Chapter 6 - THE BLOODLINEMara couldn't speak.
Luca stared at Damian.
“She's not mine.”
Damian smiled.
“You've always been afraid of that sentence.”
“Shut up.”
“You don't remember the night your father tested the blood.”
Mara looked at Rose.
“Is it true?”
Rose couldn't answer.
“Mom.”
“I was trying to protect you.”
“Tell me!”
Rose whispered:
“Yes.”
Mara staggered backward.
Luca looked genuinely stunned.
“How?”
Rose swallowed.
“You were born in secret.”
Mara's face went pale.
“Who is my father?”
Rose looked at Luca.
“His father.”
Silence.
Luca's expression changed.
“Anthony?”
Rose nodded.
“No.”
Luca looked furious.
“My father had an affair with my mother?”
“No.”
Rose wiped tears from her cheeks.
“You're his biological son, Luca.”
Mara looked confused.
“Then how could I be…”
Rose hesitated.
“Because you're his daughter too.”
Mara stared.
Nobody moved.
Damian smiled.
“Anthony kept the pregnancy hidden.”
Luca's eyes filled with disbelief.
“He had a child with Rose?”
“Yes.”
“And you?”
Damian's smile faded.
“I am the adopted son.”
Mara felt sick.
“Then why do we look alike?”
“Because Anthony designed it that way.”
Luca stared.
“What?”
Damian laughed softly.
“Genetic experiments.”
Rose interrupted.
“You don't have to believe him.”
“I don't believe any of you.”
Mara walked toward the staircase.
“I need proof.”
Damian pointed toward the blue door.
“Then open it.”
Mara stopped.
Something about the door felt familiar.
She approached.
The handle turned easily.
Inside was a small bedroom.
Children's drawings covered the walls.
One drawing showed two boys.
One wore a black shirt.
The other wore white.
Between them was a little girl.
Above them, written in childish letters:
MY BROTHERS.
Mara touched the drawing.
“I drew this.”
Rose nodded.
“You did.”
At the bottom of the page was another sentence.
ONE OF THEM SAVES ME. ONE OF THEM KILLS MOM.
Mara stared.
“Which one?”
Rose couldn't answer.
Damian stepped into the doorway.
“You forgot.”
A sudden sound came from downstairs.
Glass breaking.
Luca turned.
“Stay here.”
Gunfire erupted.
Helen screamed.
Damian disappeared.
Luca ran down the stairs.
Mara followed.
The foyer had become chaos.
Two armed men were firing through the windows.
Helen crouched behind a table.
Rose pulled Mara behind the staircase.
Luca shot one attacker.
The second fled.
Then a third gunshot came from behind.
Luca collapsed.
“Mara!”
She screamed.
Damian stood at the bottom of the stairs.
Gun in hand.
He looked at Luca.
Then at Mara.
“This is where everything started.”
Mara rushed toward Luca.
Blood spread across his shirt.
“Luca!”
His eyes opened.
“Don't…”
He struggled to breathe.
“Don't let him…”
Mara looked at Damian.
“You shot him.”
Damian stared back.
“No.”
He lowered his gun.
“I didn't.”
A shadow moved behind Mara.
Helen.
Her hand held the weapon.
Mara turned.
Her aunt whispered:
“I'm sorry.”
Another gunshot.
Helen dropped.
Mara stared.
“Who fired?”
Damian looked at the ceiling.
“That's the problem.”
Mara followed his gaze.
A security camera pointed directly at them.
A screen lit up.
Live footage appeared.
But the footage wasn't from the house.
It showed Bellweather Hotel.
Room 2047.
Rose Ellis sitting at a desk.
And beside her was Anthony Moretti.
Alive.
Mara's breath caught.
Anthony leaned toward the camera.
“You've come this far, Mara.”
May you like
He smiled.
“Now come and meet your father.”
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