Chapter 23 – The Ugly Truth
I sat in the dark living room, the only light coming from the fireplace.
The place felt empty. No laughter. No applause. No Renata. I brushed ash off my glass of whiskey and stared at the flame.
My empire was gone. The company they handed to Sophia-my ex-wife-they took it all. And now… Renata had vanished. I waited. But she never came.
My phone buzzed.
It was a message from the hospital stating there was an emergency.
My heart jumped. Renata. Something happened to Renata. I threw on my coat and rushed out, ignoring the cold.
The hospital smelled like bleach. I found the doctor near the entrance. He looked pale, afraid.
‘Doctor,” I said. “What happened to Renata?”
He swallowed hard. “Renata is not here, Mr. Moretti.”
His words hit like a punch. “Then where is she?”
The doctor wiped sweat from his forehead. “You need to hear this.” He hesitated. Then he took a hick folder from a nurse. He opened it. “I received a package today.”
frowned. “A package?”
‘Yes.” He cleared his throat. “It confirmed… my daughter… my biological daughter… she is safe.” My hands trembled. “What? What are you saying?”
The doctor leaned in. “Renata kidnapped my daughter, Mr. Moretti. She held her for years.”
‘Kidnapped? That’s impossible.”
The doctor slid a photo across the desk. A little girl-eight years old-wearing a hospital gown, ooking scared.
shook. “You’re lying. Renata will never do that.”
The doctor continued. “Renata provided fake DNA tests. She lied to you and forced me to conduct the test, making you believe Ariella was not your child.”
Blood drained from my face. My legs gave way. I sat on a chair, stunned.
‘She forged everything,” he said quietly. “Medical records, paternity tests, even DNA samples.
She’s done horrible things to Sophia. Everything that’s happened is all Renata’s fault.”
closed my eyes and thought back… everything I had done to Sophia, Ariella’s death. I ruined my home, and Renata planted doubt in my heart and I let her.
I left the hospital like a ghost. The world blurred on the way back home. Every street lamp looked like flames of betrayal as my head pounded.
When I got home I saw Sophia and Mateo waiting for me in my study.
“What are you doing here?” I asked, glaring at Mateo.
Sophia laughed, “Awww, you haven’t even heard the full truth and you look like death.”
I didn’t speak. I closed my eyes and felt my world crumble.
Mateo began. “Renata lied to you, Lorenzo. She and Dante were together behind your back.”
I clutched the desk. “What are you talking about?”
Sophia held a folder. “Your brother’s death… the one Renata pinned on me-they did it. Renata and Dante murdered your brother.”
My heart stopped. “No.”
She slid me the files-photos, audio clips, medical records, meeting logs. Renata… the woman trusted… was my enemy… it was all laid out in black and white.
I tore the papers with shaking hands. My chest felt heavy, like a stone had planted there. Mateo said, “She manipulated every piece. The company, your daughter, your brother’s case Renata turned your life into a prison.”
Sophia folded her arms. “I only came back to see you fall. To see the man who let his daughter die… crumble.”
I looked at her. Tears blurred my vision. She didn’t regret it. She loved watching me break.
“You came back… out of hate,” I said softly. “Not love.”
She laughed-sharp, cold. “You really thought I came back for you? I came back for revenge.” Mateo stepped closer. “We’ve gathered everything and we have proof of Renata’s betrayal.”
I closed my eyes. My lips trembled. “Ariella… my princess… can you ever forgive me, Sophia?”
“Even in death, Lorenzo, I’ll never forgive you!” Sophia spat.
Silence filled the room.
I swallowed, hung my head. “I…I trusted them.”
Sophia’s mocking voice shook me. “Enjoy the fall, Lorenzo. You thought you had it all. You were wrong.”
I wanted to scream. I wanted to fight. But there were no punches left. No words left to fight back.
I was just silent.
Barely audible, Sophia said, “Revelations hurt, don’t they?”
Her smirk cut deeper than any blade. I stared at the floor.
Finally I said, voice hollow, “What now?”
She looked at Mateo, nodded. Mateo held up a folder.
Sophia said, “Now… I hope you die with your guilt!”
I closed my eyes, a tear rolled down.
Mateo touched her arm and they left together.
I stood alone in the study, surrounded by empty walls, empty desk, empty heart.
Sophia’s Pov
