Chapter 3 - The Woman Who Knew Too MuchMatteo disappeared before security reached the garage.
Vivian disappeared with him.
The estate went into lockdown.
Every employee was questioned.
Every medication was removed.
Every food supply was sealed.
Lorenzo sat beside Lucas's bed until sunrise.
He didn't sleep.
Neither did Mara.
At 6:20 a.m., the laboratory called.
Mara answered.
Her face changed.
“What is it?”
She listened.
Then looked at Lorenzo.
“They found something.”
“What?”
“An unusual contaminant in the drink.”
Lorenzo stood.
“What kind?”
“Something consistent with a substance that could cause repeated symptoms if consumed over time.”
“Could it explain Lucas's illness?”
“The lab isn't certain yet.”
Lorenzo's voice hardened.
“Make them certain.”
Mara nodded.
“We're sending samples to a second lab.”
Lorenzo looked at his son.
For three years he had watched Lucas weaken.
He had watched his hair thin.
His appetite disappear.
His heart race after climbing a single flight of stairs.
He had watched doctors shrug.
And all this time, someone had been making him sick.
The thought nearly destroyed him.
Then Emma appeared in the doorway.
She carried her doll.
“Uncle Lorenzo?”
He turned.
“Yes?”
“Lucas wants pancakes.”
Lorenzo blinked.
“Pancakes?”
She nodded.
“He says hospital food tastes like paper.”
For the first time in days, Lorenzo laughed.
“That's fair.”
Lucas ate half a pancake that morning.
It was the most food he had eaten in weeks.
That afternoon, Mara returned with another discovery.
“Vivian's bank account received six large payments over the last year.”
“From Matteo?”
“No.”
“Who?”
Mara placed a photograph on the table.
A man stood beside Vivian.
Older.
Gray hair.
Expensive suit.
Lorenzo recognized him.
Dr. Adrian Vale.
One of the specialists who had treated Lucas.
Lorenzo stared.
“He was on Lucas's first medical team.”
“Yes.”
“And the payments?”
“Came from a private foundation connected to him.”
Lorenzo's face darkened.
“So the doctor knew.”
“Maybe.”
“Find him.”
They found Dr. Vale at his private clinic.
He looked terrified when Lorenzo entered.
“I don't know anything.”
Lorenzo closed the door.
“Then this will be easy.”
Vale swallowed.
“What do you want?”
“The truth.”
“I've told you everything.”
“No.”
Lorenzo placed a photograph of Vivian on the desk.
“Why did she pay you?”
Vale's face drained.
“I didn't know what she was doing.”
“You accepted her money.”
“She threatened my family.”
Lorenzo stared.
“Who threatened you?”
Vale looked toward the door.
“Matteo.”
Silence.
“Why?”
“Because your brother wanted Lucas kept sick.”
Lorenzo's blood ran cold.
“Why?”
Vale whispered:
“Because Lucas is the legal heir.”
Lorenzo understood.
Matteo couldn't inherit the Duca empire while Lucas was alive.
Not unless something happened to Lorenzo.
But Matteo had a problem.
Lorenzo wasn't going anywhere.
So he had created another obstacle.
His own son.
A child too young to understand why everyone around him wanted him weak.
Lorenzo stood.
“Where is Matteo?”
Vale shook his head.
“I don't know.”
“Who does?”
“Vivian.”
“Where is she?”
Vale hesitated.
Then said:
“Your brother has a safe house.”
“Where?”
“Old Saint Mary's.”
Lorenzo turned toward the door.
Before leaving, he looked back.
“If my son dies because of what you did, no court in this country will be able to protect you from the consequences.”
Vale looked terrified.
But Lorenzo wasn't thinking about punishment.
May you like
He was thinking about Lucas.
And the little girl who had found the truth hiding inside a pillow.
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