Chapter 12 – Hidden Agenda
The sterile white walls of the hospital room made my skin crawl. I hated hospitals. The smell. The lights. The questions. Everything about this place made me feel exposed.
My phone buzzed under the covers. I glanced at the door. Empty.
I answered in a whisper, “That was close.”
The man’s voice on the other end was calm, cold. “Yeah, good job with the blood.”
“And Enzo, did you have to kill him?” I asked.
“It had to be done. Enzo was about to spill everything.”
I bit my lip, glancing again toward the hallway. “He could’ve just been bluffing. We didn’t have t
“You want to risk Lorenzo finding out everything we’ve worked so hard to keep a secret? Enzc was a good mole but his time is up.”
I stayed silent. He was right, as always. Enzo had served his purpose-and nearly ruined everything.
The door creaked open.
I snapped the phone shut and stuffed it under my blanket just as Lorenzo stepped in.
His eyes searched my face like a hawk looking for prey. “Who were you talking to?”
I winced, grabbing my abdomen. “No one. Just checking appointment reminders…” I let my voice tremble. “It still hurts so much.”
He stepped closer. I could smell the guilt on him. That was the thing with men like Lorenzo-they loved breaking you, but they hated seeing the cracks once you shattered.
“You’ve been lying to me,” he said quietly.
I blinked fast, keeping my voice small. “What are you talking about?”
I was starting to rethink Sophia’s death. I had no idea her dying would shake him like this considering everything he’s done to her.
“You took Ariella’s body without telling me. You said she was dead days ago. Enzo knew things | didn’t. Now he’s dead.”
Tears welled up in my eyes on cue. I’d perfected them by now. “I-I just wanted her to have peace. Her mother was acting insane. You said yourself that girl wasn’t even yours. I thought… I was doing the right thing.”
He stared at me long and hard. I waited. Calculated.
Then he exhaled and sat beside me, wrapping his arm around my shoulders.
“I’m sorry,” he muttered. “I shouldn’t have doubted you.”
I curled into his chest, hiding the smirk that nearly slipped past my lips.
A few days later, I was discharged.
Lorenzo drove me home himself, silent for most of the ride. He still wasn’t the man he used to be. Not yet. But guilt had a funny way of pulling him back toward me.
In the mansion, I slipped off my heels and leaned against the doorway. “You don’t love me anymore, do you?”
He looked up, startled.
I kept going, letting my voice crack. “You won’t even acknowledge our marriage publicly. You let everyone believe I’m just your mistress. Meanwhile, Sophia-”
“I said I’d handle it,” he cut in sharply, then sighed. “My grandfather’s 80th birthday is next week I’ll announce everything there.”
Hope fluttered in my chest like a wild thing.
“Really?” I whispered.
He nodded. “I want you to be my wife in name and title. We’ll make it official. But you have to be patient.”
I smiled sweetly, pressing a kiss to his cheek. “I’ve waited this long, haven’t I?”
The next morning, I went for my checkup.
The doctor greeted me with nervous eyes. I could tell he’d received Lorenzo’s DNA test request.
I sat on the table, swinging my legs slowly. “You’ve been asked to do a test, haven’t you?”
He froze. “I-yes. Mr. Moretti-”
“You know what that result has to say,” I said flatly. “Because if it doesn’t… you’ll never see you daughter again.”
His eyes widened, “But I’m not the only doctor in this country, Ms. Renata. I can’t keep covering
n
I smiled, interrupting him sharply. “Accidents happen all the time. Even in hospitals.”
He nodded stiffly, then excused himself from the room.
My phone buzzed again.
I walked to the window, pressed it to my ear. “He’s starting to suspect.”
The voice on the other end was sharper this time. “Then you need to get out of there before he finds out everything.”
“I’ve got it handled,” I said confidently. “The test will say what I want it to say. And once that birthday party is over… I’ll be Mrs. Moretti in full.”
There was silence. Then, the man asked, “Are you sure Sophia’s dead?”
I smiled. “You said you confirmed it yourself.”
“I did.”
“Then it’s done. She’s gone. And our plan…”
I looked at my reflection in the mirror and smiled widely.
…will finally be complete.”
8:20 pm
