Chapter 6 – THE LIE SHE TOLD

“She’s yours, Nicholas.”

The words hit Nicholas like a physical blow.

He stared at Vivienne, then at Maria, who was shaking her head violently.

“No,” Maria cried. “Lucy is mine. My husband and I adopted her legally!”

“Legally?” Vivienne sneered. “He forged the papers.”

Nicholas grabbed Vivienne by the shoulders.

“I don’t have a child. I would know.”

“Would you?” Vivienne laughed. “Remember Elena?”

Nicholas froze.

Elena.

The only woman he had ever truly loved.

She had vanished four years ago without a trace. He had spent millions trying to find her, only to be told she had died in Europe.

“Elena was pregnant when she left you,” Vivienne whispered. “I made sure of it. I told her you would kill the child to protect your empire. So she ran. But Domenic found her.”

Nicholas’s vision blurred with rage.

His brother had found Elena. He had tried to protect her and the baby.

And Vivienne had orchestrated the crash to kill them all.

“Elena died in the crash,” Vivienne said. “But Domenic managed to pass the baby to the paramedic before he died. I’ve been looking for the brat ever since.”

Nicholas let go of Vivienne.

He walked out into the hallway and looked at Lucy.

The dark hair. The fierce, stubborn chin. The green eyes.

She was his daughter.

His flesh and blood.

Maria fell to her knees, sobbing.

“Please, Mr. Caruso. She’s all I have. Don’t take her from me.”

Nicholas knelt beside Maria.

He didn’t take the child away.

Instead, he reached out and gently pulled Maria up to her feet.

“You raised her. You loved her. You protected her when I couldn’t.”

He wiped a tear from Maria’s cheek.

“I’m not taking her from you, Maria. We are going to protect her together.”

Suddenly, the lights in the mansion flickered and died.

The emergency alarms began to blare.

Arthur ran into the hallway, his face pale.

“Sir! The perimeter has been breached. They’ve cut the power.”

Vivienne laughed from the study.

“I told you, Nicholas. I’m not working alone.”

Nicholas drew his weapon, pulling Maria and Lucy behind him.

In the darkness, a heavy, familiar voice echoed from the front door.

“Hello, little brother.”

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