Chapter 3: The Woman Behind the Silence
The woman standing in the doorway was Elena Moretti.
Matteo’s mother.
For ten years, Vincent had believed Elena was the one person in his family who understood what it meant to love their son.
She had been gentle.
Patient.
Always present when Matteo needed comfort.
But now she stood frozen beneath the doorway, staring at the photograph in Vincent’s hand.
And Vincent noticed something that made his stomach tighten.
She was not confused.
She was afraid.
“Why is that picture here?”” Elena asked.
Nobody answered.
Vincent slowly placed the photograph on the desk.
“Because I just learned my son was taken to a hospital, and nobody told me.””
Elena’s face changed.
A small movement.
A tiny reaction.
But Vincent had spent his entire life reading people.
He saw it.
“You knew.””
Elena looked at Matteo.
Then back at Vincent.
“I knew something happened.””
The room became silent.
Matteo stood completely still.
Vincent’s voice lowered.
“Something?””
Elena stepped inside.
“Vincent, please. Not in front of him.””
That sentence made Matteo look away.
And Vincent noticed.
Again.
His son was reacting like someone who had spent years protecting other people’s secrets.
“Not in front of him?”” Vincent repeated.
“He was the one who lived it.””
Elena closed her eyes.
“I was trying to protect him.””
“From who?””
She did not answer.
Vincent walked toward the desk.
“Tell me who signed the medical report.””
Elena looked at the file.
Then at Lucia.
The silence between them was enough.
Vincent understood.
“Lucia signed it.””
Lucia immediately stood.
“Do not put this on me.””
Vincent turned.
“You authorized treatment for my son.””
“Because you were unavailable.””
“I was in the same city.””
“You were dealing with threats.””
“I was his father.””
The words echoed through the room.
Nobody moved.
Matteo quietly left the room.
Vincent saw him go.
That hurt more than any confession.
Because his son was still trying to disappear whenever adults argued.
“Elena,” Vincent said, “what happened that night?””
She looked exhausted.
Like she had carried something heavy for years.
“Matteo fell.””
Vincent stared.
“From where?””
Elena hesitated.
“He was near the dining room.””
“That is not an answer.””
Her eyes filled with tears.
“He was under the table.””
Vincent felt his chest tighten.
“The same table?””
Elena nodded.
“He was scared. He had been hiding there for a while.””
“Why?””
She looked at Lucia.
Lucia’s expression turned cold.
“Be careful.””
Elena ignored her.
“Because Lucia told him to stay there.””
Vincent’s hands curled into fists.
“But why was he injured?””
Elena looked down.
“I heard him crying.””
The room went quiet.
“I came in and found him on the floor.””
“What happened?””
“I don’t know.””
Vincent stepped closer.
“You don’t know?””
Elena shook her head.
“I only know what they told me.””
“Who?””
She looked at Lucia.
Then Alessandro.
“The family.””
Vincent felt something break inside him.
Not anger.
Something worse.
Betrayal.
He had spent years protecting his family name.
But his family had spent years protecting a lie.
Suddenly, Carlo spoke.
“There is more.””
Everyone looked at him.
The old servant reached into his coat and removed a small envelope.
“I found this after Mr. Moretti asked me to bring the recording.””
Vincent took it.
“What is it?””
Carlo swallowed.
“A letter.””
“To who?””
Carlo looked at Matteo’s empty chair.
“To you.””
Vincent opened the envelope.
Inside was a folded piece of paper.
The handwriting was uneven.
Childlike.
His heart stopped before he even read the first words.
*Dear Daddy,*
Vincent sat down.
The powerful man who had controlled entire organizations suddenly looked like a father who had missed something important.
He continued reading.
*I tried to tell you, but Grandma said you would be angry.*
His breathing changed.
The room blurred.
*She said if I told you, everyone would leave.*
Vincent looked up.
“Where did this come from?””
Carlo lowered his head.
“Matteo hid it.””
“Why?””
The old servant looked toward the hallway.
“Because he thought nobody would believe him.””
Vincent closed his eyes.
The words hurt more than any enemy could have hurt him.
Then another sound came from the hallway.
A phone ringing.
Everyone turned.
It was Matteo’s phone.
Vincent walked over and picked it up.
The screen remained unseen.
But the caller’s name was visible.
A name that made Elena cover her mouth.
A name that made Alessandro step back.
Vincent looked at them.
“Who is this?””
Nobody answered.
The phone kept ringing.
Finally, Vincent accepted the call.
A voice came through.
An old voice.
A familiar voice.
“Vincent…”
May you like
He froze.
Because the person calling was someone who was supposed to have died twelve years ago.
