Chapter 4: The Man Who Wanted My Son Gone
I stayed at Isabella’s house for three hours.
Three hours that felt like three minutes and three years at the same time.
Marcus showed me his drawings.
His favorite books.
The science project he was working on.
Little pieces of a life I should have known.
He told me he wanted to be an engineer because he liked building things.
I almost laughed when he said that.
Because I was the same way.
When I was a kid, my grandfather used to say I spent more time taking things apart than playing with them.
“Just like you,” I whispered.
Marcus smiled.
“You don’t even know me.””
The words were innocent.
But they hurt.
Because he was right.
I didn’t know him.
I should have.
But I didn’t.
Later that night, after Marcus went to bed, Isabella and I sat across from each other in the kitchen.
The silence between us was heavier than any argument we ever had.
“I’m sorry,” she said.
I looked at her.
“For what?””
“For keeping him from you.””
I leaned back.
“I need the truth, Isabella.””
She nodded.
“You deserve that.””
She looked toward the hallway where Marcus slept.
“When I found out I was pregnant, I was going to tell you.””
“Then why didn’t you?””
“Because Vanessa found out first.””
My jaw tightened.
“She threatened you?””
Isabella looked down.
“She didn’t threaten me directly.””
“Then what?””
“She showed me pictures.””
My stomach dropped.
“Pictures of what?””
“You.””
I frowned.
“Me?””
“She showed me pictures of you meeting with business partners. Traveling. Going to events.””
“That doesn’t make sense.””
“She wanted me to believe you were in danger.””
I stared at her.
“What?””
“She told me people were watching your company. That someone wanted access to your family. That if they knew about Marcus, they would use him against you.””
I shook my head.
“That’s impossible.””
“I thought so too.””
“Then why leave?””
Isabella’s eyes filled with tears.
“Because Vanessa showed me proof that someone had broken into our house.””
I went quiet.
“Someone?””
She nodded.
“Marcus’s room had been searched.””
The air left my lungs.
“She knew about him.””
“Yes.””
“And you thought leaving would protect him.””
“I knew you would fight,” Isabella whispered.
“I knew you would try to take him back. And I was afraid whoever was behind Vanessa would use that.””
I looked away.
All those years.
All that anger.
All that pain.
And she had been carrying fear alone.
“Who is behind her?””
Isabella hesitated.
That hesitation told me everything.
“You know.””
She nodded.
“There was someone helping Vanessa.””
“Who?””
Before she answered, Daniel called.
I picked up immediately.
“Tell me you found something.””
His voice was tense.
“I found the man from the video.””
“And?””
“He wasn’t working alone.””
I stood.
“Who was he working for?””
A pause.
Then Daniel said something that made my entire body go cold.
“Your father’s old business partner.””
I said nothing.
Because I knew exactly who he meant.
Richard Hale.
The man who had helped build my family company.
The man my grandfather trusted.
The man who disappeared after my grandfather’s death.
“That’s impossible,” I whispered.
“No, Luca. What’s impossible is what I found next.””
I waited.
Daniel continued.
“Richard has been moving money through accounts connected to Vanessa.””
My fists tightened.
“Why?””
“Because they were looking for Marcus.””
I looked at Isabella.
She already knew.
The fear in her eyes confirmed it.
“Daniel,” I said quietly.
“Yeah?””
“Why would they care about my son?””
Daniel’s answer came slowly.
“Because Marcus isn’t just your son.””
I froze.
“What does that mean?””
“Your grandfather left something behind.””
“What?””
“A trust.””
I stared at the wall.
“What trust?””
Daniel lowered his voice.
“A trust that only activates when the next Romano heir turns eighteen.””
My heart pounded.
“And Marcus?””
“He’s the heir.””
Everything suddenly made sense.
The surveillance.
The lies.
The attack.
The photograph.
Vanessa wasn’t afraid of a child.
She was afraid of what that child represented.
Power.
Money.
Control.
I looked at Isabella.
“They wanted him gone.””
She nodded.
“And they’re not finished.””
At that exact moment, the lights in the house went out.
Marcus screamed from upstairs.
Isabella jumped up.
I ran toward the hallway.
Then I heard the sound every parent fears.
Glass breaking.
May you like
Someone was inside.
And they weren’t there to talk.
