Chapter 9: The Daughter Hidden in Plain Sight
Nobody spoke.
Not because they didn’t have questions.
Because there were too many.
Clara stared at Elena.
Waiting for her to laugh.
Waiting for her to deny it.
Waiting for someone to say Matteo was lying.
But Elena only cried.
And that was the answer.
“No.””
Clara shook her head.
“No, that’s impossible.””
Elena stepped forward.
“Clara…”
“Don’t.””
The word came out broken.
Clara backed away.
“You don’t get to say my name like that.””
Elena stopped.
Rico watched the pain on Clara’s face.
He understood it.
Not completely.
But enough.
Everything she believed about herself had just cracked.
“My parents…”
Elena swallowed.
“Jonathan raised you.””
“But you’re saying you’re my mother?””
“Yes.””
“Why?””
The question destroyed Elena.
“Because I was trying to keep you alive.””
Clara laughed bitterly.
“By abandoning me?””
“No.””
“By letting me grow up thinking I had no family?””
“I had no choice.””
“Everyone says that.””
Her voice shook.
“Everyone who hurts someone says they had no choice.””
The room became silent.
Even Matteo stopped smiling.
Clara looked at him.
“Is this what you wanted?””
Matteo tilted his head.
“What?””
“To destroy everyone.””
A strange expression crossed his face.
Not anger.
Almost sadness.
“You think I’m the villain.””
“Aren’t you?””
Matteo looked at Elena.
“Ask her.””
Elena closed her eyes.
Rico’s voice was cold.
“Explain.””
Elena looked at him.
“I had a daughter before Leo.””
Rico stared.
“I didn’t know.””
“I know.””
“Why?””
“Because I couldn’t tell you.””
The answer shocked him.
“Why?””
Elena looked at Clara.
“Because when Clara was born, Matteo was already dangerous.””
Matteo smiled.
“I loved my sister.””
Elena turned sharply.
“No.””
Her voice was fierce.
“You loved control.””
The smile disappeared.
“You wanted everything I had.””
Clara looked confused.
“What does that mean?””
Elena took a breath.
“When I married Rico, Matteo believed our family had access to unlimited power.””
Rico’s face hardened.
“He wanted my companies.””
“He wanted your name.””
Elena nodded.
“But when Clara was born, he saw her as a weakness.””
Clara felt sick.
“He threatened her?””
“Yes.””
Matteo finally spoke.
“I never hurt her.””
“You planned to.””
“I protected her.””
“You hid her.””
Matteo looked at Clara.
“I kept her away from a dangerous world.””
Clara stared.
“You sent me away.””
“I saved you.””
“No.””
Her voice became stronger.
“You took my life from me.””
For the first time, Matteo looked affected.
But only for a moment.
Then the coldness returned.
“You don’t understand.””
“No.””
Clara stepped forward.
“I understand perfectly.””
She pointed toward Leo.
“You think everyone is a piece on a board.””
Matteo looked at her.
“You’re exactly like Elena.””
“No.””
Clara shook her head.
“I’m nothing like you.””
A silence followed.
Then Rico stepped beside her.
Not in front.
Beside.
A small difference.
But Clara noticed.
Matteo noticed too.
“You’re protecting her?””
Rico’s voice was calm.
“Yes.””
Matteo laughed.
“You barely know her.””
Rico looked at Clara.
Then at Leo.
“I know enough.””
The words surprised her.
Because six months ago, Rico Moretti had trusted nobody.
Now he was choosing her.
Dante entered the room.
“Boss.””
Rico turned.
“We secured the building.””
Matteo’s expression changed.
Just slightly.
He knew something was wrong.
Rico noticed.
“You weren’t expecting that.””
Matteo smiled.
“I expected everything.””
“No.””
Rico stepped closer.
“You expected the old me.””
The lights above them flickered.
Then Dante’s phone rang.
He answered.
His face changed immediately.
“Boss…”
“What?””
Dante looked at Clara.
“There’s another problem.””
“What?””
Dante swallowed.
“The DNA results from the hospital records came back.””
Everyone froze.
Rico looked at Elena.
“What DNA?””
Elena’s face went pale.
Because she already knew.
Dante spoke quietly.
“Leo Moretti…”
May you like
A pause.
“Is not your biological son.””
