Chapter 1 - THE WOMAN AT THE GATE
“Who?” Alexander demanded.
The elderly housekeeper, Mrs. Bell, stood in the doorway with trembling hands.
“Sir, there's a woman outside.”
Alexander's jaw tightened.
“What woman?”
Mrs. Bell swallowed.
“She says her name is Evelyn Hart.”
The room went silent.
Alexander froze.
For the first time in five days, something other than rage crossed his face.
Fear.
“That's impossible,” he whispered.
Mrs. Bell looked down.
“She says she's Claire's mother.”
Alexander stared.
Claire's mother had supposedly died when Claire was sixteen.
At least, that was what he'd been told.
He crossed the room.
“Bring her in.”
Minutes later, a woman in her late fifties entered the mansion.
She wore a simple gray coat.
Her dark hair was streaked with silver.
And her eyes—
Alexander stopped breathing.
Claire's eyes.
The same shape.
The same steady expression.
The woman looked around the enormous foyer.
Then at him.
“So,” she said quietly, “you're Alexander Moretti.”
He stared.
“Where is my wife?”
Evelyn's expression hardened.
“You don't get to ask that question first.”
Alexander took a step closer.
“She's nine months pregnant.”
Evelyn nodded.
“I know.”
His voice broke.
“She disappeared five days ago.”
Evelyn studied him.
Then said:
“And what did you do before she disappeared?”
Alexander froze.
The question landed harder than a bullet.
He looked away.
Evelyn continued.
“Did you protect her?”
Silence.
“Did you stand beside her?”
He swallowed.
“Did you make her feel loved?”
Alexander couldn't answer.
Evelyn nodded slowly.
“That's what I thought.”
Then she reached into her handbag.
And placed a small white hospital bracelet on the marble table.
Alexander stared.
May you like
The name printed on it made his blood run cold.
BABY MORETTI.
