Chapter 13 - The Stolen NameFor the first time in his life, Alessandro wondered whether his own memories belonged to someone else.
Gabriel explained.
Antonio had two sons.
Gabriel.
And another child.
Alessandro.
But when their mother threatened to expose the empire, Antonio moved the children.
He changed identities.
Records.
Birth certificates.
Everything.
He wanted Gabriel to inherit the criminal empire.
And Alessandro to become the public face.
But Gabriel refused.
So Antonio altered the plan.
He made Alessandro believe he was the firstborn.
The family empire could then be passed to him.
Gabriel became the ghost.
Alessandro became the king.
Neither had chosen it.
Both had been manipulated.
Lily watched quietly.
Then she spoke.
“Grandpa said you would remember.”
Alessandro looked at her.
“Remember what?”
She pointed to a photograph in the drawer.
A woman holding two babies.
Their mother.
Two boys.
One baby had a tiny scar beside his left eyebrow.
Alessandro touched his own eyebrow.
A faint scar.
Gabriel looked at the photograph.
His face changed.
The other baby had the same scar.
“Twins,” Marco whispered.
Alessandro looked at Gabriel.
“We're twins?”
Gabriel nodded.
“And Father lied about everything.”
A sound came from the hallway.
Footsteps.
Slow.
Deliberate.
Alessandro raised his weapon.
The door opened.
Elena stood there.
She was holding a gun.
“I'm sorry.”
Alessandro froze.
“Who are you pointing that at?”
Elena's eyes filled with tears.
“Everyone.”
She stepped inside.
“You don't understand.”
“What did you do?”
She looked at Lily.
“I brought her here.”
Sophia gasped.
“What?”
Elena shook her head.
“I was trying to protect her.”
Alessandro stared.
“You arranged the birthday?”
“No.”
“Then who?”
Elena looked down.
“I don't know.”
A gun clicked behind them.
Marco turned.
Too late.
Someone hit him from behind.
He fell.
A masked man stepped into the room.
He removed the mask.
It was Victor Dane.
Alive.
Victor smiled.
“Finally.”
Alessandro's face hardened.
“You staged your death.”
Victor laughed.
“I staged almost everything.”
He looked at Lily.
“But one thing was never part of the plan.”
May you like
He pointed at the child.
“She survived.”
