She took Sofia to another city.
Victor told Alessandro that both Isabella and Sofia had died.
He then destroyed the hospital records.
But there was another secret.
The rival family had never stopped looking for Sofia.
They believed that if Alessandro's daughter survived, she could become the key to destroying the Moretti empire.
And Victor had been receiving money for years to keep her location hidden.
Alessandro slowly turned away.
His hands were shaking.
"Who paid you?"
Victor hesitated.
Then he gave the name.
"Rafael De Luca."
Marco immediately looked at Alessandro.
Rafael De Luca was the leader of the De Luca organization.
For years, he had been Alessandro's greatest enemy.
And he was currently preparing a takeover of several Moretti businesses.
Alessandro looked toward Elena.
The truth was becoming more dangerous with every passing second.
Her entire childhood had been shaped by a lie.
Her mother had protected her.
Her father had searched for her.
And somewhere in the shadows, a man had been waiting for the moment he could use her against them both.
...
Elena could no longer remain silent.
"Stop."
Everyone looked at her.
She stood up.
"You're all talking about me as though I'm some object that belongs to your families."
Alessandro turned.
"Elena—"
"No!"
Her eyes filled with tears.
"I had a mother. I had a life. I worked hard. I paid my rent. I went to school. I buried the woman who raised me. And now, in one night, I'm supposed to believe that my entire identity was a lie?"
Alessandro did not interrupt.
"I don't know you."
Her voice cracked.
"I don't know anything about your world."
She looked at the armed men.
"Look at all these people. Look at what you do. I don't want any part of it."
Alessandro lowered his head.
"I understand."
"No, you don't."
She wiped her tears.
"Did you even look for me?"
The question struck him harder than any bullet.
"Every day."
"Then why did you never find me?"
"Because someone made sure I couldn't."
Elena shook her head.
"You were supposed to protect me."
Alessandro looked at her.
For a long moment, he could not speak.
Then he answered honestly.
"Yes. I was."
He stepped closer, but stopped when he saw her move backward.
"I'm sorry."
The two words sounded unfamiliar coming from him.
He had never apologized to anyone in his organization.
But he was not speaking as a crime boss.
He was speaking as a father.
"I'm sorry I wasn't there when you needed someone. I'm sorry I missed your first day of school. I'm sorry I wasn't there when you lost your mother. I'm sorry you had to grow up believing that nobody was looking for you."
His eyes filled with tears.
"And I'm sorry that I cannot give you those years back."
Elena stared at him.
For the first time, she noticed something beneath his expensive suit and frightening reputation.
He was broken.
Just like her.
...
The DNA results arrived the following afternoon.
Alessandro had refused to wait.
He had sent samples to an independent laboratory under the supervision of two doctors.
The report was delivered directly to his office.
He sat behind his desk.
Elena sat opposite him.
Marco stood near the door.
Nobody spoke.
Alessandro opened the envelope.
He read the first page.
Then the second.
His hands began trembling.
Finally, he placed the report on the desk.
The result was conclusive.
A 99.9998 percent probability of biological parenthood.
Elena Carter was Sofia Moretti.
His daughter.
His little girl.
The child he had searched for across two decades.
Alessandro slowly covered his mouth.
A tear rolled down his cheek.
Elena stared at the report.
She had expected many things.
She had expected a misunderstanding.
A mistake.
A complicated adoption story.
But she had never expected this.
"I'm your daughter," she whispered.
Alessandro nodded.
"Yes."
He stood.
"You're my daughter."
For a moment, neither moved.
Then Elena began crying.
Alessandro approached slowly.
He opened his arms.
He did not force her to come closer.
He simply waited.
And after several seconds, Elena stepped forward.
She wrapped her arms around him.
Alessandro held her as though the world might take her away again.
He buried his face in her hair.
"I'm sorry," he whispered.
"I'm so sorry, Sofia."
She cried against his chest.
And for the first time in twenty years, the Moretti mansion heard its master sob.
...
But happiness did not last long.
That evening, Marco entered Alessandro's office carrying a tablet.
"Boss, we have a problem."
Alessandro was sitting beside Elena.
"What?"
"Rafael De Luca knows."
Alessandro's expression changed.
"How?"
"One of the hospital employees sold the information. The DNA test, the photograph, everything."
Elena looked up.
"What does that mean?"
Marco hesitated.
Alessandro answered.
"It means someone may try to hurt you."
Elena went pale.
Alessandro immediately took her hand.
"But they won't get near you."
He looked at Marco.
"Double the security. Nobody enters this property without my approval."
Marco nodded.
"Already done."
"And find out where De Luca is."
"Understood."
Elena looked at her father.
"Is this because of me?"
"No."
"But—"
"No, sweetheart."
He turned toward her.
"This is because of the choices I made long before you were born. You are not responsible for any of this."
She looked down at their joined hands.
"I don't want you to die because of me."
Alessandro gave a sad smile.
"I have spent twenty years wondering whether I would ever see you again. If I have to spend the rest of my life making sure you can sleep peacefully, that's exactly what I'll do."
...
Three days later, Elena moved into the Moretti estate.
The mansion stood behind iron gates on a hill overlooking the city.
It had enormous gardens, marble staircases, and dozens of rooms.