Chapter 4 - The Woman in the Lake Photograph

At sunrise, Luca made one call.

Not to police.

Not to an investigator.

To his mother.

Isabella Castellano answered on the fourth ring.

Her voice was sleepy.

Then Luca said Sofia’s name.

Silence.

Complete.

Emma sat across from him.

Belini stood near the door.

Marco stayed by the window.

Luca put the call on speaker.

“Ma.”

Isabella finally spoke.

“Where did you hear that name?”

“I found the medallions.”

A breath.

Then:

“Both?”

Luca looked at Emma.

“Yes.”

Isabella began to cry.

Quietly.

Luca’s face changed.

“Why?”

“Because if both survived, Marianne kept her promise.”

Emma leaned toward the phone.

“Mrs. Castellano?”

Silence.

“Who is this?”

“Emma.”

Another silence.

Longer.

Then Isabella whispered:

“Oh, my God.”

Emma’s chest tightened.

“You know me.”

“I know who you must be.”

“Then tell me.”

Isabella asked:

“Is Luca with you?”

“Yes.”

“Good.”

The word hurt more than Emma expected.

As if Luca’s presence had been planned before she existed.

Isabella continued.

“Marianne was Sofia’s closest friend.”

Luca frowned.

“Friend?”

“More than friend.”

Nobody moved.

Emma looked at the lake photograph.

The two young women.

Standing too close.

Looking too comfortable.

The family had called Sofia kidnapped.

Maybe because the truth had been unacceptable.

“They were together?” Emma asked.

“Yes.”

Luca’s jaw tightened.

“My father knew?”

“Eventually.”

“And?”

Isabella’s voice broke.

“He forbade it.”

Emma looked at Luca.

There it was.

Not kidnapping.

Not at first.

Control.

Isabella continued.

“Sofia wanted to leave New York. Marianne wanted to leave too. Antonio tried to help them.”

Emma closed her eyes.

Her uncle.

Dead.

“What happened?”

“Antonio found out Moretti was moving money through Castellano companies without your grandfather’s knowledge.”

Belini went still.

Luca noticed.

“Moretti?”

“Yes.”

Isabella’s voice hardened with memory.

“He was stealing from both families and blaming rival crews.”

Emma looked at Belini.

Her face had gone white.

Isabella continued.

“Antonio had proof.”

“And he died,” Emma said.

“Yes.”

“Moretti killed him?”

“I believe so.”

Belini whispered, “My father…”

Nobody looked at her.

Isabella continued.

“After Antonio died, Marianne discovered she was pregnant.”

Emma’s heart stopped for one beat.

“With me.”

“Yes.”

“Who was my father?”

Silence.

Emma hated silence now.

“Mrs. Castellano.”

Isabella answered carefully.

“Antonio had introduced Marianne to a man named Daniel Vale.”

Emma frowned.

“My father.”

“The man who raised you?”

“Yes.”

“He was your father.”

Emma exhaled.

Relief.

Confusion.

“Then why does Sofia matter?”

“Because Daniel was killed before you were born.”

Emma froze.

“No.”

“My father died when I was seventeen.”

Isabella whispered:

“The man who raised you was not Daniel Vale.”

Emma stood.

“No.”

Luca looked at her.

Emma backed away from the table.

“My father’s name was Daniel.”

“That may be the name he used.”

Emma’s voice shook.

“Who was he?”

Isabella answered:

“I don’t know.”

The room seemed to tilt.

Then Isabella said the thing that mattered most.

“Sofia did.”

Emma stopped.

“What?”

“Your mother trusted Sofia with the truth about the man who raised you.”

Luca leaned toward the phone.

“Where is Sofia?”

Another silence.

Then Isabella whispered:

“She did not disappear.”

Luca’s eyes hardened.

“What does that mean?”

“She was hidden.”

“By whom?”

May you like

[COMPLETED] “GET YOUR HANDS OFF MY DRESS! YOU’RE NOTHING BUT AN OLD SEAM...

[COMPLETED] At the Mafia Boss's Engagement Party, I Served His Hungry So...

[COMPLETED] The Mafia Boss’s Fiancée Tried to Dismiss His Father’s Loyal...

Isabella answered:

“By my father.”