Chapter 3 - The Woman Who Was Supposed to Be Dead
Roman did not breathe.
Neither did Serena.
The voice on the phone said, “Don't let her leave the building.”
Roman gripped the phone.
“My mother is dead.”
“No, Roman.”
His face hardened.
“Where are you?”
“You're asking the wrong question.”
“What question should I ask?”
“Why did everyone need you to believe I was dead?”
The call ended.
Roman immediately dialed back.
Disconnected.
Serena stared at him.
“Was that really her?”
“I don't know.”
“You recognized her.”
“I recognized a voice.”
Roman called Marco.
“Trace the last call.”
“Already working.”
“Get me everything from my mother's death. Original records. Not digital copies.”
Serena glanced at her wedding ring on the desk.
“Roman.”
He turned.
“If someone can imitate your mother, they can imitate anyone.”
“I know.”
“And if she's alive?”
Roman looked toward the dark window.
“Then my entire life was built on a lie.”
An hour later, the penthouse had become a command center.
Marco arrived with two security specialists.
Serena refused to leave the library.
Roman didn't ask her to.
That was new.
Marco placed a sealed archive box on the desk.
Roman opened it.
Inside were photographs, medical reports, newspaper clippings and the official death certificate of Isabella Duca.
Serena watched Roman touch the certificate.
Cause of death: complications following stroke.
Location: private rehabilitation facility in Switzerland.
Roman had not been present.
He had been told she had deteriorated so badly that seeing her would cause distress.
He had obeyed the doctors.
For twelve years, he had regretted it.
“Who identified the body?” Serena asked.
Roman scanned the page.
His eyes stopped.
“Dr. Elias Vale.”
Serena frowned.
“Vale?”
Roman looked up.
“Adrian's father.”
Silence.
Serena remembered Adrian taking her hand.
Roman immediately called Marco.
“Bring Adrian Vale here.”
Serena stood.
“You can't abduct a man because his father signed a death certificate.”
“I can invite him aggressively.”
“Roman.”
He looked at her.
Then he sighed.
“Ask him.”
Marco almost smiled.
“Politely?”
Roman's glare answered.
Thirty minutes later, Adrian entered the penthouse voluntarily.
His eyes went first to Serena.
“You all right?”
“Yes.”
Roman noticed.
Serena noticed Roman noticing.
She was too tired to care.
Adrian saw the archive box.
His expression changed.
“Where did you get that?”
Roman stood.
“You recognize it?”
“My father's archive labels.”
“Your father certified my mother's death.”
Adrian stared.
“I didn't know.”
Roman watched his face.
“You expect me to believe that?”
“No. I expect you to investigate it.”
Serena stepped between them verbally before Roman could turn the conversation into an interrogation.
“Adrian, why did you approach me tonight?”
He hesitated.
Roman saw it.
“Answer her.”
Adrian looked at Serena.
“Because someone asked me to.”
Her stomach tightened.
“Who?”
“My father.”
Roman became still.
“Elias Vale died three years ago.”
“I know.”
“Then explain.”
Adrian reached into his jacket.
Marco moved instantly.
“Easy,” Adrian said.
He withdrew an envelope.
“My father left instructions with his attorney. They were to be delivered if Serena Duca ever attended an Aurelia Foundation event.”
He handed the envelope to Serena.
Roman did not take it from her.
Another change.
Serena opened it.
Inside was a handwritten note.
If Serena Duca is still married to Roman when you receive this, do not tell her everything in public. Take her hand. If Roman reacts, you'll know he still doesn't understand.
Serena read it twice.
Roman took the paper when she offered it.
His jaw hardened.
“Understand what?”
Adrian shook his head.
“There's another page.”
Serena checked the envelope.
Nothing.
“My father said it would only be released after the first condition was met.”
“What condition?”
Adrian looked directly at Roman.
“You publicly acknowledging your wife.”
Roman stared.
“That sounds absurd.”
“My father was strange near the end.”
“He was also apparently involved in faking my mother's death.”
“I said he certified it. I didn't say he faked it.”
Roman stepped closer.
“Careful.”
“Both of you, stop,” Serena said.
They did.
That surprised Adrian.
It surprised Serena more.
Marco's phone rang.
He answered.
His expression shifted.
“Boss.”
Roman turned.
“We traced the call.”
“Where?”
Marco looked at Serena.
“The Duca family mausoleum.”
Roman was already reaching for his coat.
Serena moved with him.
“No.”
She stopped.
“What?”
“You stay here.”
The old Roman had returned.
Serena picked up her ring from the desk.
For one hopeful second, Roman thought she might put it on.
Instead she slipped it into her purse.
“If this involves your mother, Adrian's father, and a message mentioning me, I'm coming.”
“It's dangerous.”
“So is knowing nothing.”
Roman stared at her.
Then he nodded.
“All right.”
Marco looked genuinely shocked.
They reached the mausoleum shortly after midnight.
Security swept the grounds first.
Nothing.
Roman and Serena entered together.
Rows of stone memorials lined the interior.
At the far end stood Isabella Duca's tomb.
Its marble panel was open.
Serena felt Roman's hand move toward hers.
He stopped.
She looked down.
Then deliberately took it.
Roman looked at her.
“No one's watching,” she whispered.
He almost smiled.
“That's not why.”
He held her hand.
They approached the open tomb.
The coffin remained inside.
Roman released Serena and opened it.
Empty.
His face changed.
Serena touched his shoulder.
This time he didn't pull away.
Marco found an envelope inside.
Roman opened it.
One photograph.
A younger Isabella stood beside Elias Vale.
Between them was a little girl.
Serena.
At perhaps five years old.
Serena's knees nearly failed.
“No.”
Roman turned the photograph over.
There were three words.
PROTECT HER, ROMAN.
Serena stared.
“I never met your mother.”
Roman looked at the photograph.
“Yes, you did.”
A sound came from the darkness behind them.
Footsteps.
Roman turned.
Marco reached for his weapon.
A woman emerged from behind the stone columns.
Older.
Thin.
Silver threaded through dark hair.
Roman's face went completely blank.
The woman stopped beneath the mausoleum light.
“Hello, son.”
Roman whispered, “Mother.”
Isabella looked past him.
Directly at Serena.
May you like
Then she said:
“Before you ask why I'm alive, Roman, ask your wife who her real father was.”
