FOUR BOYS WALKED INTO THE RESTAURANT WITH MY FACE—AND THEIR MOTHER WAS THE WOMAN I HAD LOST SIX YEARS AGO

I drove straight to the Moretti estate.

The photograph lay on the passenger seat.

My father.

A woman named Grace.

A little girl.

Another child my grandfather had kept hidden.

I was beginning to understand that the Moretti family wasn't built on loyalty.

It was built on secrets.

Vittorio was in the dining room when I arrived.

He was eating lunch alone, reading a newspaper.

He looked up.

"You're becoming predictable.""

I placed the photograph beside his plate.

"Who is Grace?""

His fork stopped.

For the first time that afternoon, he looked genuinely annoyed.

"Where did you get that?""

"Dr. Pierce.""

He put down his fork.

"That man should have retired years ago.""

"Who is she?""

"An old acquaintance.""

"She's my father's wife.""

Vittorio stared at me.

Then he wiped his mouth with a napkin.

"Your father made mistakes.""

"Apparently, he made an entire second family.""

"Keep your voice down.""

I laughed.

"Why? Afraid someone might hear another secret?""

He stood.

"Anthony was not the man you remember.""

"Then tell me who he was.""

"He was weak.""

I stared at him.

"Because he wanted to protect Isabella?""

"Because he wanted to destroy everything I had built.""

"You mean expose your crimes.""

Vittorio's eyes narrowed.

"Be careful, Dominic.""

"No. I'm done being careful.""

I placed the photograph directly in front of him.

"Where is his wife?""

He didn't answer.

"Where is the little girl?""

"Not your concern.""

I leaned forward.

"She's my sister.""

"She is nothing to you.""

I felt something break.

"She's my father's daughter.""

"Your father abandoned this family.""

"Because you threatened him.""

Vittorio's face hardened.

"Because he betrayed me.""

I straightened.

"Tell me what happened.""

He walked toward the windows.

For a moment, I thought he might finally tell me the truth.

Instead, he said:

"Your father wanted to take control of the foundation. He wanted to shut down the research program. He wanted to give money to strangers and protect women who had no business entering this family.""

"Isabella.""

"Among others.""

"And Grace?""

He looked at me.

"Anthony married her after you were already grown. She was a researcher at the foundation.""

"Was she involved in the embryo program?""

His silence answered.

"Did she have a child with him?""

"Yes.""

I closed my eyes.

"Why didn't you tell me?""

"Because the child was a complication.""

I stared at him.

"She's a little girl, Grandfather. Not a complication.""

He picked up his glass.

"She was born into circumstances that should never have existed.""

"Did you try to take her away too?""

Vittorio's eyes flickered.

"Your father made arrangements.""

"Meaning?""

"He left with them.""

"Where?""

"I don't know.""

I stepped closer.

"You're lying.""

His voice dropped.

"Perhaps you should ask yourself why your father chose to disappear rather than come home to you.""

The words hit exactly where he intended.

But this time, they didn't work.

"Because you made sure he couldn't.""

I turned toward the door.

"Dominic.""

I stopped.

Vittorio's voice had changed.

It was softer now.

Almost pleading.

"Whatever you think you are doing, stop.""

I looked back.

"Why?""

"Because there are people who will not tolerate what you're uncovering.""

"Who?""

He stared at me.

Then he said:

"Richard Barrett.""

I found Sloane at her apartment that evening.

She opened the door wearing a gray sweater and no makeup.

She looked as though she hadn't slept.

"Dominic.""

"I need to talk to you.""

She stepped aside.

"Come in.""

Her apartment was beautiful, decorated in neutral colors with expensive furniture and framed photographs from charity events.

But the place felt strangely empty.

She poured coffee for both of us.

"Did you find out anything?""

I placed the photograph of my father, Grace, and the little girl on the table.

Sloane studied it.

"Who is that?""

"My father's second wife.""

Her eyes widened.

"He was married?""

"Apparently.""

She looked at the little girl.

"Who's the child?""

"My sister.""

Sloane slowly sat down.

"There's more than one secret family?""

"Apparently, my grandfather was very busy.""

She almost smiled.

Then her expression became serious.

"What does my father have to do with this?""

I studied her.

"Richard Barrett helped my grandfather control the embryo program. He was involved in the agreement that separated Isabella from me.""

She closed her eyes.

"God.""

"Did you know?""

"No.""

"Has your father ever talked about my grandfather's medical foundation?""

She shook her head.

"Only that it was a complicated business arrangement.""

"Has he ever mentioned Isabella?""

"No.""

I leaned forward.

"Sloane, I need you to be honest with me. Did your father ever talk about why our families were supposed to get married?""

She stared at her coffee.

Then she whispered:

"He said it would make the Moretti family more stable.""

"That's what everyone said.""

"But there was something else.""

I waited.

She looked up.

"He said the marriage would give him access to your grandfather's voting shares.""

I frowned.

"What?""

"Your grandfather was planning to transfer a controlling portion of his shares into a family trust. My father wanted Barrett Holdings to become a beneficiary.""

I sat back.

"So the engagement was a business transaction.""

