Chapter 5 - The Name on Katherine’s Medical File
Luciano had buried his father nine years earlier.
He remembered the coffin.
He remembered placing his hand on polished walnut while Carlo stood beside him.
He remembered their mother refusing to attend.
Now Vittorio Aruri walked into Hawthorne Ridge as though death had merely been another appointment.
Luciano met him at the bottom of the staircase.
Vittorio had aged.
But the eyes were unchanged.
“Hello, son.”
Luciano struck him.
Vittorio stumbled.
His guards moved.
Luciano’s men raised their weapons.
“Everybody stops,” Vittorio said.
The room froze.
Luciano grabbed his father’s coat.
“You let us bury an empty coffin?”
“I needed the world to believe I was dead.”
“Your sons believed it.”
“That was necessary.”
“To whom?”
“To keep you alive.”
Luciano laughed once without humor.
“Try again.”
Vittorio looked upstairs.
“Where is Katherine?”
Luciano tightened his grip.
“You don't say her name.”
“She and the baby are in danger.”
“Because of Adrian?”
Vittorio’s face changed.
“You know.”
“I know enough.”
“No, you don't.”
Kate screamed upstairs.
Luciano released him and ran.
Margaret was beside the bed.
“The contractions are closer.”
“How close?”
“Too close.”
Kate gripped Luciano’s hand.
“I need to tell you something.”
“Later.”
“No. Now.”
Her eyes were terrified.
“I didn't come to Hawthorne Ridge randomly.”
Luciano waited.
“My grandmother left me this house.”
“I know.”
“She also left me documents.”
“What documents?”
“About your family.”
Luciano frowned.
Kate looked toward Vittorio, who had appeared at the doorway.
His face lost color.
“Katherine,” Vittorio said.
“You knew my grandmother.”
Vittorio said nothing.
Luciano turned.
“Answer her.”
“Yes.”
“How?”
Vittorio looked older suddenly.
“Eleanor Hawthorne was my attorney.”
Kate stared.
“She created the trust.”
Vittorio nodded.
“And before she died, she discovered someone had altered it.”
Luciano looked between them.
“Altered what?”
“The succession clause.”
Vittorio entered slowly.
“The original trust never gave control to the first grandchild. Adrian changed that provision.”
“Then expose him.”
“I couldn't.”
“Why?”
“Because proving the forgery required proving Adrian existed.”
Luciano’s voice hardened.
“You let your legitimate sons mourn you so you could hide an illegitimate son?”
“I was hiding something larger.”
“What?”
Vittorio looked at Kate.
She whispered, “My medical file.”
Luciano turned.
Kate continued.
“The first time I visited Dr. Vescari, he already had my complete history.”
“You said that.”
“No. You don't understand. It included a blood-type test I never gave the clinic.”
Margaret stopped moving.
“What blood type?”
“O negative.”
“And Luciano?”
“O positive.
Margaret’s face tightened.
Kate saw it.
“What?”
“Nothing by itself.”
“Margaret.”
The midwife hesitated.
“The injections.”
She picked up one vial.
“I think these may have interfered with your treatment.”
Luciano stood.
“Treatment for what?”
“Rh incompatibility can require preventive medication during pregnancy. If someone deliberately manipulated her care—”
Kate whispered, “He could hurt the baby without making it look intentional.”
Luciano’s expression became terrifyingly calm.
Vittorio said, “That is Adrian.”
“Then why is he doing it?”
Vittorio looked at his son.
“Because I refused to recognize him.”
“So he punishes my unborn child?”
“No.”
Vittorio’s voice broke.
“He wants you to choose.”
“Choose what?”
“Your wife or your inheritance.”
Luciano laughed bitterly.
“There is no choice.”
Vittorio studied him.
“You would surrender everything?”
“For Kate and my child?”
Luciano looked toward his wife.
“Without hesitation.”
Kate stared at him.
Something fragile shifted between them.
Then Margaret’s monitor alarm sounded.
Kate cried out.
Margaret pulled back the sheet.
Her expression changed.
“What?”
Margaret looked at Luciano.
“We’re running out of time.”
Kate squeezed his hand.
“Is the baby coming?”
“Yes.”
“At twenty-nine weeks?”
“Yes.”
Fear shattered Kate’s composure.
“No. No, please.”
Luciano bent over her.
“Kate. Look at me.”
“I can't.”
“Yes, you can.”
“Our baby is too small.”
“Our baby has you.”
“And if that isn't enough?”
“Then the baby has me too.”
Tears spilled down her cheeks.
Margaret began issuing instructions.
Vittorio stepped away.
Luciano noticed.
“Where are you going?”
“To make sure Adrian can't enter.”
Luciano stared at him.
“You expect me to trust you?”
“No.”
Vittorio reached inside his coat.
Daniel raised his gun.
But Vittorio removed only a key.
He handed it to Luciano.
“What is this?”
“A deposit box.”
“Where?”
“Under Eleanor Hawthorne’s name.”
Kate stared.
“My grandmother?”
“Yes.”
“What’s inside?”
“The original trust.”
Luciano closed his fist around the key.
“And?”
Vittorio looked at Kate.
“The reason Adrian chose her long before she ever met you.”
Kate went still.
“What reason?”
Vittorio opened his mouth.
A gunshot exploded downstairs.
Everyone flinched.
Daniel rushed toward the corridor.
Luciano reached for his weapon.
Then the bedroom door slowly swung shut by itself.
May you like
A lock clicked from the outside.
And smoke began curling beneath it.
