Part 2: THE BILLIONAIRE’S HIDDEN HEIR

The struggle on the floor ceased instantly.

Julian froze, his hands still gripping Vanessa’s wrists. He stared down at her, his chest heaving.

“What did you say?” Julian whispered.

Vanessa spat blood onto the marble, her manic smile returning. She looked up at Richard, triumphant.

“I’m ten weeks pregnant,” she announced, her voice echoing in the quiet room. “A direct Moretti heir. Blood of your blood, Richard. You can't disinherit an unborn child. The charter won’t allow it. Half of that trust belongs to me now.”

Answer one: Vanessa’s final play is an heir.

Open two: Is she telling the truth? And what will Julian do?

Carmine, who had been cornered by the guards, suddenly began to laugh. A wheezing, victorious sound.

“She beat you, Ricky,” Carmine chuckled, leaning on his cane. “She always was my smartest girl. You have to split the trust. And I will be the trustee for her child. We still win.”

I pulled Ava into my lap, rocking her, my heart hammering against my ribs. Was it true? Were we going to be tied to these monsters forever?

Victor knelt beside me, placing a strong, comforting hand on my shoulder. “It’s going to be okay, Sophia,” he murmured.

I looked at Julian.

He was staring at Vanessa’s stomach. His face was entirely unreadable. Slowly, he let go of her wrists and stood up.

Vanessa sat up, fixing her hair, looking incredibly smug. She reached out a hand for Julian to help her up.

Julian didn't take it.

He looked at his father. Then he looked at me.

“You’re pregnant,” Julian said to Vanessa, his voice dead flat.

“Yes, darling,” Vanessa cooed, putting a hand on her stomach. “We’re going to be a family.”

Julian slowly reached for his left hand. He gripped the heavy platinum engagement ring he wore—a match to hers—and pulled it off his finger.

He dropped it onto the marble floor.

“That’s a medical miracle, Vanessa,” Julian said, his voice void of any emotion.

Vanessa’s smile faltered. “What do you mean?”

“I mean,” Julian said, looking down at her with absolute disgust, “that I’ve been completely sterile for five years. Ever since I crashed my Porsche in Monaco. The doctors told me I’d never have children.”

The silence that followed was absolute.

Vanessa’s mouth opened, but no sound came out. The blood drained from her face so fast she looked like a corpse.

“So,” Julian continued, stepping over the ring, “unless you’re carrying the second coming of Christ, that baby isn't mine. Which means you get nothing. Not a dime.”

Carmine’s cane clattered to the floor. He stared at his daughter, realizing she had just destroyed their only leverage with a cheap, desperate lie.

“You stupid girl,” Carmine hissed.

Richard stood up. He buttoned his jacket, looking every inch the king of Chicago.

“Guards,” Richard commanded. “Take my brother and his... associate... to the basement holding room. The police are waiting by the service elevator. Give the captain my mother’s letter, the pocket watch, and the confession you all just witnessed.”

“Richard, wait!” Carmine begged, dropping to his knees. “We’re family! You can't send me to die in prison!”

“You stopped being family the night you murdered Liam,” Richard said coldly.

The guards hauled Carmine up by his collar. Vanessa began kicking and screaming as two men dragged her by her arms, her red gown tearing against the floor.

“You owe me!” Vanessa shrieked at Julian. “I kept your secret! I kept you safe!”

Julian didn't even look at her as the heavy wooden doors closed behind them, cutting off her screams.

The threat was gone.

The room was painfully quiet, save for the soft weeping of a few traumatized guests.

Julian turned to me. He looked shattered. A shell of a man who had lost his mother, his sister, his fiancée, and his dignity.

He walked slowly toward me and dropped to his knees.

“Sophia,” Julian choked out, burying his face in his hands. “I don't expect you to forgive me. I don't deserve it. I was a coward. I let them take him from you.”

I looked at my brother. The boy who had protected me from bullies. The man who had let my husband die to protect his own inheritance.

I reached out and placed my hand on his head.

“I forgive you for being scared, Julian,” I whispered, tears falling onto his hair. “But you have to earn back my trust. It’s going to take a long time.”

Julian nodded frantically, sobbing against my apron. “I will. I promise, Sophia. I swear to God.”

Victor stood up and offered me his hand.

I looked at the man I had run away from. The billionaire who had kept my rosary for eight years.

“Why did you come tonight, Victor?” I asked softly.