Chapter 10 - THE FATHERFor the first time in twelve years, Vittorio stood face to face with the man whose death had shaped his entire life.

His father looked older.

But not weak.

He carried himself with the same authority.

The same coldness.

The same terrifying calm.

“Did you miss me?”

Vittorio couldn't speak.

His father looked at Lucy.

“She's the wrong girl.”

Then he looked at Isabella, who had emerged from the shadows.

His expression changed.

“Ah.”

Vittorio immediately moved between them.

“You're not touching her.”

His father smiled.

“My grandson would have been disappointed.”

Vittorio froze.

“What did you say?”

“My grandson.”

He looked at Marcus.

“Come here.”

Marcus obeyed.

Vittorio's eyes moved between them.

“You said he's not your son.”

His father sighed.

“Not biologically.”

Marcus looked at Vittorio.

“I told you.”

“Then who is his father?”

His father smiled.

“Your father's first son.”

Vittorio's face tightened.

“You mean someone else.”

“Yes.”

“Where is he?”

His father pointed toward Marcus.

“Dead.”

Silence.

Marcus's face changed.

“My real father?”

“Was killed when you were young.”

“By whom?”

His father looked away.

“Your mother.”

Vittorio felt a knot form in his chest.

“Why?”

“Because he betrayed us.”

Isabella stepped forward.

“You killed Grandma.”

His father looked at her.

“I loved her.”

“You murdered her.”

“She betrayed the family.”

“She protected me.”

“She ruined everything.”

His voice became colder.

Then he looked at Vittorio.

“Hand over the ledger.”

“No.”

“You don't understand.”

“I understand enough.”

His father smiled.

“No.”

He pointed at Lucy.

“She's carrying something you don't know about.”

Vittorio tightened his grip around Lucy.

“What?”

“A memory.”

Vittorio frowned.

“She was twelve.”

“Exactly.”

His father explained that Lucy had witnessed something as a child.

A murder.

A murder she had forgotten.

Someone had buried the memory beneath trauma.

“What murder?”

His father smiled.

“Your mother's.”

Vittorio froze.

“You said she was killed by you.”

“I said I killed her.”

“Yes.”

“But Lucy saw it.”

Vittorio looked at Lucy.

She was trembling.

“Lucy?”

Her eyes were unfocused.

Then she whispered:

“Grandma was screaming.”

Vittorio's blood turned cold.

“What did you see?”

“A room.”

“Where?”

“I don't know.”

“What else?”

Lucy began crying.

“A man.”

“Who?”

She looked at Vittorio's father.

Then she whispered:

“Daddy.”

Vittorio froze.

His father smiled.

“Now you remember.”

Lucy shook her head.

“No.”

“Tell them.”

Lucy covered her ears.

“No!”

Her father continued.

“You were there that night, Vittorio.”

Vittorio stared.

“I was twenty-seven.”

“Yes.”

“You told me I was overseas.”

“You were.”

“No.”

His father smiled.

“Your mother erased that memory from you too.”

The rain intensified.

Suddenly Bianca's hand moved.

She wasn't dead.

She grabbed Vittorio's ankle.

“Don't listen to him.”

Vittorio looked down.

Bianca coughed blood.

“He is lying.”

His father turned.

Bianca whispered:

“Ask him…”

She looked at Vittorio.

“…who killed the first Lucy.”

Vittorio's heart stopped.

There had been another child.

Another Lucy.

May you like

I Came Home Early and Found My Housekeeper’s 3-Year-Old Daughter Scrubbi...

I returned home hours earlier than expected and discovered my housekeeper’s three-year-old daughter standing barefoot in the laund...

My Family Inherited Millions and Left Me a Ruined House. Four Months Lat...

The lawyer’s office fell silent as my grandmother’s will was read, and I watched my family inherit millions while I received nothi...

A Desperate Mother Begged a Billionaire for a Job to Feed Her Two Childr...

I was stranded on a lonely Arizona highway with two starving children, a pair of ruined suitcases, and no way to reach our destina...

Before the one standing beside him.

And his father had been there.