Chapter 12 - The Daughter Antonio Hid
Alina dropped the birth certificate.
“No.”
Vincent stared at it.
If the document was genuine, Alina was his half-sister.
Every emotion that had quietly grown between them shattered into confusion.
Bell immediately raised a hand.
“Read the second document.”
Vincent did.
The birth certificate was false.
Created deliberately.
Alina exhaled.
Vincent looked furious.
“Why?”
“To protect her.”
Bell explained that Antonio had fabricated paternity records so Samuel would believe Lucia’s child belonged to the Marchetti bloodline.
It made Alina too politically dangerous to kill openly.
The real father was listed in a sealed affidavit.
Mateo Ruiz.
Lucia’s husband.
Alina’s father.
Vincent sat back.
“So we’re not related.”
“No.”
Bell looked between them.
Something almost amused passed through the old attorney’s face.
Alina flushed.
Vincent cleared his throat.
“Continue.”
Antonio had loved Lucia.
But Lucia never returned that love romantically.
She loved Mateo.
Antonio respected it.
Their bond was loyalty, not an affair.
The twelve-percent share was gratitude for Lucia saving Vincent and exposing Samuel.
Alina wiped her eyes.
“My mother never told me.”
“She wanted you outside this world.”
Bell looked at Vincent.
“Your father wanted the same for you.”
“That worked well.”
Bell smiled sadly.
“Parents fail even when they love correctly.”
The remaining documents transferred full control of Alina’s shares to her.
No conditions.
No hidden obligations.
She was wealthy.
Absurdly wealthy.
Alina returned to the mansion and stared at her housekeeping uniform hanging behind the door.
Mia appeared.
“Are you going to clean?”
Alina laughed through tears.
“I don’t know.”
Mia thought carefully.
“I spilled juice.”
Alina laughed harder.
Vincent heard from the hallway.
He entered.
Mia pointed.
“Mama is rich but I spilled juice.”
Vincent nodded solemnly.
“A serious financial crisis.”
Alina threw a towel at him.
He caught it.
For the first time, their laughter carried no fear.
But Daniel’s testimony created another problem.
He admitted helping Voss gather intelligence.
Prosecutors offered reduced charges in exchange for cooperation.
Daniel accepted.
He would likely spend time in prison.
Before surrendering, he asked to see Mia.
Alina allowed it.
Daniel knelt.
“Daddy has to go away for a while.”
Mia frowned.
“Again?”
The word broke him.
“Yes.”
“Because you did bad?”
Daniel nodded.
“Yes.”
“Are you sorry?”
“More than anything.”
Mia hugged him.
“Then do better.”
Every adult in the room went silent.
Daniel cried against his daughter’s shoulder.
“I will.”
After he left, Vincent found Alina alone.
“You okay?”
“No.”
He nodded.
“Fair answer.”
She looked at him.
“What happens now?”
“To Samuel?”
“To us.”
Vincent’s expression changed.
Alina continued.
“You protected us because Mia saved you.”
“At first.”
“And now?”
Vincent stepped closer.
“Now I protect you because I care what happens to you.”
Her breath caught.
“And Mia?”
“I’d protect her if she’d never seen that car.”
“Why?”
Vincent smiled slightly.
“Because apparently she owns me.”
Alina laughed.
Then his face became serious.
“I won’t make your life another debt.”
She understood.
He would not use gratitude.
Money.
Protection.
Power.
If anything happened between them, it had to be chosen.
Alina touched his hand.
“Good.”
Then she kissed him.
Briefly.
Softly.
Vincent looked stunned.
Mia’s voice came from the doorway.
“Why did Mama do that?”
They separated instantly.
Lucas stood behind Mia, trying not to laugh.
“I think they’re dating.”
Mia frowned.
“What’s dating?”
Vincent closed his eyes.
Alina laughed.
Then the security alarm sounded.
Marco entered.
“Boss.”
Vincent turned.
“What now?”
“Samuel escaped custody during hospital transport.”
Silence.
Marco continued.
“He left something in the ambulance.”
A small wooden truck.
Burned black.
Mia’s original truck.
And inside it was a note addressed to her.
Vincent unfolded it.
His face hardened.
May you like
Samuel had written only one sentence:
TELL MIA I’M COMING HOME.
