Chapter 13
Chapter 13: Vanessa
The helicopter landed before sunset.
Grace, Dominic, Elena, Isabella, Michael, and Matteo returned to the mainland.
Evelyn remained under medical protection.
No one wanted to move her until they knew who was watching.
The hospital fire had destroyed part of the east wing.
No one had died.
But Vanessa was missing.
The official report said she had left the building before the fire spread.
Matteo didn't believe it.
Neither did Grace.
Dominic stood in the security room watching the footage.
“Stop.”
The technician froze the screen.
Vanessa appeared in the hallway.
She was carrying Leo.
Then a man stepped into frame.
He wore hospital scrubs.
Vanessa stopped.
The man said something.
She handed Leo to a nurse.
Then the screen went black.
Grace stared.
“She recognized him.”
Dominic nodded.
“Who?”
Grace looked closer.
The man turned slightly.
A silver watch.
Vittorio's watch.
“The man from Bell House.”
Matteo nodded.
“We've been looking for him.”
“Who is he?”
A voice came from behind them.
Evelyn.
She had entered the room with a cane.
Everyone turned.
“You won't find him.”
Grace ran to her.
“Mom, you should be resting.”
“I have rested for twenty-eight years.”
She looked at the screen.
“That man is Adrian.”
“Who?”
“Vittorio's oldest son.”
Dominic stared.
“I had an uncle?”
Evelyn nodded.
“Before you.”
Grace looked confused.
“Another child?”
“Yes.”
“Where was he?”
“Everywhere.”
Evelyn's expression darkened.
“He was the one who built the network.”
Grace's stomach tightened.
“The foundation?”
“Yes.”
“Then why did Sophia control it?”
“She didn't.”
Everyone became silent.
Evelyn continued.
“Sophia believed she controlled the family.”
“But Adrian controlled the network.”
“Yes.”
“Then Sophia was not the mastermind.”
“No.”
Grace looked at Dominic.
“We've been chasing the wrong person.”
Evelyn nodded.
“Adrian wanted the estate.”
“Why?”
“Because he believed Vittorio stole it from him.”
Dominic shook his head.
“He was the first son.”
“Yes.”
“And I was the second.”
“Yes.”
“Then why wasn't he heir?”
“Because Vittorio discovered Adrian was not his biological son.”
Grace understood.
Another secret.
Another child.
Another inheritance.
Adrian had been removed from the succession.
He blamed Vittorio.
He blamed Evelyn.
He blamed Dominic.
And eventually, he blamed everyone.
“What does Vanessa have to do with him?”
Evelyn looked at Grace.
“She knows where the original documents are.”
Grace frowned.
“The succession agreement?”
“No.”
“Then what?”
“The birth records.”
Grace felt cold.
“Why are they important?”
“Because the Moretti succession was changed after Adrian was removed.”
Dominic stared.
“What was the original succession?”
Evelyn looked at him.
“You.”
Then she looked at Grace.
“And Isabella.”
“But not Adrian.”
“No.”
“Then what does he want?”
Evelyn's voice dropped.
“Proof that you are not the rightful heirs.”
Grace understood.
“If he can prove the documents were forged—”
“He can claim the estate.”
“And if we don't have the original records?”
“He wins.”
Dominic looked at Matteo.
“Find Vanessa.”
“We're already searching.”
“Every hospital.”
“Every airport.”
“Every port.”
Matteo nodded.
Evelyn turned to Grace.
“There is one place he will take her.”
“Where?”
“The old Moretti courthouse.”
Grace frowned.
“There's no courthouse.”
“There was.”
“When?”
“Before the family became what it is.”
Grace looked at Dominic.
“Where?”
He answered.
“Under the original estate.”
They drove through the night.
The courthouse had been abandoned for decades.
It stood beneath an old municipal building.
The entrance was hidden behind a stone wall.
Michael knew the access code.
They entered.
Vanessa was there.
Tied to a chair.
Alive.
Adrian stood behind her.
He was older than Dominic.
Perhaps sixty.
His hair was completely gray.
He looked calm.
Too calm.
“Dominic.”
Dominic stepped forward.
“Release her.”
Adrian smiled.
“You still give orders like Vittorio.”
“I am not my father.”
“No.”
Adrian looked at Grace.
“You are.”
Grace frowned.
“What?”
“You are everything he wanted.”
“I don't know you.”
“You don't need to.”
Adrian walked toward the table.
On it were documents.
Birth certificates.
Trust agreements.
Family records.
And one envelope.
“Your mother told you the truth.”
Grace's eyes narrowed.
“What truth?”
“That you and Isabella were never supposed to inherit.”
