Chapter 12 - THE WOMAN IN THE COFFINDominic watched the footage again.
And again.
The woman on the screen looked exactly like Lydia.
But she wasn't.
Eleanor explained that Victor had used Lydia's sister, Maria, as a decoy.
Maria had been killed because she knew too much.
Victor staged her death as Lydia's.
Then he convinced Dominic and Adrian that their mother had died.
Lydia escaped.
Eleanor protected her.
And Victor disappeared.
The entire family had been built around a false death.
Dominic stared at the screen.
“Why didn't you tell me?”
Eleanor cried.
“Because Victor threatened you.”
“You should have trusted me.”
“I was afraid.”
Dominic's anger softened.
He finally understood how fear had controlled everyone.
Meanwhile, Adrian and Lily were hiding in a small cabin.
Lily slept beside her father.
Adrian sat near the window.
He heard a vehicle.
He immediately stood.
Someone was approaching.
He picked up Lily.
Then he saw the person step from the vehicle.
Dominic.
Adrian opened the door.
“You found us.”
Dominic smiled.
“I told you I would.”
Lily woke.
“Uncle Dominic!”
She ran into his arms.
Dominic hugged her.
“I was worried.”
“I'm okay.”
He looked at Adrian.
“We need to end this.”
Adrian nodded.
“I know.”
The three men met secretly.
Dominic.
Adrian.
Marco.
They planned to expose Victor and Samuel publicly.
The evidence was enough.
Financial records.
Medical files.
Witnesses.
Video footage.
But they needed one final piece.
Victor's confession.
And they knew exactly where to get it.
The old Moretti theater.
The place Victor had demanded they bring Lily.
They went there that night.
Dominic entered alone.
Victor waited on the stage.
Samuel stood beside him.
“Where is Lily?”
Dominic smiled.
“Safe.”
Victor frowned.
“You came without her.”
“Yes.”
“Then you lose.”
Dominic stepped closer.
“No.”
He pressed a button.
Every screen in the theater turned on.
The evidence appeared.
Victor's transfers.
Samuel's payments.
The fake funeral.
The medical research.
Everything.
Victor's face changed.
Dominic said:
“Everyone is watching.”
Victor looked around.
Hidden cameras had been installed throughout the theater.
Live feeds were being sent to journalists and federal investigators.
Samuel reached for his weapon.
Police stormed the building.
Victor froze.
Dominic stared at him.
“You wanted the family fortune.”
He stepped closer.
“You can have it.”
Victor looked confused.
Dominic continued:
“Because I'm giving it away.”
Victor's eyes widened.
The original trust would be dissolved.
Every asset would go to a medical foundation.
The research would be released under strict ethical oversight.
Nobody in the Moretti family would control it.
Victor's empire would disappear.
Samuel would receive nothing.
The plan collapsed.
But Victor smiled.
“You think you've won.”
Dominic stared.
Victor looked toward the balcony.
A man stood there.
Dominic recognized him.
His attorney.
The one who had betrayed him.
He held Lily.
Dominic's heart stopped.
“Put her down.”
The man smiled.
Victor laughed.
“You forgot one thing.”
Dominic's expression hardened.
“The child.”
Lily looked terrified.
Dominic slowly lowered his weapon.
“Let her go.”
The attorney shook his head.
“Not until you sign the transfer.”
Dominic looked at the document.
The entire Moretti fortune.
One signature.
He could save Lily.
But if he signed…
Samuel would own everything.
Dominic looked at Lily.
She was crying.
Then she whispered:
“Don't.”
Dominic froze.
“What?”
Lily shook her head.
“Daddy said never give bad people what they want.”
Adrian appeared behind the attorney.
The man turned.
Adrian disarmed him.
Lily ran to Dominic.
Dominic caught her.
The police arrested the attorney.
Victor and Samuel were taken away.
The family finally seemed safe.
But as Dominic held Lily, he noticed something.
A small envelope had been tucked into her dress.
He opened it.
Inside was a photograph.
A newborn baby.
And beside the baby…
was Victor.
On the back:
THIS WAS THE FIRST HEIR.
Dominic stared.
“Who is that?”
Eleanor looked at the photograph.
Her face went completely white.
“That…”
She whispered:
“was your father's first child.”
Dominic looked at her.
“You mean Adrian?”
“No.”
May you like
Eleanor shook her head.
“Someone else.”
