Chapter 5 - The Night at the River
The absolute silence in the massive office was deafening.
Sophia closed her eyes. A single tear slipped down her pale cheek. She had run for four years. She had changed her name, hidden in the shadows, and taken degrading jobs just to survive. But standing in the lion’s den, the truth finally caught up to her.
"Yes," Sophia whispered. "She is."
Alessandro stared at the young maid, his brilliant, tactical mind spinning. He was looking at his own niece. The only piece of his beloved younger brother left in the world.
"If she is Mateo’s daughter," Alessandro asked, his voice shaking with a rare, raw emotion, "why did you hide her from me? Why did you let my family believe Mateo died without an heir?"
"Because your family is the reason Mateo is dead!" Sophia cried out, her fear finally erupting into fierce, protective anger.
Alessandro’s face hardened. "Explain."
"Mateo wanted out," Sophia sobbed, keeping her arms wrapped tightly around Emma. "He didn't want this life. When he found out I was pregnant, he bought fake passports. We were going to run away to Europe."
"Who stopped him?" Alessandro asked, leaning forward in his chair.
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"Someone in your inner circle," Sophia choked out, her whole body trembling. "Someone who wanted to take over the family, but knew they couldn't do it as long as the true heirs were alive."
👉 Which trusted friend betrayed the family and murdered the boss's brother?
