked at Matteo’s daughter.
Everything suddenly felt connected.
“You planned this.””
“Yes.””
The word broke something inside me.
“Why?””
“To bring you back into the world you escaped.””
I stepped backward.
“I don’t understand.””
“You will.””
The call ended.
Matteo immediately turned to his security team.
“Find her.””
Daniel looked at him.
“It won’t work.””
Matteo glared.
“Why?””
“Because she wants Elena to choose.””
I looked down at the phone.
Then at the picture of my sons.
Two tiny faces.
Two babies I thought I would never see again.
“I’m going.””
Matteo looked at me.
“No.””
“They have my children.””
“And she has been manipulating you since before you boarded this plane.””
“I don’t care.””
His expression softened.
“Elena—”
“I spent three months thinking my sons were dead.””
My voice broke.
“I would walk into hell to see them again.””
Nobody argued.
Because nobody could.
May you like
Then Matteo quietly said:
“Then you’re not walking into hell alone.””
