Chapter 5 - The Test No One Could Stop.
By the time Luca reached the clinic the next morning, the story had already moved beyond the four people who understood it.
Claire's father had called Luca's business partner.
Evelyn had called the family attorney.
Someone from Moretti Holdings had asked the communications director to prepare a response to an issue that had never been announced publicly.
Luca canceled every instruction he could find.
He then told his assistant that anyone discussing Nia or the children at work would answer directly to him.
The clinic was small and private, chosen by Nia because it had no relationship with the Moretti family.
Nia arrived with her attorney, Maya Greene, but without the children.
Luca was relieved.
He did not want Noah and Lily sitting in a waiting room while adults argued about their existence.
Maya explained the chain-of-custody process, the identification requirements, and the timeline for results.
Nia barely spoke.
Luca signed everything without using his family attorney.
After the samples were collected, they stood awkwardly near the elevator.
Luca wanted to ask a hundred questions.
He chose one.
What do they know about me?
Nia looked at him.
Before the restaurant, almost nothing.
You never told them my name?
I told them their father and I had been separated before they were born.
I told them I would answer more when they were older.
Luca nodded slowly.
Did they ask?
Every year.
The elevator doors opened, but Nia did not step inside.
She studied Luca's face.
Noah asked last night if you were his father.
Luca's breath caught.
What did you say?
I told him I was finding out the truth.
Luca looked down at the polished floor.
He must hate me.
He doesn't know you well enough to hate you.
The sentence was factual, not cruel, but it cut anyway.
Nia stepped into the elevator.
Luca followed only after she nodded.
In the lobby, a man in a dark coat stood near the entrance pretending to study his phone.
Nia's attorney noticed him first.
She took Nia's arm and steered her toward another exit.
The man lifted his phone and took a photograph.
Luca moved between the camera and Nia.
Who are you?
The man backed away without answering.
Luca followed him through the revolving door, but the man crossed the street and entered a waiting car.
Maya had already written down the plate number.
Nia stared after the car.
This is exactly what I was afraid of.
Luca turned to her.
I didn't arrange that.
I know.
How?
Because if you had wanted a photographer here, you wouldn't look like you want to throw his phone into the river.
Despite everything, Luca almost smiled.
Nia did not.
Someone knew where we would be.
Only the clinic, my attorney, you, and I knew.
Luca thought about the calls his mother had made.
Did you tell Evelyn the clinic name?
No.
I told her the test was happening and nothing else.
Luca's phone buzzed.
A message from his assistant appeared with a link to a celebrity business site.
The headline had been posted two minutes earlier.
MORETTI HEIR IN SECRET PATERNITY DISPUTE WITH FORMER GIRLFRIEND.
Below the headline was the photograph taken outside the clinic.
Nia read it over his shoulder and went completely still.
The article claimed she had approached Luca for money after six years of silence.
It claimed she had refused previous requests for DNA testing.
It claimed the children had recently been introduced to Luca as part of a financial negotiation.
Every sentence was false.
One quote was attributed to a source close to the Moretti family.
The source said Luca had long questioned Nia's credibility.
Luca called his communications director.
Who spoke to them?
The director sounded terrified.
No one from my team.
Then find out who did.
Nia's phone began ringing next.
She declined one call, then another.
Maya read the article and swore under her breath without using a word loud enough for the lobby to hear.
Luca looked at Nia.
I will fix this.
Nia shook her head.
You can't fix a headline people already saw.
The clinic door opened behind them.
A receptionist hurried out holding a sealed envelope.
Mr. Moretti?
Luca turned.
The receptionist looked confused.
Someone left this at the front desk for you ten minutes ago.
Luca took the envelope.
There was no return address.
Inside was a single photocopied page from an old Moretti Holdings phone log.
One number had been highlighted.
It was Nia's old number.
May you like
Beside it was a name Luca had not expected to see.
Victor Moretti.
