Chapter 13 - THE SON WHO WAS NEVER MEANT TO EXISTIsabella refused to discuss the identity of the second witness until they were safely inside.
Dominic arranged for a police escort and moved his mother to a protected location.
Elena accompanied her.
For the first time, Isabella had a chance to speak without looking over her shoulder.
She told Dominic about the night his father died.
Anthony had been arguing with him over the family trust. Raymond Cross wanted control of several shipping companies, and Dominic's father had refused to cooperate.
The argument became violent.
Anthony later claimed that Dominic's father had suffered a sudden medical emergency.
But Isabella had seen blood on his shirt.
She had also heard Raymond threaten to expose a secret that could destroy the family.
"What secret?" Dominic asked.
Isabella hesitated.
"Your father knew that Raymond had another son."
Dominic frowned.
"Why does that matter?"
"Because the boy was born into the Moretti family."
The room fell silent.
Isabella explained that Raymond had once been married to a woman named Caroline. Their son had been born shortly before Raymond became involved with Anthony's business.
Caroline died when the boy was young.
Raymond had hidden the child from the world and placed him under the care of relatives.
The boy's name was Adrian.
Dominic stared at her.
"Where is he now?"
"He's been living under another identity."
"Why would my father know him?"
"Because your father discovered that Anthony intended to use the boy as a weapon against the family."
Dominic rubbed his forehead.
"You're telling me Raymond has a son who could be connected to all this?"
Isabella nodded.
"Your father wanted to find him before Raymond did."
She opened a small box and removed a photograph.
A teenage boy stood beside Dominic's father at a charity event.
Dominic recognized the face.
He had seen the same person recently.
Adrian Cole was the new financial director of one of the Moretti companies.
A man Dominic had personally hired six months earlier.
Elena looked at the photograph.
"Could he be working with Anthony?"
"I don't know," Isabella answered. "But he was the only person Raymond could trust with the original hospital records."
Dominic immediately contacted his office.
Adrian had not arrived at work that morning.
His apartment was empty.
His phone was switched off.
And the company's financial department had reported an unauthorized transfer.
The amount was nearly eight million dollars.
Dominic ordered the transfer frozen.
But Margaret Cole called before the order could be completed.
"Dominic, there's a problem with the trust."
"What now?"
"Someone submitted a new beneficiary claim."
"Who?"
"Adrian Cole."
Dominic stared at the photograph.
"He can't be a beneficiary."
"Apparently, the documents claim that your father acknowledged him as his biological son."
"That's impossible."
Margaret hesitated.
"There's more. The claim includes a handwritten letter bearing your father's signature."
Dominic felt the room grow cold.
His father might have known Adrian personally.
But that did not prove he was his son.
Elena approached him.
"What are you going to do?"
"Find Adrian."
Before he could call the investigators, Isabella spoke.
"There's something I didn't tell you."
Dominic turned.
"Mom?"
"Adrian isn't Raymond's son."
She looked directly at him.
"He is Anthony's."
Dominic froze.
His uncle had a son.
A secret son whose existence had been concealed for decades.
And that son was now attempting to claim part of the Moretti inheritance.
Isabella reached for Dominic's hand.
"Your uncle didn't just want your father's money. He wanted his own blood to inherit everything."
Dominic stared at the photograph.
Then his phone rang.
An unknown caller.
He answered.
A man's voice spoke calmly.
"Hello, cousin."
May you like
Dominic recognized Adrian's voice.
"I think we should finally meet."
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