Chapter 3: The Woman Who Was Never Supposed to Be Lucy’s Mother
Vittorio read the message again.
Then again.
The words remained the same.
*“Ask your wife why she was never supposed to be Lucy’s mother.””*
His fingers tightened around the photograph.
The picture itself was simple.
Lucy.
His little girl.
Standing beside the dog bowl.
Her face lowered.
Her shoulders small.
Her innocence captured by someone who had been close enough to take the picture without being noticed.
That was the part that terrified him.
Not only had someone hurt his daughter.
Someone had watched.
Someone had documented it.
Someone had wanted him to find out.
“Give me that.””
Bianca’s voice cut through the silence.
Vittorio looked up.
She had stepped forward, but for the first time, she didn’t look angry.
She looked desperate.
“No.””
The single word stopped her.
“Vittorio, you don’t understand.””
“Then explain.””
Bianca opened her mouth.
Nothing came out.
Marcus moved toward the envelope.
“This is probably a trick.””
Vittorio looked at him.
“A trick?””
“Yes. Someone wants to turn us against each other.””
Vittorio held up the photograph.
“Someone inside my house took this.””
Marcus said nothing.
“Someone who knew exactly where Lucy would be.””
Still nothing.
Vittorio placed the photograph on the table.
“Someone who knew my daughter was being treated like this.””
His voice became quieter.
“And did nothing.””
Marcus looked away.
That was enough.
Vittorio had spent years studying people.
He knew when someone was hiding a fact.
He knew when someone was protecting themselves.
And Marcus was protecting himself.
“Everyone leaves,” Vittorio ordered.
The servants immediately moved.
Bianca stared at him.
“Excuse me?””
“You heard me.””
“This is my home too.””
Vittorio looked at her.
“No.””
The word was cold.
“This is the house where my daughter lives.””
Bianca’s face hardened.
“You’re throwing me out because of a child’s misunderstanding?””
Vittorio didn’t answer.
Instead, he looked at Emma.
“Take Lucy upstairs.””
Emma nodded.
Lucy reached for Vittorio’s hand before leaving.
“Daddy?””
“Yes?””
“Are you angry at me?””
The question destroyed something inside him.
He knelt down.
“Never.””
“But everyone is fighting because of me.””
Vittorio held her face gently.
“No, sweetheart.””
His voice softened.
“Everyone is fighting because some people made bad choices.””
Lucy stared at him.
“I just wanted breakfast.””
Vittorio closed his eyes briefly.
Such a simple sentence.
Such a painful one.
Emma carefully guided Lucy away.
When they disappeared upstairs, Vittorio turned back.
The warmth left his expression.
“Now we talk.””
Bianca crossed her arms.
“You’re making a mistake.””
“Maybe.””
He looked at the photograph.
“But I would rather make a mistake protecting my daughter than another mistake trusting the wrong people.””
Marcus stepped forward.
“You’re letting emotion control you.””
Vittorio smiled faintly.
It wasn’t a friendly smile.
“Interesting.””
“What?””
“You said that before Bianca did.””
Marcus froze.
Vittorio watched him.
“You always speak for her.””
“That’s ridiculous.””
“Is it?””
Marcus looked away.
“You’ve been defending her since I walked in.””
“Because she’s your wife.””
“No.””
Vittorio shook his head.
“Because you’re afraid of what happens if I find out the truth.””
The silence became unbearable.
Then Bianca laughed.
A small, bitter laugh.
“You really think you know everything.””
Vittorio turned toward her.
“I know my daughter was abused.””
“You know nothing about what happens in this family.””
“Then tell me.””
Bianca hesitated.
And Vittorio noticed.
Again.
A pause.
A calculation.
She was deciding what lie to tell.
“What happened?”” he asked.
Bianca walked toward the window.
For a moment, she looked almost human.
Almost vulnerable.
Then she spoke.
“Before I married you, I knew about Lucy.””
Vittorio frowned.
“What does that mean?””
“I knew she existed.””
“Everyone knew.””
“No.””
Bianca turned.
“You don’t understand.””
Her eyes narrowed.
“I knew about Lucy before you knew about Lucy.””
The room went still.
Vittorio stared at her.
“What?””
Bianca took a breath.
“You found out about your daughter after Elena died.””
The mention of Lucy’s biological mother changed the atmosphere instantly.
Elena.
The woman Vittorio had loved before tragedy took her away.
The woman who had left him with a newborn daughter and a lifetime of questions.
