Chapter 6: The Blood Test
The DNA report sat on Vittorio’s desk for three hours before he opened it.
Three hours.
Not because he was afraid of the result.
Because he already knew.
Whatever was inside that envelope would change everything.
If Lucy was not his daughter…
Then what had his entire life been?
A performance?
A lie?
A carefully constructed illusion?
Emma stood across from him.
“You don’t have to read it alone.””
Vittorio looked at her.
“Yes.””
She understood.
Some battles had to be faced privately.
He opened the envelope.
The first page was simple.
Names.
Dates.
Results.
He scanned down.
Then stopped.
His eyes moved again.
Slowly.
Because the answer was not what Marcus wanted him to believe.
The DNA match was confirmed.
Vittorio Romano was Lucy’s biological father.
He sat back.
A strange feeling moved through him.
Relief.
Anger.
Confusion.
Marcus had lied.
But why?
A second page was attached.
Another test.
This one between Lucy and Elena.
Confirmed.
Mother and daughter.
The truth was impossible.
Lucy had two truths.
Elena was her mother.
Vittorio was her father.
And Bianca…
Bianca had stolen a life that was never hers.
Emma read his expression.
“What does it say?””
Vittorio handed her the papers.
She looked.
Then whispered:
“He wanted you to believe she wasn’t yours.””
“Yes.””
“Why?””
Vittorio looked toward the window.
“Because if I believed Lucy wasn’t my daughter…”
He paused.
“He could make me abandon her.””
Emma’s face changed.
“He wanted you gone.””
“No.””
Vittorio folded the papers.
“He wanted me broken.””
That afternoon, Vittorio returned to the mansion.
Not as a husband.
Not as a businessman.
As Lucy’s father.
Bianca was waiting in the living room.
She looked exhausted.
“I know.””
Vittorio stopped.
“You know what?””
“The test.””
Silence.
“You knew Marcus lied.””
Bianca nodded.
“I saw the report.””
“And you said nothing.””
Tears filled her eyes.
“I was afraid.””
“That word again.””
She looked down.
“I spent five years afraid.””
Vittorio stepped closer.
“While my daughter suffered.””
“I loved her.””
“But you hurt her.””
Bianca covered her face.
“I know.””
For once, she did not defend herself.
She did not explain.
She simply admitted it.
That almost made it worse.
“You should leave.””
Bianca looked up.
“Vittorio…”
“No.””
His voice softened only slightly.
“You are not Lucy’s mother.””
The words broke her.
Because she knew they were true.
That night, Vittorio sat beside Lucy’s bed.
She was drawing again.
Another picture.
This time, four people.
But something was different.
“Who is this?”” he asked.
She pointed.
“Mommy Elena.””
Then:
“Daddy.””
Then:
“Me.””
Then the last person.
Vittorio frowned.
“Who is that?””
Lucy smiled.
“Grandpa.””
He froze.
“Grandpa?””
She nodded.
“He visits too.””
A cold feeling moved through him.
“Lucy…”
She looked up.
“He says you forgot something.””
Vittorio felt his heartbeat change.
“What?””
Lucy looked at the drawing.
“He says the bad man didn’t start the plan.””
The room became silent.
“What bad man?””
She pointed at Marcus.
Then at the fourth figure.
“He says someone else told him what to do.””
Vittorio stared at the drawing.
A child’s imagination.
Or a message?
His phone rang.
Daniel.
He answered.
“We found something.””
“What?””
“Marcus wasn’t the only person accessing your company files.””
Vittorio stood.
“Who else?””
Daniel hesitated.
Then:
“Your father’s old attorney.””
Vittorio froze.
“My father’s attorney died ten years ago.””
“Yes.””
“Then who accessed the files?””
A pause.
“Someone using his old credentials.””
Vittorio looked at Lucy’s drawing.
The fourth figure.
The grandfather.
Impossible.
Unless…
Daniel continued.
“Vittorio, there’s one more thing.””
“What?””
“The person who accessed the files left a message.””
“What message?””
Daniel’s voice lowered.
“It says…”
A pause.
“Your father didn’t die.””
Vittorio stopped breathing.
Because suddenly he understood.
Marcus was never the beginning.
He was only a piece.
And the person moving the pieces had been waiting in the shadows for eleven years.
May you like
Then Daniel said the final words.
“Your father is alive.””
