Chapter 4 - Michael’s Bargain
Sophia sat across from Luca in the locked study.
Anthony guarded the hallway.
Michael was nowhere to be seen.
Luca knelt in front of his daughter.
“What did Elena tell me?”
Sophia’s hands trembled.
“Not you.”
“What?”
“She tried to tell me.”
“When?”
“I was five.”
Luca stared at her.
“You remember?”
“Pieces.”
She closed her eyes.
“Mom woke me up one night. She was crying. She put a necklace around my neck and told me if anything happened, I should give it to you.”
“What necklace?”
“I don’t know.”
“You don’t have it?”
“No.”
“What happened?”
“Serena took it.”
Luca went completely still.
Anthony whispered a curse.
“When?”
“I remembered when Serena came back.”
Sophia’s voice cracked.
“She used to visit Mom.”
“You remember Serena from childhood?”
Sophia nodded.
“But I didn’t know her name. I just remembered the perfume.”
Luca’s face drained of color.
Serena still wore the same fragrance.
Soft citrus and cedar.
He had once told her it reminded him of college.
Now he wanted to vomit.
“Why didn’t you tell me?”
Sophia began crying.
“She said I was confused.”
“Recently?”
“Yes.”
“She told me trauma creates false memories. She said Isabelle was making me remember things that never happened.”
Luca’s jaw tightened.
“And the custody statement?”
Sophia looked away.
“She wrote it.”
“Did you sign it?”
“Yes.”
“Why?”
“Because of Michael.”
Anthony stepped forward.
“What about Michael?”
Sophia’s breathing became shallow.
“He found Serena’s files. She knew he copied something. She said if we didn’t cooperate, Michael would be blamed for breaking into patient records and stealing medical data.”
Luca’s eyes narrowed.
“That would not destroy him.”
“She said she had something worse.”
“What?”
Sophia shook her head.
“I don’t know.”
Across town, Michael sat inside an empty parking garage in Cambridge with Serena.
He had agreed to meet her alone after she promised to show him the truth about Elena.
Instead, she placed a folder on the hood of her car.
Inside were bank records.
Transfers into Michael’s college investment account.
Two million dollars.
Signed electronically by an executive officer at Russo Maritime.
Michael stared.
“I’ve never seen this.”
“I know.”
“What is it?”
“Evidence that someone used your account to move company money.”
His face changed.
“You did this.”
“No.”
“You had access.”
“So did Isabelle.”
Michael glared.
“Mom would never—”
“Wouldn’t she?”
Serena stepped closer.
“You believed she loved you equally. But once her own baby arrives, everything changes.”
“Shut up.”
“She wants control of the Russo estate.”
“No.”
“She has spent eleven years building emotional access to all three of you.”
“Stop.”
“Why do you think she married your father?”
Michael shoved the folder against Serena’s chest.
“You’re lying.”
Serena did not flinch.
“Then ask why two million dollars moved through your name.”
Michael walked away.
She called after him.
“If authorities find those transfers, who do you think your father will believe?”
He stopped.
Serena smiled.
“The pregnant wife he already suspects?”
Michael turned.
“You want me to keep signing your statements.”
“I want you to protect your family.”
“From you.”
Her expression cooled.
“Be careful.”
For the first time, Michael saw the woman beneath the therapist.
No warmth.
No compassion.
Only calculation.
“What happened to Elena?”
Serena’s eyes changed.
Just slightly.
But enough.
Michael stepped back.
“You know.”
She walked toward him.
“Go home.”
“You know what happened.”
“Go home, Michael.”
He ran.
That evening, Michael did not return to Beacon Hill.
He called Anthony instead.
“Don’t tell Dad where I am.”
Anthony walked into an empty office.
“Where are you?”
“I’m safe.”
“What happened?”
“Serena framed me.”
“For what?”
“Financial theft.”
Anthony’s stomach dropped.
“She showed me transfers.”
“How much?”
“Two million.”
“Jesus.”
“I didn’t do it.”
“I know.”
“You don’t know.”
“Yes, I do.”
Michael went quiet.
Anthony leaned against the wall.
“Because she showed me messages supposedly written by Isabelle. They’re fake.”
“How do you know?”
“She called me Anthony.”
Michael almost laughed despite everything.
“Mom only calls you Anthony when she’s furious.”
“Exactly.”
Silence.
Then Michael whispered:
“I copied Serena’s files.”
“Where?”
“I hid them.”
“What’s on them?”
“I only saw part.”
“Michael.”
“There were files on Isabelle. Dad. Sophia. Me. You.”
Anthony closed his eyes.
“And Elena?”
“Yes.”
“What did it say?”
“I couldn’t open everything. But there was a folder called Restoration.”
Anthony felt cold.
“Restoration of what?”
“I don’t know.”
Michael breathed shakily.
“But there was another folder.”
“What?”
“Russo Succession.”
Across Boston, Naomi explained the financial implications to Isabelle.
“If Luca dies while you are still legally married and the baby is born, his estate structure changes substantially.”
“I don’t care about the estate.”
“I know. Serena might.”
Isabelle looked up.
“What are you saying?”
“If she wants control, money alone is not enough. Luca’s children are adults except Sophia. Your unborn child complicates succession. You complicate it more.”
Isabelle touched her stomach.
“Serena wanted me out.”
“Yes.”
“And wanted the children against me.”
“Yes.”
“Why?”
“So if something happens to Luca, nobody believes you.”
The room went silent.
Isabelle stood.
“I’m going to him.”
Naomi blocked the door.
“No.”
“He may be in danger.”
“He also has twenty security officers.”
“Somebody cloned his credentials forty-seven times.”
“That is precisely why you do not walk into his house.”
Isabelle’s phone rang.
Luca.
She answered immediately.
“Where are you?”
“Naomi’s.”
“Stay there.”
“Luca—”
“Michael is missing.”
Her blood froze.
“He contacted Anthony.”
“What?”
“He’s safe.”
“Where?”
“I don’t know yet.”
“Serena?”
“We’re removing her from the house.”
A loud crash came through the phone.
Then Sophia screamed.
Luca shouted something.
The line cut.
Isabelle stared at the screen.
“Luca?”
Nothing.
She called again.
No answer.
Five minutes later, Anthony called.
His voice was breathless.
“Isabelle.”
“What happened?”
“Serena’s gone.”
“Where is Luca?”
“He’s alive.”
“And Sophia?”
“Alive.”
“What happened?”
Anthony paused.
“She tried to take Sophia.”
Isabelle’s knees weakened.
“Why?”
“We don’t know.”
Then Anthony said the words that changed everything.
“But before Serena ran, she told Dad that if he wanted Sophia back alive…”
May you like
He swallowed.
“…he needed to finally admit what he did to Elena.”