Bianca continued.
“But I knew there was a child before you ever saw the adoption papers.””
Vittorio’s expression changed.
“Lucy wasn’t adopted.””
Bianca smiled slightly.
“You still don’t know everything.””
His stomach tightened.
“What are you saying?””
Marcus suddenly looked uncomfortable.
“Bianca, stop.””
Vittorio turned.
“Why did he say that?””
Nobody answered.
“Why did Marcus tell you to stop?””
Bianca looked at Marcus.
A silent conversation passed between them.
Vittorio saw it.
And it confirmed his worst fear.
They had secrets.
Together.
“Answer me.””
Bianca looked back at him.
“Lucy was never supposed to be part of this family.””
Vittorio stepped closer.
“Careful.””
“I’m telling the truth.””
“No.””
His voice dropped.
“You’re telling me a story.””
Bianca shook her head.
“Your father knew.””
That stopped him.
“My father knew what?””
“That Elena had secrets.””
Vittorio’s face changed.
“Don’t talk about her.””
“Why? Because you still worship her memory?””
The cruelty of the sentence shocked even Marcus.
“Bianca,” he warned.
But she continued.
“You think Elena was innocent because she died.””
Vittorio’s hands curled into fists.
“You have five seconds to explain yourself.””
Bianca looked directly at him.
“Lucy’s inheritance was never about Lucy.””
“What?””
“It was about who controlled her.””
The room felt colder.
Vittorio stared.
“What are you talking about?””
Bianca walked toward the table.
“The Romano family trust has rules. If something happens to you, Lucy inherits everything.””
“Yes.””
“But only if Lucy remains under the protection of someone approved by the family.””
Vittorio narrowed his eyes.
“Approved by who?””
Bianca smiled.
“Your father.””
A chill moved through him.
“So?””
“So I was never chosen to be Lucy’s mother.””
She touched the photograph.
“I was chosen to control access to her.””
The words hit harder than he expected.
Vittorio looked at Marcus.
“You knew?””
Marcus didn’t answer.
That was answer enough.
“You knew.””
Marcus sighed.
“I didn’t know everything.””
“But you knew something.””
“Yes.””
Vittorio stared at him.
“Why?””
Marcus looked uncomfortable.
“Because Father asked me to watch.””
Vittorio froze.
“Watch what?””
Marcus looked toward the stairs where Lucy had disappeared.
“Lucy.””
The anger that filled Vittorio was almost impossible to control.
“You were watching my daughter?””
“Not like that.””
“Then explain.””
Marcus struggled.
“I was supposed to make sure Bianca followed the plan.””
“The plan.””
Vittorio repeated the words slowly.
“What plan?””
Before Marcus could answer, Bianca interrupted.
“You want the truth?””
Vittorio turned.
“Yes.””
She smiled sadly.
“Then you need to ask your father why he lied to you.””
Vittorio stared.
“What lie?””
Bianca walked closer.
“The lie about Lucy’s birth.””
The room became silent.
Vittorio’s heartbeat grew louder.
“What are you talking about?””
Bianca whispered:
“Lucy is not Elena’s daughter.””
For a moment, Vittorio couldn’t process the sentence.
It was impossible.
It had to be.
He remembered the hospital.
The documents.
The DNA test.
The years of raising Lucy.
“No.””
Bianca shook her head.
“You were given a story.””
“You’re lying.””
“Am I?””
She reached into her purse.
Slowly.
Carefully.
And pulled out a folded document.
Vittorio didn’t move.
“What is that?””
“Something your father never wanted you to see.””
She placed it on the table.
A medical document.
An old one.
With a hospital stamp.
Vittorio picked it up.
His eyes moved across the page.
Then stopped.
His face changed.
Because at the bottom of the document was a name.
A name he had never seen before.
A name connected to Lucy.
A name that made every memory of the last six years feel uncertain.
Behind him, Emma suddenly appeared at the staircase.
Her face was pale.
“Mr. Romano…”
Vittorio turned.
“What?””
Emma looked at the document.
Then at Bianca.
Then back at him.
“I know that name.””
Vittorio held his breath.
“Why?””
Emma’s hands began shaking.
“Because that woman…”
She swallowed.
“Was the person who tried to take Lucy away from you before.””
The room went completely silent.
And then Lucy’s small voice came from the stairs.
“Daddy?””
Everyone looked up.
She was holding a stuffed rabbit.
May you like
Her eyes moved between the adults.
“Who is my real mother?””
