Chapter 3: The Woman Who Was Supposed to Be Dead
Vittorio did not sleep.
By sunrise, the entire city knew his name.
But nobody knew the truth.
That was how powerful lies worked.
They did not need to be real.
They only needed to arrive first.
His lawyers filled the conference room with folders.
His executives called every hour.
The board demanded explanations.
The media waited outside the company headquarters.
But Vittorio ignored all of them.
There was only one thing he needed to understand.
Elena Hale.
He searched every record he could access.
Birth certificates.
Medical files.
Court documents.
Old business reports.
Nothing.
It was as if Elena had disappeared from the world.
Exactly as Marcus wanted.
Emma entered the room carrying coffee.
“You found something?””
Vittorio looked up.
“Not yet.””
She placed the cup down.
“Who was Elena?””
He hesitated.
Because he realized something.
In eleven years of marriage, Bianca had never once mentioned her sister.
Not once.
“Marcus told everyone she died in an accident.””
Emma frowned.
“And you believed him?””
“I had no reason not to.””
Emma looked at the files.
“Until now.””
Vittorio nodded.
Then his phone rang.
A private number.
The same one.
He answered immediately.
“Where are you?””
The woman breathed quietly.
“You shouldn’t have answered so quickly.””
“I know your voice.””
A pause.
“Yes.””
“Who are you?””
Another pause.
Then:
“My name is Elena Hale.””
Vittorio stood.
“That’s impossible.””
“I know.””
“Because you’re dead.””
The woman gave a bitter laugh.
“That’s what my brother wanted everyone to believe.””
Vittorio looked toward Emma.
She immediately started recording.
“Tell me where you are.””
“I can’t.””
“Why?””
“Because Marcus is watching everything.””
Vittorio’s expression hardened.
“He’s been watching me too.””
“No.””
Her voice became urgent.
“He’s been controlling you.””
Silence.
Then she said:
“Do you know why Bianca married you?””
Vittorio looked at the custody papers.
“Money.””
“No.””
“Power.””
“No.””
“Then what?””
The answer came softly.
“Access.””
Vittorio felt a chill.
“To what?””
“The Romano family.””
He said nothing.
Elena continued.
“Marcus never wanted Bianca to have your money.””
“Then what did he want?””
A long silence.
Then:
“Your name.””
The call ended.
Vittorio stared at the phone.
Emma whispered, “What does that mean?””
Before he could answer, the conference room doors opened.
A man walked inside.
Marcus Hale.
No security.
No invitation.
Just confidence.
He looked different from the night before.
A clean suit.
A calm expression.
Like the previous hours had been nothing more than a game.
Vittorio stared at him.
“You have a lot of courage coming here.””
Marcus smiled.
“Actually, I came because I thought you deserved the truth.””
“The truth?””
“Yes.””
He placed a folder on the table.
Vittorio did not touch it.
“What is this?””
“Proof.””
“Of what?””
Marcus leaned forward.
“That you have been lied to for years.””
Vittorio laughed once.
“You expect me to believe anything from you?””
Marcus looked toward Emma.
Then back.
“You should.””
“Why?””
“Because the person who called you last night…”
He paused.
“…was not Elena.””
The room went silent.
Vittorio’s face changed.
Marcus smiled.
“She’s good. I’ll give her that.””
Emma stepped forward.
“You’re lying.””
Marcus ignored her.
“You want to know why your wife treated your daughter that way?””
Vittorio said nothing.
Marcus opened the folder.
Inside was a photograph.
A photograph of Lucy.
Taken months earlier.
Outside the Romano mansion.
Marcus placed it on the table.
“You think Bianca hates your daughter?””
Vittorio stared at him.
“Stop talking.””
Marcus’s smile disappeared.
“No.””
He leaned closer.
“She’s terrified of her.””
Vittorio looked at the photograph again.
“What does that mean?””
Marcus lowered his voice.
“Ask yourself one question.””
He tapped the picture.
“Why does Lucy look exactly like someone who died eleven years ago?””
The room stopped moving.
Vittorio looked at him.
Then at the photograph.
Then back.
“What are you saying?””
Marcus stood.
“I’m saying your daughter isn’t the child you think she is.””
Emma’s face went pale.
“That’s impossible.””
Marcus walked toward the door.
“You spent years believing Bianca chose you.””
He stopped.
“But she chose you because you were the safest place to hide a secret.””
Vittorio’s voice was cold.
“What secret?””
Marcus opened the door.
And before leaving, he said:
“The secret that Lucy Romano was never supposed to survive.””
The door closed.
Vittorio stood frozen.
Then his phone buzzed.
A message from an unknown number.
One photo.
A hospital record.
Patient name:
*Lucy Hale.*
Date of birth:
Five years ago.
Vittorio stared at the screen.
May you like
Because beneath the record was one final line.
*Mother: Elena Hale.*
