HE LEFT HER AT THE ALTAR FOR HER SISTER—UNAWARE SHE WAS THE DON’S ONLY BIOLOGICAL DAUGHTER
Chapter 2
Elena walked six blocks before she realized she was barefoot.
At some point during the humiliation, one of her heels had broken.
She hadn’t noticed.
She simply kept walking.
Rain soaked her wedding dress.
Cars passed.
People stared.
Some recognized her.
Others didn’t.
She didn’t care.
Her phone kept vibrating.
Messages from relatives.
Friends.
Guests.
Unknown numbers.
She turned it off.
Then she sat beneath the awning of a closed bookstore.
For four years, Elena had believed Daniel was the one person she could trust.
She had met him when she was twenty-four.
He had been charming.
Patient.
Ambitious.
He had told her she was different from everyone else.
She had believed him.
Now she realized she had been the only person who hadn’t seen the truth.
A black sedan stopped across the street.
A man stepped out.
He wore a dark suit.
He approached Elena carefully.
“Miss Rossi?”
Elena looked up.
“Yes?”
“My name is Thomas.”
“I don’t know you.”
“I know.”
He glanced at her dress.
“May I speak with you?”
“No.”
Thomas didn’t move.
“I understand you’re upset.”
Elena laughed bitterly.
“That’s one way to describe it.”
“There is something you need to know.”
“About Daniel?”
“No.”
“Then I don’t care.”
Thomas hesitated.
“About your father.”
Elena froze.
“My father is dead.”
“That’s what you’ve been told.”
She stared at him.
“What do you mean?”
Thomas took out an old photograph.
He held it toward her.
It showed a young woman Elena recognized immediately.
Her mother.
Standing beside a much younger Victor Moretti.
Elena stared.
She had never seen the photograph.
“Who is he?”
Thomas answered:
“Victor Moretti.”
Elena’s heart began beating faster.
“What does he have to do with my mother?”
“He believes you are his daughter.”
Elena stood abruptly.
“That’s impossible.”
Thomas nodded.
“I understand why you think that.”
“My mother never mentioned him.”
“She was trying to protect you.”
“From what?”
Thomas looked around.
“From him.”
Elena stared.
“You just said he thinks I’m his daughter.”
“He does.”
“Then why would my mother hide me from him?”
“Because Victor’s enemies wanted him dead.”
Thomas explained that Victor and Elena’s mother, Isabella, had been in love thirty years earlier.
When Isabella became pregnant, Victor’s enemies discovered it.
Someone threatened to kill both mother and child.
Isabella disappeared.
She told everyone Victor was dead.
Then she changed her name.
She raised Elena quietly.
But Victor never stopped searching.
For decades, he believed his daughter had died.
Until today.
Elena touched the necklace around her throat.
“Where did this come from?”
Thomas looked at it.
“Victor gave it to your mother.”
Elena removed the pendant.
Inside was a tiny photograph.
She had never opened it.
Thomas stared.
“May I?”
Elena handed it over.
He opened the pendant.
Inside was a photograph of Victor.
On the back were four words.
For my little girl, Elena.
Elena’s knees weakened.
She sat down.
“My mother knew.”
“Yes.”
“She knew who my father was?”
“Yes.”
“Why didn’t she tell me?”
Thomas didn’t answer.
A black SUV pulled up.
The rear door opened.
An elderly man stepped out.
Victor Moretti.
Elena had seen photographs of him online.
But seeing him in person was different.
He looked at her.
For several seconds, neither spoke.
Then Victor approached.
He stopped several feet away.
His eyes were wet.
“I have waited thirty years to see you.”
Elena stared.
“You’re my father?”
Victor nodded.
“If you are willing to let me prove it.”
Elena looked at the man who had just entered her life on the worst day of her own.
She didn’t know whether to trust him.
She didn’t know whether he was dangerous.
But something about his eyes frightened her.
Not because they looked cruel.
Because they looked like hers.
Victor noticed her wedding dress.
“I heard what happened.”
Elena’s expression hardened.
“Everyone did.”
“I am sorry.”
“You didn’t do it.”
“No.”
Victor paused.
“But I can promise you something.”
“What?”
“No one will ever humiliate you like that again.”
Elena looked away.
She wasn’t ready to forgive anyone.
Especially not herself.
Victor stepped closer.
“Come home.”
Elena shook her head.
“I don’t know where home is anymore.”
Victor looked at her.
“Then let me show you.”