Isabella stepped forward.
“Liar.”
Adrian laughed.
“You believe everything they tell you?”
“No.”
“Good.”
He opened the envelope.
Inside was the original birth record.
Two children.
Grace.
Isabella.
But beside both names was a third line.
A third child.
Male.
Adrian looked at Dominic.
“This is the child Vittorio erased.”
Dominic stared.
“My father had another son?”
“Yes.”
“Who?”
Adrian smiled.
“Me.”
Silence.
Grace looked at Evelyn.
Evelyn's face was pale.
“No.”
Adrian turned toward her.
“You knew.”
“I knew Vittorio believed you were his.”
“He did.”
“You were not.”
“I know.”
“Your mother never told you.”
“My mother was Sophia.”
Everyone froze.
Adrian laughed.
“Yes.”
Grace looked at Dominic.
Adrian continued.
“I am Sophia's son.”
Dominic stared.
“Then you're my brother.”
“Yes.”
“And Thomas?”
Adrian looked at Grace.
“Your father was my half-brother.”
Grace's head spun.
The family tree was becoming a circle.
Adrian stepped closer.
“I don't want to hurt any of you.”
“Then let Vanessa go.”
“I will.”
“Why?”
“Because I need Grace.”
Dominic stepped between them.
“No.”
Adrian smiled.
“You still think this is about money.”
He pointed at Grace.
“She's the final key.”
Grace frowned.
“To what?”
“The vault.”
“What vault?”
“The original Moretti vault.”
Dominic's expression changed.
“My father never told me about a vault.”
“He didn't know.”
Adrian looked at Evelyn.
“She did.”
Evelyn closed her eyes.
Grace turned toward her.
“Mom?”
Evelyn whispered,
“There is a vault beneath the estate.”
“What is inside?”
“Everything.”
Grace stared.
“The original contracts. The money. The names of everyone who disappeared.”
“And why does Adrian need me?”
Evelyn looked at Grace.
“Because only your blood can open it.”
Grace understood.
The medal.
The trust.
The fingerprints.
The twin signatures.
Everything had been leading there.
Adrian smiled.
“Now you understand.”
Grace looked at Vanessa.
Vanessa was watching her.
Then Grace saw it.
A tiny movement.
Vanessa's fingers.
She was pointing toward the table.
A pen.
Grace understood.
She had been left an opening.
Grace walked toward Adrian.
“I'll open it.”
Dominic grabbed her arm.
“No.”
She looked at him.
“Trust me.”
“I do.”
“Then let go.”
He did.
Grace walked to Adrian.
“Where is the vault?”
Adrian smiled.
“Under Bell House.”
Grace stopped.
“Of course.”
Adrian reached for her hand.
She let him.
He placed her palm against the scanner.
Nothing happened.
Adrian frowned.
“Again.”
Grace looked at Vanessa.
Vanessa gave the smallest nod.
Grace pulled the pen from the table and stabbed Adrian's hand.
He shouted.
Dominic moved instantly.
Matteo disarmed the guards.
Isabella grabbed Vanessa.
Michael shut down the security system.
Adrian staggered backward.
Grace ran.
They escaped through the courthouse tunnel.
Behind them, alarms screamed.
Outside, Dominic grabbed Grace.
“Are you insane?”
“Yes.”
“You could have been killed.”
“So could Vanessa.”
He looked at her.
Then hugged her.
Grace froze.
It was the first time.
She slowly wrapped her arms around him.
“I trusted you,” she whispered.
“I know.”
“Don't make me regret it.”
“I won't.”
Behind them, Vanessa approached.
She looked shaken.
“Thank you.”
Grace nodded.
“You saved Leo.”
“I promised.”
Vanessa glanced at Dominic.
“I also found something.”
“What?”
She held up a small envelope.
“Adrian dropped this.”
Grace opened it.
Inside was a photograph.
Sophia.
Adrian.
Carlo.
Dr. Hale.
And one more person.
Grace stared.
A woman stood beside them.
Young.
Beautiful.
Familiar.
Elena.
Grace's blood went cold.
“That isn't possible.”
Vanessa whispered,
“It was taken yesterday.”
Grace looked at Elena.
Elena's face had gone white.
“I wasn't there.”
Grace looked again.
The woman in the photograph was smiling.
Same face.
Same eyes.
Same scar.
Isabella.
Grace turned.
Isabella was standing behind them.
Her face was blank.
She whispered,
“That isn't me.”
Grace looked at the photograph.
Then at her sister.
Then at Elena.
There were two women with the same face.
And suddenly Grace understood.
They had never been told there were two daughters.
May you like
They had been told there were two.
But there were three.
