Chapter 8: The Woman Who Was Buried Twice
Ricardo's mother was supposed to be dead.
Her funeral had taken place eleven years earlier, just weeks before Vincent Moretti's supposed death.
Yet there she stood, alive, holding a photograph of a baby girl.
Helena Moretti stepped into the mansion.
“Put your weapons down,” she said calmly.
Nobody moved.
She looked at Ricardo.
“Must you always make everything so dramatic?””
Ricardo lowered his gun.
“Mother, how?””
“Your father arranged my disappearance. He wanted everyone to believe I had died so nobody would question where the money was going.””
Antonio slowly stood.
“You're supposed to be dead.””
Helena glanced at him.
“And you're supposed to be intelligent. Apparently, we both have disappointments.””
Despite everything, I almost laughed.
My mother didn't.
“Helena, you have no right to come here.””
Helena turned toward her.
“Margaret, you stole my granddaughter and then pretended she was your own.””
“I protected her.””
“You hid her from her father.””
“Because Vincent was dangerous!””
Helena's expression hardened.
“He was dangerous to everyone except the children he loved.””
I stepped forward.
“Enough. I want answers.””
Helena looked at me.
“Of course, darling.””
She placed the photograph on the table.
It showed a young Helena holding a newborn baby.
On the back was a date.
My birthday.
I stared at the picture.
“That's me?””
“Yes.””
“And you gave me away?””
“No. Vincent did.””
She took a shaky breath.
“Your father discovered that his closest advisers were planning to divide the Moretti organization. He believed someone would eventually use you against him. So he arranged for Daniel to raise you under a different surname.””
“Why Daniel?””
“Because he was the only person Vincent trusted completely.””
I looked at my mother.
“Then why did you raise me as your daughter?””
Margaret's eyes filled with tears.
“Because Daniel begged me. He said you deserved a normal childhood. I agreed.””
Helena shook her head.
“You agreed until Vincent changed his will.””
My mother looked away.
“What will?””
Helena opened her handbag and removed a document.
“Vincent left everything to his firstborn child. Not Ricardo. Not Antonio. You.””
Ricardo stared at the paper.
“Father never told me.””
“He didn't trust anyone with that information.””
Antonio suddenly laughed.
“Then why did I spend my entire life being told I was the future of this family?””
Helena looked at him.
“Because Vincent wanted to see which of his sons would become a monster chasing money.””
Antonio's face twisted.
“And Ricardo passed?””
“Neither of you did.””
Ricardo stepped forward.
“Where is the original will?””
Helena held up the document.
“Not here.””
Antonio immediately raised his gun.
“Give it to me.””
Helena didn't flinch.
“You're making the same mistake your father made.””
“What mistake?””
“Believing fear is the same thing as loyalty.””
Antonio fired.
Ricardo pushed Helena aside.
The bullet grazed his arm.
Sarah screamed.
Dante and two guards rushed into the room, tackling Antonio before he could fire again.
This time, they secured both his weapons.
Ricardo pressed a hand against his bleeding arm.
“Take him downstairs.””
Antonio struggled.
“You can't do this! I'm Vincent's son!””
Ricardo looked at him.
“So am I.””
Then he glanced toward Leo.
“And that little boy is my son, regardless of what his DNA says.””
Antonio's expression changed.
“You can't keep him.””
Ricardo stepped closer.
“Watch me.””
The guards dragged Antonio away.
For a moment, the room finally became quiet.
I approached Helena.
“Why did you wait so long to find me?””
Her eyes filled with tears.
“Because Vincent left instructions. I wasn't allowed to reveal myself until both halves of the pendant were reunited.””
I held up my necklace.
“Why?””
She looked at Leo.
“Because the pendants contain the location of the original inheritance records.””
I examined the two silver hearts.
Together, they formed a small circular symbol.
Helena pressed a hidden button.
A tiny compartment opened.
Inside was a microfilm strip.
Ricardo examined it.
“What's on this?””
Helena's expression darkened.
“Everything Vincent knew about the people who betrayed him.””
My mother stepped forward.
“Destroy it.””
I turned toward her.
“Why?””
“Because some truths should remain buried.””
Helena gave a bitter laugh.
“That's what you said before Daniel died.””
My blood ran cold.
I looked at her.
“What does Daniel's death have to do with this?””
Helena hesitated.
Then she removed another photograph.
It showed Daniel standing beside a black car.
Behind him stood Margaret.
And beside Margaret was a man I recognized immediately.
Antonio.
Helena placed the photograph in my hands.
“Your uncle didn't die in an accident, Clara.””
She pointed to the handwritten date.
“Daniel was murdered because he discovered who ordered Vincent's disappearance.””
I stared at the photograph.
Then I looked at my mother.
May you like
She was crying.
But she wasn't denying it.
