Chapter 8: The Bloodline Test
For several seconds, nobody understood what Victor had just said.
Or maybe everyone understood.
They simply refused to accept it.
Because sometimes the truth is not unbelievable because it is complicated.
It is unbelievable because accepting it destroys everything you thought you knew.
Alessandro stared at Victor.
Then at me.
Then at Emma.
“No.”
The word came quietly.
Almost like he was trying to convince himself.
“No. Thomas Hayes had one daughter.”
Victor nodded.
“Yes.”
“Clara.”
“Yes.”
Alessandro’s eyes narrowed.
“Then explain.”
Victor looked at Emma.
“The documents your father left behind were not about Thomas Hayes.”
A pause.
“They were about his daughter.”
My heart began pounding.
“What are you talking about?”
Victor reached into the envelope again.
This time, he pulled out a small piece of paper.
Old.
Folded.
Carefully preserved.
“My father’s handwriting,” Alessandro whispered.
Victor nodded.
“Your father discovered that Thomas Hayes had uncovered something bigger than financial fraud.”
“What?”
“A hidden ownership transfer.”
The room became silent.
“Years ago, before your father died, he created a private trust.”
Alessandro looked confused.
“For who?”
Victor looked at Emma.
“For the last surviving member of the Hayes family.”
My hands tightened around my daughter.
“No.”
I shook my head.
“No, that’s impossible.”
Victor’s expression softened.
“Clara, your father knew he was in danger.”
My throat tightened.
“He left everything behind?”
“Yes.”
“Why didn’t he tell me?”
“Because he believed someone was watching you.”
A painful silence followed.
Suddenly, memories came rushing back.
My father telling me not to trust strangers.
My father burning documents in the fireplace.
My father crying in the kitchen when he thought I was asleep.
At fourteen, I thought he was afraid.
Now I wondered if he was trying to protect me.
Alessandro walked away.
Only a few steps.
But for a man like him, it looked like miles.
His entire life had been built on protecting his family name.
And now he was discovering that the person his family destroyed…
was connected to the very legacy he controlled.
“You knew,” he said.
Victor lowered his eyes.
“Yes.”
“You knew Clara was Thomas Hayes’ daughter when she entered this house.”
“Yes.”
“And you said nothing.”
“I was waiting.”
Alessandro turned sharply.
“For what?”
“For the right moment.”
A bitter laugh escaped Alessandro.
“The right moment?”
His voice became colder.
“You allowed me to believe her father betrayed mine.”
Victor looked at him.
“I allowed you to survive.”
Nobody spoke.
Because everyone knew there was history between those words.
Painful history.
Then Vanessa laughed.
Quietly.
Everyone turned.
She was standing near the doorway.
Her fear had disappeared.
Something else had replaced it.
Desperation.
“You’re all insane.”
Alessandro looked at her.
“You knew about this.”
It was not a question.
Vanessa looked away.
That was enough.
“You knew who Clara was.”
Silence.
“You knew Emma might be the heir.”
Vanessa’s expression cracked.
“I didn’t know about the child.”
Alessandro stepped closer.
“Then what did you know?”
Vanessa swallowed.
“I was told Clara was dangerous.”
“By who?”
She said nothing.
“Vanessa.”
Her eyes filled with tears.
Not fake this time.
Real fear.
“Your mother.”
The room froze.
Again.
“She contacted me six months ago.”
Alessandro stared.
“You’re lying.”
“I’m not.”
Vanessa shook her head.
“She told me everything.”
“Everything?”
“That Clara would come into your life.”
My heart stopped.
“What?”
Vanessa looked at me.
“She told me a woman from Thomas Hayes’ family would eventually appear.”
The room became colder.
“She told me you would trust Clara.”
I felt sick.
Because that meant one thing.
My entire life had been part of someone else’s plan.
Vanessa continued.
“She told me if I became pregnant, I would secure my position.”
Alessandro’s eyes hardened.
“You agreed.”
Vanessa looked down.
“I loved you.”
Nobody believed that anymore.
Not even her.
The next morning, Alessandro ordered a DNA test.
Not because he doubted Emma.
Because he needed proof.
Proof strong enough to destroy every lie surrounding the Moretti family.
The test was done privately.
No media.
No outsiders.
Only Alessandro, Victor, me, and Emma.
Emma sat on the chair swinging her little legs.
“Are we going home after this?”
I looked at her.
“Yes, baby.”
“Can Mr. Alessandro come?”
The question surprised everyone.
Alessandro looked away.
Like the answer hurt.
“I don’t know, sweetheart.”
Emma frowned.
“But you’re nice.”
A small smile almost appeared on his face.
Almost.
Three days later…
The results arrived.
Nobody wanted to open them.
Because everyone knew.
Once that envelope was opened…
There was no going back.
Alessandro finally picked it up.
His hands were steady.
But his eyes were not.
He opened the paper.
Read the first line.
Then the second.
Then he stopped.
Victor watched him.
I watched him.
And for the first time since I met Alessandro Moretti…
The most powerful man in the city looked completely lost.
“What does it say?” I whispered.
He slowly lowered the paper.
His voice was barely audible.
“Emma is not just Thomas Hayes’ heir.”
My heart stopped.
“What?”
Alessandro looked at me.
“The DNA confirms something else.”
A long pause.
Something nobody expected.
Something that changed everything.
“Emma is also a Moretti.”
The room went silent.
Because the child everyone thought was just a servant’s daughter…
was connected to two powerful bloodlines.
The missing Hayes legacy.
And the Moretti empire.
But then Alessandro looked at the final page.
His expression changed.
“What?”
Victor stepped closer.
“What is it?”
Alessandro handed him the paper.
Victor read it.
And his face turned pale.
“What does it say?” I asked.
Neither man answered.
Finally, Victor whispered:
“The DNA test was not the only thing inside the envelope.”
He looked at me.
“There was a second message.”
My blood ran cold.
“From who?”
Victor looked toward the window.
Toward the storm outside.
May you like
Then he said:
“From your father.”
