Chapter 7 - The Girl Who Was Supposed to Be DeadThe gunfire stopped as quickly as it began.
Silence returned.
Valentina held Ellie against her chest.
Marcus whispered:
"They know about the archive."
Victor looked at Clara.
"You told her."
Clara's eyes filled with tears.
"I couldn't let you destroy another child."
Valentina turned.
"Another?"
Clara said nothing.
Victor grabbed her arm.
"You have no idea what you've done."
Valentina pulled Clara away.
"Where is she?"
Clara looked at Valentina.
"The other girl?"
"Yes."
Clara whispered:
"Her name is Sofia."
Valentina's throat tightened.
"Why did you let me believe there was only one baby?"
Clara broke down.
"I was told your daughter wouldn't survive."
Valentina froze.
"What?"
"You were unconscious after the delivery."
Clara spoke through tears.
"Victor told me one baby was lost."
Valentina stared at Victor.
"He lied."
Victor said:
"I protected the family."
"You stole my child."
"I protected your children."
Valentina shook her head.
"Where is Sofia now?"
Clara answered:
"She was raised under another name."
"Which name?"
"Nora Bell."
Valentina's eyes widened.
The name was familiar.
A journalist.
A woman who had spent months investigating Caruso shipping companies.
A woman who had recently published a series of articles about financial corruption.
A woman who had vanished three weeks ago.
"Nora Bell is Sofia?"
Clara nodded.
Valentina looked at Marcus.
He looked stunned.
"That's who Victor has been searching for."
Victor said nothing.
Valentina understood.
Sofia had spent her whole life outside the family.
She had no idea she was a Caruso.
And now she was dangerously close to uncovering the truth.
"Where is she?"
Clara whispered:
"Underground."
"Where?"
"I don't know."
Victor said:
"Clara."
She looked at him.
"I know what happens if I tell her."
Victor's voice softened.
"You should."
Clara looked at Valentina.
"She's alive."
Valentina stepped closer.
"Please."
Clara finally gave her the truth.
"She was being kept in a safe house."
"By who?"
"Your father."
"Victor?"
Clara nodded.
"But he lost control of it."
"How?"
Clara looked frightened.
"Someone took her."
Valentina felt a chill.
"Who?"
Clara's answer came almost inaudibly.
"Marcus."
Valentina turned.
Marcus stood completely still.
"Is that true?"
He didn't answer.
"Marcus."
He looked at Ellie.
Then at Valentina.
"I found her six months ago."
Valentina stared.
"You knew?"
"Yes."
"Where is she?"
"I helped her escape."
"Then why didn't you tell me?"
Marcus swallowed.
"Because she didn't trust you."
Valentina recoiled.
"Why?"
Marcus looked devastated.
"Because Sofia believed you knew."
"Knew what?"
"Everything."
Valentina's voice cracked.
"I didn't."
Marcus reached into his pocket.
He pulled out a photograph.
Valentina looked at it.
She saw herself.
A hospital bed.
Newborn Ellie in her arms.
And standing behind her...
Another baby.
Valentina whispered:
"That's impossible."
Marcus shook his head.
"No."
He turned the photo over.
On the back was handwriting.
One sentence.
"Mother saw both babies."
Valentina stared.
"I never saw this."
Marcus said:
"Someone edited your memory."
Valentina looked up.
"How?"
Before he could answer, the chapel doors burst open.
A woman stood there.
Blood on her sleeve.
Rain behind her.
Valentina stopped breathing.
The woman's face was almost identical to Ellie's.
She looked directly at Valentina.
May you like
And whispered:
"Mom?"
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