Chapter 8 - TWO CHILDRENLuca spent the next hour searching the mansion.
He found old hospital records hidden beneath a loose floorboard.
Two births.
Same date.
Same hospital.
Same mother.
His mother.
One child:
Luca Valenti.
Second child:
Female.
Name erased.
The file had been altered.
The child had been listed as deceased.
But another document contained a different notation.
Transferred.
No destination.
No doctor.
No signature.
Luca stared at the page.
“Elena.”
Matteo looked at him.
“Your mother had twins.”
“Then Elena is my sister.”
They found Elena at a church outside the city.
She was sitting alone beneath a statue.
When Luca approached, she didn't run.
“I know.”
He stopped.
“How?”
“Your mother told me.”
“When?”
“Before she died.”
Elena looked at him.
“She said we were connected.”
“Why didn't you tell me?”
“Because she said the truth would destroy the family.”
Luca sat beside her.
“Maybe it already did.”
Elena smiled sadly.
“She loved you.”
“She lied to me.”
“She was trying to keep you alive.”
Luca stared at the floor.
“Who took you?”
“My mother.”
“Why?”
“To hide me.”
“From whom?”
“Your grandfather.”
Luca looked up.
Elena continued.
“He wanted one of us raised inside the Valenti family.”
“Why?”
“To inherit the trust.”
“That makes no sense.”
“It does if the trust can only be activated by blood.”
Luca understood.
The trust required a direct descendant.
His grandfather had created two heirs.
Then separated them.
“One child for the public.”
He looked at Elena.
“One child for the shadow.”
Elena nodded.
“I was raised under the Russo name.”
“And I was raised under Valenti.”
“Yes.”
“Which means…”
“We were both being prepared.”
“For what?”
Elena looked toward the church doors.
“To destroy each other.”
A slow clap came from the entrance.
Adriano stepped inside.
“You finally understand.”
Luca raised his gun.
“Stay where you are.”
Adriano smiled.
“You found the truth faster than I expected.”
“Who is behind all this?”
Adriano's expression turned serious.
“Your grandfather.”
“He's dead.”
“Yes.”
“Then how?”
Adriano handed Luca an envelope.
Inside was a recent photograph.
An elderly man seated in a wheelchair.
Alive.
Victor's father.
Luca stared.
“No.”
“Your grandfather has been living under another name for nineteen years.”
“Where?”
“Bellini Hospital.”
Elena went pale.
“That's impossible.”
Adriano looked at her.
“Your mother thought she killed him.”
“She didn't.”
“No.”
He turned to Luca.
“And he has been watching both of you ever since.”
Luca gripped the photograph.
“Then why hasn't he come for us?”
Adriano's eyes hardened.
“Because he was waiting for the right moment.”
“What moment?”
“When one of you opened Room 317.”
Elena suddenly looked down.
The brass key was missing.
Luca checked his pocket.
Empty.
Adriano smiled.
“You brought it?”
“No.”
“Then someone took it.”
A voice came from behind them.
“I did.”
They turned.
Isabella stood in the doorway.
She held the key.
And beside her was Marco.
His hands were bound.
Isabella pointed a gun at him.
“Come with me.”
Luca stepped forward.
“You're not taking him.”
“I've already taken him.”
She smiled.
“And I know something neither of you does.”
“What?”
She looked directly at Elena.
“You were never the second child.”
Elena went still.
Isabella raised the brass key.
“You were the first.”
Luca stared.
“Then who am I?”
May you like
Isabella's eyes moved to him.
“A replacement.”
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