Chapter 4 - Evelyn's Offer.
Luca drove directly to his mother's house after leaving Riverside Café.
He did not call first.
Evelyn Moretti hated unannounced visits, which was one reason he chose to arrive that way.
Her home stood behind iron gates in a quiet neighborhood where every hedge looked measured.
A housekeeper opened the door and tried to tell him Evelyn was in a meeting.
Luca walked past the study without slowing.
He found his mother in the breakfast room arranging white roses in a glass vase.
She looked up and seemed unsurprised.
You saw her.
Luca stopped across the table.
That was not a question.
Evelyn placed another rose into the vase.
Nia has always had dramatic timing.
Luca felt anger rise, but he kept his voice level.
Did you send a message from my phone telling her I wanted nothing to do with her pregnancy?
Evelyn did not answer immediately.
She trimmed a stem with small silver scissors and set it in water.
You were twenty-nine and preparing to take control of a company that employed four thousand people.
That is not an answer.
You were not ready for chaos.
Luca leaned forward.
Did you send it?
Evelyn finally looked at him.
I prevented a temporary situation from deciding your entire future.
For a second, Luca heard only the faint clink of the scissors against the table.
Temporary situation?
Evelyn's expression tightened as if he were being unreasonable.
You and Nia were unstable.
You fought constantly during that final year.
You had broken up twice.
We had also chosen a wedding venue.
And you canceled it once.
For two weeks.
Exactly.
Luca stared at her.
You knew she was carrying my children.
Evelyn looked away.
I knew she claimed she was pregnant.
She had medical records.
I had no reason to accept every claim placed in front of me.
Luca's hands curled at his sides.
So you impersonated me.
I made a decision you were too emotional to make.
The calm certainty in her voice was worse than an apology would have been.
Luca took out a copy of the device authorization and placed it on the table.
Your signature transferred my number to a replacement phone two days before that message was sent.
Evelyn glanced at the paper.
Corporate security handled dozens of devices.
But you approved mine personally.
Because you had lost it before a board meeting.
You had access to the replacement.
Evelyn lifted one shoulder.
Many people did.
Luca understood the move immediately.
She was admitting enough to justify herself while denying enough to protect herself.
Did Dad know?
For the first time, Evelyn's eyes shifted.
Victor knew there was a complication.
That is not what I asked.
Your father was recovering from surgery that month.
He was not involved in daily decisions.
Luca remembered that surgery, and he also remembered how Evelyn had controlled who visited Victor while he recovered.
He stepped back from the table.
Nia says you called her last night.
I did.
Why?
Because bringing children into a public argument would be irresponsible.
You don't get to use responsibility as your defense.
Evelyn's face cooled.
And you do not get to destroy everything you have built because an old relationship walked into a restaurant with two children.
Luca stared at her in disbelief.
They may be mine.
May be is doing a great deal of work in that sentence.
The paternity test is tomorrow.
Evelyn's hand paused over the roses.
That reaction told Luca more than her words had.
She recovered quickly.
If you insist on doing this, use our physician and our legal team.
No.
Luca turned toward the door.
Evelyn's voice followed him.
Claire's family will hear about this.
Luca stopped.
That is what you're worried about?
I am worried about the consequences you refuse to see.
Luca looked over his shoulder.
For six years, two children lived with the consequences of something I didn't even know you had done.
He walked out before Evelyn could answer.
His phone rang while he was still on the front steps.
The caller was Claire.
Luca answered, expecting questions.
Instead, Claire spoke first.
Your mother just called my father.
Luca closed his eyes.
What did she say?
May you like
Claire's voice had gone very quiet.
She said Nia is trying to trap you with children who aren't yours.
