Chapter 7 - The Name She Was GivenAlessandro stared at the child.
“What real name?”
Lily said nothing.
Sophia grabbed her.
“Please.”
Alessandro stepped closer.
“Sophia, you have one chance.”
She nodded through tears.
“Her name is Emilia.”
Alessandro frowned.
“Emilia what?”
Sophia looked toward the portrait of Antonio Moretti.
“Emilia Moretti.”
The world seemed to stop.
Marco's face changed.
“No.”
Sophia nodded.
“Lily is your father's granddaughter.”
Alessandro stepped backward.
That was impossible.
His father had only one acknowledged son.
Alessandro.
And one daughter.
Elena.
There had never been another child.
Sophia explained.
“Your father had another son.”
Alessandro's voice became barely audible.
“Who?”
“Gabriel.”
Silence.
“Gabriel had a daughter.”
Alessandro looked at Lily.
“Her?”
Sophia nodded.
“Daniel tried to protect her.”
“And you?”
“I promised Daniel I would keep her hidden.”
Alessandro's entire life rearranged itself.
Gabriel had not simply vanished.
He had hidden a child.
A child connected to the Moretti bloodline.
A child who could inherit everything.
The estate.
The businesses.
The secrets.
The ledger.
And if Gabriel were alive, his daughter became leverage.
Alessandro looked toward the cake.
The trap made sense.
The birthday party had never been about Ethan.
It was about bringing Emilia back into the Moretti house.
Someone had known her identity.
Someone had waited three years.
Someone had manufactured a crisis large enough to force her into the open.
Then the lights went out.
A slow clap came from the balcony.
Everyone looked up.
A man stepped from the shadows.
He removed a black mask.
Alessandro stared.
For twenty years, he had believed this man was dead.
Gabriel Moretti smiled.
“Hello, little brother.”
Alessandro raised his gun.
Gabriel raised both hands.
“Careful.”
“Where is Victor?”
“Alive.”
“Why?”
“Because he was useful.”
Gabriel looked at Lily.
“No.”
His expression changed.
“Because she is.”
Lily stared at him.
And whispered:
“Uncle Gabriel.”
Gabriel smiled.
May you like
Alessandro's blood ran cold.
She remembered him.
