Chapter 6 - The Person I Trusted Most
The photograph slipped from Damian’s hand.
For the first time since I met him, I saw fear on his face.
Not anger.
Not control.
Fear.
I looked at the picture again.
The hospital hallway.
The date.
The two people standing outside my daughter’s room.
Daniel.
And the person I never expected.
My own sister.
Sophia.
My hands started shaking.
"No."
The word came out quietly.
Like if I said it softly enough, reality would change.
But it didn’t.
The photograph remained on the desk.
My sister’s face remained there.
The same woman who held me after I lost Lily.
The same woman who told me I needed to accept that my baby was gone.
The same woman who sat beside me at the empty funeral.
The same woman who cried harder than anyone.
I looked at Adrian.
"Explain."
He didn’t move.
"Elena..."
"No."
My voice became sharper.
"Don’t say my name like you know me."
His expression changed.
Because he knew he had crossed a line.
"Tell me why my sister was there."
Nobody answered.
I turned toward Damian.
"You knew?"
His eyes stayed on the photograph.
"No."
The answer came immediately.
"I didn’t."
I searched his face.
And somehow, I believed him.
Because Damian Caruso was many things.
A dangerous man.
A powerful man.
A man surrounded by secrets.
But he wasn’t a good liar.
Not when it came to Lily.
I looked back at Adrian.
"What did Sophia do?"
Adrian remained silent.
That silence broke something inside me.
"She was my sister."
My voice cracked.
"She was the person I called when I was afraid."
I remembered everything.
Sophia bringing me coffee after the birth.
Sophia holding my hand when the doctor came in.
Sophia whispering:
"Elena, you have to be strong."
At the time, I thought she was comforting me.
Now I wondered if she was making sure I believed the lie.
Adrian finally spoke.
"Sophia wasn’t supposed to be involved."
I laughed bitterly.
"That’s supposed to make me feel better?"
"No."
He looked at me.
"It’s supposed to tell you something important."
"What?"
"She wasn’t the person who planned it."
The room became silent.
"Then who was?"
Adrian looked at Damian.
And Damian understood immediately.
Someone inside his family.
Again.
I looked between them.
"Stop looking at each other like I’m not here."
Nobody spoke.
"I lost two years."
My eyes filled with tears.
"I lost my daughter because everyone thought they had the right to decide what I should know."
Lily came closer.
She grabbed my hand.
I looked down at her.
And suddenly all the anger in me had a place to go.
Not toward her.
Never toward her.
Toward everyone who stole our time.
"I want Sophia."
The room went still.
Damian immediately said:
"No."
I looked at him.
"No?"
He stepped closer.
"Elena, if she is involved, going to her could be dangerous."
I stared at him.
"You don’t get to protect me from the truth."
His expression changed.
Because he knew I was right.
Again.
I hated that.
I hated that this man who had been a stranger yesterday somehow understood me better than the people I loved my entire life.
Adrian walked toward the desk.
"Sophia disappeared."
I froze.
"What?"
"After Daniel vanished, she left the city."
"When?"
"Six months ago."
I looked at Damian.
The same time Daniel was reported dead.
Too many things connected.
Too many pieces.
"Where is she?"
Adrian hesitated.
"Nobody knows."
I looked at the photograph.
But I noticed something.
Something small.
Something everyone else missed.
A reflection in the hospital window.
A person standing behind Daniel and Sophia.
Only part of the face was visible.
But I recognized the clothing.
The expensive watch.
The dark suit.
My breathing stopped.
"Wait."
Everyone looked at me.
I pointed at the picture.
"Who took this?"
Adrian frowned.
"A security camera."
"No."
I moved closer.
"Look."
Damian picked up the photo.
His eyes narrowed.
"You saw something."
I pointed at the reflection.
"That watch."
Marco stepped closer.
Then suddenly his face changed.
"I know that watch."
Everyone looked at him.
"Whose?"
Marco didn’t answer.
Damian grabbed his shoulder.
"Whose watch?"
Marco swallowed.
Then whispered:
"Your father’s."
The room went silent.
Damian released him.
"My father died eight years ago."
Marco nodded.
"That’s why this makes no sense."
I looked at Damian.
His face had become completely emotionless.
Which somehow scared me more.
"What are you saying?"
Marco looked at the photograph.
"I’m saying someone wanted everyone to believe he was gone."
Damian stared at the image.
"No."
His voice was barely audible.
"My father is dead."
Adrian spoke quietly.
"Are you sure?"
Damian turned toward him.
A dangerous silence filled the room.
"Choose your next words carefully."
Adrian didn’t look away.
"Because I saw him three months ago."
Nobody moved.
The air disappeared.
I looked at Damian.
For the first time, the mafia boss looked like a child who had just discovered his entire life was built on a lie.
"You saw my father?"
Adrian nodded.
"Alive."
Damian stepped back.
"No."
Adrian continued.
"He was the one who ordered Daniel to hide Lily."
My heart stopped.
"Why?"
Adrian looked at me.
"Because your daughter wasn’t just being protected."
He paused.
"She was being used."
I felt sick.
Used.
That word should never describe a child.
Never.
I pulled Lily closer.
Damian saw the fear in my eyes.
And something changed.
His anger disappeared.
Only determination remained.
"Nobody touches her."
Adrian nodded.
"That’s what Daniel wanted."
I looked at him.
"What do you mean?"
Adrian reached into his coat again.
This time, he pulled out a small envelope.
"This was found with Daniel’s last message."
My heart raced.
"Why didn’t you give it to me before?"
Adrian looked away.
"Because I didn’t know if you were safe."
I grabbed the envelope.
My name was written on it.
Again.
Daniel’s handwriting.
Again.
I opened it slowly.
Inside was a single page.
Only a few sentences.
Elena,
If Lily is with you, then the plan failed.
I’m sorry.
I tried to bring her back to you.
But someone close to you stopped me.
Someone you trust.
Someone who knows every part of your life.
I read the words over and over.
My hands shook.
Because I knew exactly who Daniel meant.
But I didn’t want to say it.
I couldn’t.
Then I saw the final line.
The line that made my entire body go cold.
"If Sophia is still alive, don’t believe anything she tells you."
I looked up.
"Sophia is alive."
Everyone turned toward me.
Damian immediately took the letter.
He read it.
His face changed.
Then his phone rang.
Nobody moved.
Because the number on the screen was unknown.
Damian answered.
"Who is this?"
A woman’s voice came through.
A voice I recognized.
A voice I hadn’t heard in two years.
Damian looked at me.
And slowly handed me the phone.
May you like
Because the person calling...
was my sister.
