Chapter 4: The Man Who Was Supposed to Be Dead
“There’s someone in the building asking for Emily Bennett.””
Raymond’s voice trembled through the intercom.
But that wasn’t the part that made my blood turn cold.
It was the silence afterward.
The silence of a man who had seen something impossible.
Alessandro walked toward the security panel.
“Raymond.””
No answer.
“Raymond, who is there?””
A few seconds passed.
Then a weak voice came through.
“Mr. Duca…”
The old doorman sounded terrified.
“I’m sorry. I didn’t know what else to do.””
Alessandro’s face hardened.
“Put the person on camera.””
The screen beside the elevator doors flickered.
A grainy image appeared.
At first, I only saw a figure standing in the lobby.
A man wearing a dark coat.
His back facing the camera.
My breathing stopped.
I knew that posture.
I knew the way he stood.
The slight tilt of his head.
The way his right hand rested near his pocket.
My body recognized him before my mind allowed me to.
“No.””
The word escaped my lips.
Alessandro looked at me.
“Emily?””
I couldn’t move.
I couldn’t speak.
Because the man slowly turned around.
And the camera caught his face.
Eight months.
Eight months of believing I had buried him.
Eight months of telling myself I had to survive because he wasn’t coming back.
Eight months of raising his daughter alone.
Then his face appeared on a security screen in Alessandro Duca’s penthouse.
Daniel Moretti.
Alive.
Mia made a small noise against my shoulder.
And the man on the screen looked directly into the camera.
As if he could see her.
“No,” I whispered again.
Victoria covered her mouth.
Her face had lost all color.
“That’s impossible.””
Alessandro stared at the screen.
“Who is he?””
I turned toward him.
The answer felt impossible to say.
“Daniel.””
The name fell into the room.
Alessandro didn’t react immediately.
Then his eyes narrowed.
“That’s my cousin.””
“Yes.””
“He’s supposed to be dead.””
“I know.””
The security alarm continued screaming.
The lights flashed.
Nobody moved.
Then Daniel’s voice came through the speaker.
“Emily.””
I froze.
Hearing him say my name felt worse than seeing him.
Because memories were dangerous.
A voice could bring back everything.
The first time he laughed at my terrible coffee.
The way he held my hand when I was afraid.
The night he promised me he would never leave.
The night before he disappeared.
“Emily,” he said again through the speaker.
“Please answer me.””
My fingers tightened around Mia.
I couldn’t.
I wanted to.
I hated that I wanted to.
Because the man downstairs was the reason I spent months crying myself to sleep.
The reason I learned how to be both mother and father.
The reason I stopped believing promises.
Alessandro stepped between me and the screen.
“Why is my dead cousin standing in my lobby?””
Daniel answered immediately.
“Because someone wants my daughter.””
Everyone went silent.
Alessandro looked at Mia.
Then back at the screen.
“You don’t get to say that.””
Daniel’s expression changed.
Even through the camera, I could see the pain.
“I know.””
“You abandoned her.””
“I know.””
“You let Emily believe you were dead.””
“I know.””
Alessandro’s voice became colder.
“Then explain.””
Daniel looked away for a moment.
When he looked back, he looked older.
Tired.
Not like the man I remembered.
Like someone who had been running for a very long time.
“I was trying to keep them away from her.””
“Who?””
Daniel didn’t answer.
“Who, Daniel?””
The speaker crackled.
Then Daniel said:
“The same people who are listening right now.””
My heart dropped.
Alessandro looked toward the cameras.
Victoria stepped back.
“Turn them off.””
Alessandro looked at her.
“What?””
“Turn off every camera.””
“Why?””
“Because if Daniel is right, then whoever broke into your legal office may already have access.””
For the first time, Alessandro looked uncertain.
Not afraid.
But calculating.
He moved quickly.
Within seconds, the security screens went black.
The alarm stopped.
The silence afterward was worse.
“Bring him up,” I said.
Three pairs of eyes turned toward me.
Alessandro looked shocked.
“Emily.””
“I need answers.””
“He could be dangerous.””
I looked at him.
“He’s Mia’s father.””
The words were painful.
But true.
Alessandro’s jaw tightened.
Then he nodded once.
