Chapter 4: A Father’s Name
“No.”
Noah’s small voice cut through the terrace.
Margaret tried to guide him inside, but he twisted around to face his father.
“Daddy, he’s lying, isn’t he?”
Raffaele crossed to him and lowered himself until they were eye to eye.
“Whatever is in that envelope, you are my son.”
“That is not what I asked.”
Raffaele’s lips parted, but Matteo answered first.
“Children deserve the truth.”
“You will not speak to him,” Raffaele said.
Matteo opened the envelope.
“The laboratory found no biological match between you and Noah.”
Victoria pressed a hand to her chest.
“Raffaele, I wanted to tell you gently.”
“You ordered him into service ten minutes ago.”
“I was angry because you ignored Sophie.
That doesn’t change the report.”
“Give it to me.”
Matteo held it back.
“You are too close to this.
The trustees must review it first.”
Raffaele reached for the paper, but Noah backed away from him.
The movement stopped Raffaele more effectively than any guard could have.
“If I’m not yours, will I have to go?” Noah asked.
“No one is taking you.”
“But you promised today was for both of us.
Then she gave my chair away.”
Raffaele’s face tightened.
“I should have seen what she was doing sooner.”
“You didn’t.”
Noah turned and ran inside.
Raffaele started after him, but Margaret caught his sleeve.
“Let me bring him back to you.”
“He thinks I failed him.”
Margaret looked directly at him.
“Today, you did.”
Raffaele’s shoulders dropped.
“I trusted Victoria because I wanted this house to feel whole again.”
“You left Noah alone with a woman who treated love like a competition,” Margaret said.
“You cannot repair that by frightening everyone who tells you the truth.”
The words landed harder than Matteo’s report.
Raffaele lowered his head, and Margaret softened her grip.
“Go to your son,” she said.
“Not as the head of this family.
Go as his father.”
A movement came from the doorway.
Sophie stood there holding Noah’s hand.
“Mummy made me take a key from Mr.
Raffaele’s desk,” she said.
“She told me it was a game.”
Victoria rushed forward.
“Sophie, come here.”
Sophie hid behind Margaret.
“No.”
“What key?” Raffaele asked.
“The little silver one.
Mummy gave it to Uncle Matteo.”
Matteo folded the laboratory report.
“A frightened child is not a witness.”
“She is when she is telling the truth,” Margaret said.
Victoria seized her daughter’s coat from a chair.
“We’re leaving.”
Raffaele blocked her.
“Sophie may leave after she tells Margaret whether she feels safe.”
“You have no authority over my child.”
“And you have no permission to take mine.”
A car stopped beyond the terrace.
Two uniformed officers approached with a woman carrying a leather folder.
“Raffaele Marconi?” the woman asked.
“I’m Lydia Grant from Family Services.
We received an emergency complaint concerning both children.”
Victoria’s mouth curved slightly before she hid it.
“Thank goodness.”
Lydia looked at the overturned chair, the guards, and Victoria’s reddened wrist.
“Until the court reviews this, there will be temporary restrictions.”
“Based on whose complaint?” Raffaele asked.
“Victoria Hale’s, supported by Matteo Marconi.”
Matteo spread his hands.
“I had no choice.”
“You arranged the scene and then reported it.”
“I reported what everyone saw.”
Lydia turned to Noah.
“I need to speak with you somewhere quiet.”
Noah grabbed Raffaele’s hand.
“I’m not going with her.”
Raffaele knelt again.
“You only have to answer her questions.
Margaret can stay beside you.”
“Will you?”
“If she allows me.”
Lydia shook her head.
“Not during the first interview.”
Noah’s chin trembled.
Sophie slipped her fingers into his free hand.
“I’ll go too,” she said.
“He shouldn’t be alone.”
Victoria stared at her daughter.
“You are not choosing him over me.”
“I’m choosing the truth.”
Matteo’s phone rang.
He answered, listened, and faced Raffaele.
“The family court has suspended your control of Noah’s trust pending the hearing,” he said.
“As alternate trustee, I take control immediately.”
May you like
Raffaele’s eyes moved to the silver key hanging from Matteo’s chain.
It was the key to Elena’s private records vault.
