Chapter 13 - THE CHILD WHO WAS NEVER SUPPOSED TO EXIST| The name Emma appeared throughout the ledger.
Not in full, but as a series of coded references: an infant transfer, a guardianship payment, a private medical account, and a final notation describing a child as the last living beneficiary of the original trust.
Aleandro read the entries carefully.
Nico explained that their father had used the Lantern Fund to protect children whose families had been caught in violent disputes. Some were placed with relatives. Others were moved to private homes under new identities.
He had once believed the system existed to save lives.
Then he discovered that Richard had begun using the same network to conceal financial crimes. Children could be moved, records altered, and guardians paid to remain silent.
"I confronted him," Nico said. "I told him I was taking the records to the authorities."
"And he ordered the explosion," Aleandro replied.
Nico shook his head.
"I don't remember who planted the device. I remember waking in the hospital and being told the woman I loved was dead."
Sophia held his hand.
"I'm alive."
He looked at her as though he needed to hear it again.
"I'm alive," she repeated.
He pressed her hand to his forehead.
For the first time in years, something in his expression softened.
Aleandro turned to the trust documents.
"Why is Emma listed as a beneficiary?"
Nico explained that his father had secretly created a second trust connected to the Lantern Fund. It was intended to compensate children whose families had lost property through the Moretti organization's illegal operations.
Emma's mother, Sophia, was the daughter of one of those families.
When Sophia was a child, her parents had lost their home after refusing to surrender a property to a Moretti-controlled company. The family had been forced into hiding, and Sophia had grown up believing the loss was the result of ordinary financial hardship.
Nico had discovered the connection shortly before the explosion.
He had intended to restore the property to Sophia and secure a fund for Emma.
But the trust's final beneficiary had never been formally identified.
"If Emma is recognized as the child named in the original agreement," Nico said, "she could expose every transaction my father tried to conceal."
Sophia stared at him.
"You knew about my family?"
"I knew that your parents had been harmed by one of our companies. I planned to tell you when I had enough evidence to make it right."
"Instead, you disappeared."
His face tightened.
"I know."
She looked away.
"You don't get to repair six years with an apology."
"I don't expect to."
Nico glanced toward the window.
"But I want to spend the rest of my life earning the chance to be her father."
The following morning, Sophia brought Emma to the rehabilitation center.
Emma stood in the doorway clutching her rabbit.
Nico remained seated, afraid that approaching too quickly might frighten her.
"Hi, Emma."
She studied him.
"You look like the picture."
He gave a small smile.
"That's good, I think."
Emma walked closer.
"Mommy says you were sick."
"I was."
"Are you better?"
"I'm getting better."
She considered that.
Then she placed the rabbit on his lap.
"You can hold him until you're ready."
Nico bent his head and wept.
Sophia wrapped her arms around them both.
But the moment was interrupted by a phone call from Marcus.
He had discovered that Valentina's father wasn't the only person funding the Lantern Fund.
A second account belonged to someone still active in the Moretti organization.
May you like
The name on the account was Aleandro Moretti.
And the transactions had continued long after Nico disappeared.
Related Stories
