Chapter 8: The Daughter He Lost Twice
I couldn’t move.
I couldn’t speak.
The man standing in front of me was a stranger.
But my heart recognized him before my mind did.
Because he had my eyes.
The same tired eyes I saw every morning in the mirror.
The same small scar on his eyebrow.
The same way he looked at me like he was trying to memorize my face.
“Clara…”
His voice broke.
I stepped back.
“No.””
Everyone became silent.
He looked hurt.
But he nodded.
“I understand.””
“You’re not my father.””
A painful expression crossed his face.
“I am.””
“My father died when I was a child.””
“No.””
He took a step forward.
“Your father disappeared because staying away was the only way to protect you.””
I laughed bitterly.
“Everyone keeps saying that.””
I looked around.
“My whole life, everyone protected me with lies.””
Anthony lowered his head.
“You’re right.””
That answer surprised me.
He didn’t defend himself.
He didn’t make excuses.
“I failed you.””
The anger inside me weakened.
Only slightly.
“Where were you?””
His eyes filled.
“Every year, I watched from a distance.””
“Why?””
“Because the people who wanted me dead wanted you too.””
I looked at Ricardo.
Then back at him.
“And Isabella?””
Anthony closed his eyes.
The pain was immediate.
“She found me.””
The room went silent.
“She knew?””
“Yes.””
“Then why didn’t she tell me?””
“Because she was trying to keep you safe.””
My voice cracked.
“Everyone keeps using that word.””
Safe.
Protected.
Hidden.
But nobody ever asked me if I wanted the truth.
Anthony looked at the necklace.
“She knew the necklace contained the final piece of evidence.””
“The ledger?””
He nodded.
“But she never found the ledger.””
Margaret stepped forward.
“Because Evelyn moved it.””
Anthony looked at her.
“You knew?””
Margaret looked ashamed.
“I helped her.””
My eyes moved between them.
“How many people knew?””
Nobody answered.
That was answer enough.
Later that night, Anthony sat across from me in the library.
Just the two of us.
For the first time in my life, I was sitting across from my father.
And I didn’t know what to say.
He placed an old photograph on the table.
It showed a young man holding two little girls.
Me.
And Isabella.
My throat tightened.
“She loved you.””
I looked at the photo.
“I don’t remember her.””
“I know.””
His voice became quiet.
“That was the hardest part.””
“What?””
“Knowing my daughters grew up without each other.””
I looked away.
“Why didn’t you come back?””
His hands tightened.
“Because the night I disappeared, I learned the person who betrayed me was someone close.””
“Who?””
“I don’t know.””
“That’s impossible.””
“No.””
He looked at me.
“That’s why Isabella died.””
I froze.
“She got too close.””
He continued.
“She found out who was responsible.””
“Who?””
Anthony hesitated.
Then:
“Someone inside the Moretti organization.””
The room became cold.
Ricardo.
Dante.
Someone they trusted.
Someone close.
My phone suddenly vibrated.
A message appeared.
Unknown number.
*YOU FOUND YOUR FATHER. CONGRATULATIONS.*
My blood ran cold.
Another message appeared.
*NOW FIND OUT WHY YOUR SISTER DIED.*
I showed Ricardo.
His expression darkened.
“Trace it.””
Dante took the phone.
Seconds passed.
Then his face changed.
“Boss…”
“What?””
Dante slowly looked up.
“The message came from inside this mansion.””
Everyone stopped.
Ricardo’s eyes moved across the room.
“Impossible.””
Dante shook his head.
“No.””
He looked at the security screen.
“Not impossible.””
He pointed.
“Someone has been accessing the system using your private authorization.””
Ricardo’s face hardened.
“My authorization?””
Dante nodded.
“The same access code used the night Isabella died.””
My heart pounded.
“Who has that code?””
Nobody spoke.
Then Ricardo slowly turned.
Toward Margaret.
Because there was one person who had been here the entire time.
One person who knew the past.
One person who knew Isabella.
Margaret looked at him.
May you like
And whispered:
“I was hoping you’d never find out.””
