Chapter 6: The Daughter Isabella Tried to Protect
Ricardo hated mysteries.
His entire life was built on controlling information.
Knowing who was loyal.
Knowing who was dangerous.
Knowing who was lying.
But now, every answer created three more questions.
Clara Bennett.
Her grandmother.
The necklace.
The letter.
And now Anthony’s warning.
Who was her father?
Ricardo found Clara at a small apartment across town.
Not the restaurant.
Not the place where she worked.
The place where she lived.
A simple building with cracked walls and old furniture.
It didn’t match the image Ricardo had created in his head.
There was no hidden luxury.
No secret wealth.
Just a woman living quietly.
When Clara opened the door and saw him, she immediately became cautious.
“What happened?””
Ricardo looked surprised.
“Why do you think something happened?””
“Because people like you don’t visit normal people.””
He almost smiled.
Almost.
“I need to ask you something.””
Clara crossed her arms.
“About my grandmother?””
“No.””
A pause.
“About your father.””
Her expression changed instantly.
Ricardo noticed.
“You know.””
Clara looked away.
“I know his name.””
“What is it?””
She didn’t answer.
“Clara.””
She walked toward the kitchen.
“My grandmother told me never to talk about him.””
“Why?””
“Because she said some men leave behind more damage than memories.””
Ricardo followed.
“What was his name?””
Clara gripped the edge of the counter.
“Mateo.””
The name meant nothing.
Until Dante, standing behind Ricardo, suddenly reacted.
“Mateo?””
Both Ricardo and Clara looked at him.
Dante’s face had gone pale.
“You know him?””
Dante slowly nodded.
“Everyone in our world knew him.””
Ricardo frowned.
“Who was he?””
Dante looked at Ricardo.
“Your wife’s first love.””
The words landed like a bomb.
Clara looked confused.
“My father knew Isabella?””
Dante nodded slowly.
“Before you.””
Ricardo stared at him.
“No.””
Dante looked uncomfortable.
“Boss…”
“No.””
Ricardo shook his head.
“Isabella loved me.””
“She did.””
Dante’s voice was calm.
“But before that, she loved Mateo.””
Clara stepped back.
“My grandmother never told me.””
Ricardo looked at her.
“Where is Mateo now?””
Nobody answered.
Because everyone already knew.
Mateo Bennett was supposed to be dead.
Killed years ago.
But now Ricardo wondered.
What if that was another lie?
His phone suddenly rang.
Unknown number.
Ricardo answered.
A woman’s voice came through.
“Ricardo.””
His blood turned cold.
Because he recognized the voice.
No.
It was impossible.
“Who is this?””
A pause.
Then:
“Someone who loved Isabella.””
Ricardo couldn’t speak.
Clara looked at him.
The voice continued.
“You’re looking for the truth about your wife.””
Ricardo tightened his grip on the phone.
“Who are you?””
The woman whispered:
“The person who helped Isabella hide her biggest secret.””
A silence.
Then the woman said:
“And the person who knows why Leo was never supposed to be yours.””
The call ended.
Ricardo stood frozen.
Dante immediately asked:
“What happened?””
Ricardo slowly lowered the phone.
His eyes moved toward Clara.
Then toward the hallway where his son waited at home.
Because suddenly, the one question he had avoided for two years became impossible to ignore.
Was Leo really his son?
May you like
And if not…
Who was the real father?
