“Elena had severe endometriosis,” Sofia continued. “Less than a five percent chance of carrying a pregnancy to term. Victoria would have used that to destroy her. So Elena pretended to be pregnant. Only she and I knew the truth.”
Sofia pulled a weathered envelope from her sweater.
“Elena suspected Victoria might try to hurt her. She made me promise that if anything happened, I’d disappear with the babies.”
Inside were mechanic reports.
The car’s brakes had been in perfect condition two weeks before the crash.
And a handwritten letter.
“Sofia — if you’re reading this, what I feared has happened. Run. Protect my babies from Victoria. Don’t trust anyone until you’re certain. I love them.”
Damian felt the ground vanish beneath him.
Victoria.
Comforting him.
Controlling the estate.
Closing the investigation quickly.
That night, Damian quietly sent a DNA sample from Leo’s pacifier to a private lab in New York City.
Two days later:
Probability of paternity — 99.9%.
He cried harder than he had in three years.
For the first steps he missed.
For the first words he never heard.
For Elena — who had planned everything to protect their children.
The private investigation moved quickly.