"Yes.""

She looked down.

"I knew it wasn't a love match. But I thought it was at least an honest arrangement.""

I didn't know what to say.

Then she stood and walked toward a cabinet.

"My father gave me something last month.""

She opened a drawer and removed a small black folder.

"He told me to keep it somewhere safe.""

She handed it to me.

Inside was a printed email exchange.

The first message was from Richard.

The second was from Vittorio.

I read the subject line.

*PROJECT LEGACY — FINAL STAGE.*

My stomach tightened.

The first email discussed the family engagement.

The second mentioned the embryo program.

The third contained a sentence that made my blood run cold.

Once Dominic's marriage is finalized, the Barrett family will assume administrative control of the genetic assets.

Genetic assets.

I looked at Sloane.

"Did your father explain this?""

She shook her head.

"No. But I remember asking what genetic assets meant.""

"What did he say?""

"He told me it was an inheritance matter.""

I flipped to the next page.

A list of four identification codes appeared.

Four codes.

Each matched one of my sons.

At the bottom was a fifth code.

I looked at it twice.

Then I recognized the initials.

G.M.

Grace Moretti.

My father's hidden daughter.

"Your father knows where she is," I whispered.

Sloane looked at me.

"Dominic, there's something else.""

She pulled another sheet from the folder.

It was a travel itinerary.

A private flight scheduled for the following morning.

Destination: Geneva.

Passengers: Richard Barrett, Vittorio Moretti, and one additional passenger.

The third name was blacked out.

But the passport number was visible.

Sloane looked at me.

"My father has been traveling to Switzerland every few months.""

"Why?""

"I don't know.""

I folded the document.

"Thank you.""

She caught my wrist.

"Dominic, wait.""

I looked at her.

"There's something you should know about tonight.""

"What?""

She swallowed.

"My father came to see me after you canceled the proposal.""

I frowned.

"What did he want?""

"He asked whether I still wanted to marry you.""

"And?""

"I said no.""

She paused.

"Then he told me that if I didn't marry you, he would make sure I never inherited a single thing.""

I stared at her.

"Your father threatened you?""

"Yes.""

She gave a sad smile.

"I guess we both have families that think love is a weakness.""

I looked at her for a moment.

"I'm sorry.""

She nodded.

Then she reached into her pocket and removed a small key.

"My father keeps a private office at the Barrett Foundation. There's a safe in it. He told me never to open it.""

She placed the key in my palm.

"I think you should.""

At 11:45 p.m., Marco and I entered the Barrett Foundation building.

Sloane had given us the security code.

The office was on the sixth floor.

It was immaculate, with dark wooden furniture and framed photographs of Richard beside politicians, hospital directors, and wealthy donors.

The safe was hidden behind a painting.

Marco entered the combination from a note Sloane had provided.

The lock clicked.

Inside were three folders and a small external hard drive.

I opened the first folder.

It contained medical records.

The second contained financial transfers.

The third contained a list of names.

Isabella Hayes.

Anthony Moretti.

Grace Moretti.

Dominic Moretti.

And four boys.

I felt sick.

Marco opened the hard drive.

"There's a video file.""

"Play it.""

A woman appeared on the screen.

She looked to be in her early thirties.

Her dark hair was tied back, and her expression was tense.

She was sitting in what looked like a medical office.

"My name is Grace Moretti," she began.

I leaned closer.

"If this recording is being watched, then either my father has disappeared again or someone has finally decided to expose what happened.""

My heart pounded.

She looked directly into the camera.

"Dominic, if you're watching this, I'm your sister.""

I stopped breathing.

Grace continued.

"I know about Isabella. I know about the boys. I know what our grandfather did.""

She paused.

Then her eyes filled.

"Anthony wanted to bring you all together. He wanted you to grow up knowing each other.""

I swallowed.

"But Vittorio believed the Moretti bloodline was more valuable than the people carrying it.""

She leaned closer.

"The embryo program was never supposed to be a medical experiment. It was supposed to be a way for Anthony to help you have a family.""

She took a breath.

"After he discovered what Vittorio had done, he tried to stop the transfers. But the clinic had already implanted the embryos.""

I felt my hands tighten.

"Your sons were born because of a decision made without Isabella's full consent. And when Anthony tried to expose it, Vittorio arranged for him to disappear.""

The video suddenly flickered.

Grace looked toward something outside the frame.

Then she whispered:

"There's something else. One of the four embryos was supposed to be destroyed.""

I froze.

"Only three were approved for transfer. But the laboratory records show that all four were implanted.""

I stared at the screen.

Four boys.

Four embryos.

One supposedly never meant to be used.

Grace continued.

"The fourth embryo carried a genetic marker your grandfather wanted to preserve. He believed that child could eventually inherit control of the foundation's research program.""

Marco looked at me.

I couldn't speak.

Grace's voice trembled.

"Dominic, your grandfather didn't just want four grandchildren.""

She paused.

"He wanted one of them for himself.""

The video ended.

For several seconds, neither of us moved.

Then Marco opened the final folder.

Inside was a recent photograph.

Four little boys standing in front of their school.

Noah.