“Raymond?””
The intercom activated.
“Bring him up.””
A minute later, the elevator doors opened.
And Daniel stepped into the penthouse.
The first thing I noticed was how different he looked.
The man I remembered always wore expensive suits and carried himself like the world belonged to him.
This man looked exhausted.
His beard was longer.
His face thinner.
There was a scar near his eyebrow I had never seen before.
But his eyes were the same.
Those familiar eyes that had looked at me like I was the only person in the room.
Until they weren’t.
His gaze found mine.
Then moved to Mia.
Everything in him broke.
“Emily.””
I didn’t answer.
He took one step forward.
I stepped back.
The movement hurt him.
Good.
It should.
“You’re alive.””
His voice was quiet.
“Yes.””
“You let me think you were dead.””
“I had no choice.””
I laughed bitterly.
“No choice?””
Victoria looked between us.
“Daniel, what happened?””
He looked at her.
Then Alessandro.
“I can explain.””
“No,” I said.
Everyone looked at me.
“I want the truth first.””
Daniel nodded slowly.
“You deserve that.””
I stared at him.
“Why?””
His eyes lowered.
“Because I found out about Mia.””
My heart stopped.
“You knew?””
“Yes.””
“When?””
“Before I disappeared.””
The pain came back instantly.
“You knew I was pregnant?””
“Yes.””
“And you left anyway?””
“No.””
His answer was immediate.
“I didn’t leave you.””
“Then why didn’t you come back?””
His face tightened.
“Because I was being followed.””
I shook my head.
“Daniel.””
“I’m serious.””
“You expect me to believe that?””
“Yes.””
“Why?””
“Because the night I tried to come back to you, someone tried to kill me.””
Silence.
I looked at Alessandro.
Then Victoria.
Nobody spoke.
Daniel continued.
“I survived.””
My voice was barely there.
“And you never called?””
“I tried.””
“Eight months?””
“Yes.””
“Eight months, Daniel?””
Pain crossed his face.
“I was trapped.””
I looked away.
“I had no way to reach you without leading them to you.””
“Who is them?””
Daniel looked at Alessandro.
Then Victoria.
“I think you already know.””
Nobody moved.
Victoria whispered:
“No.””
Daniel looked at her.
“You knew, Victoria.””
Her eyes filled with anger.
“Don’t.””
“You knew what grandfather was capable of.””
“Don’t bring him into this.””
“He’s dead.””
“Yes.””
“But his people aren’t.””
The room went cold.
Alessandro stepped forward.
“Enough.””
His voice cut through the tension.
“You’re telling me my family has been hiding something for years?””
Daniel looked at him.
“I’m telling you someone inside this family has been destroying anyone who threatens the Duca name.””
Alessandro stared.
“Who?””
Daniel didn’t answer.
Instead, he looked at Mia.
Then at me.
“Emily, there’s something you need to know.””
I held my breath.
“When I discovered you were pregnant, I didn’t just find out about Mia.””
“What else?””
Daniel’s expression changed.
“I found out why your mother ran.””
My chest tightened.
“What do you mean?””
He took a slow breath.
“Your mother wasn’t hiding from the Duca family.””
I frowned.
“Then who?””
Daniel looked toward the dark windows.
And whispered:
“She was hiding you from your own father.””
I froze.
“My father is dead.””
Daniel’s eyes met mine.
“No, Emily.””
The entire room went silent.
“He’s alive.””
My fingers went numb.
“What?””
Daniel stepped closer.
“The man who erased your mother’s identity.””
“The man who tried to erase Mia’s inheritance.””
“The man who has spent years making sure nobody discovers who you really are.””
He looked at Alessandro.
Then back at me.
“Your father is the reason I disappeared.””
A cold feeling spread through my body.
“Who is he?””
Daniel hesitated.
And that hesitation terrified me.
Because I knew the answer would change everything.
Then he said:
“His name is Marcus Duca.””
Victoria gasped.
Alessandro went completely still.
Because Marcus Duca wasn’t just my father.
He was the man whose portrait hung in the Duca family headquarters.
The founder.
The legend.
The man everyone believed had died twenty years ago.
May you like
And according to Daniel…
He was alive.
