CHAPTER 8 — The Father of Della’s Child
CHAPTER 8 — The Father of Della’s Child
For three days, Luca Moretti had been trying not to ask the question.
Not because he did not want the answer.
Because he was afraid of it.
The truth was strange.
For eight years, he had searched for Della because she was the only person who had shown him kindness when he had nothing to offer.
Now that he had found her, he discovered she was connected to his family.
To his past.
To secrets buried long before she ever entered his life.
And now there was another question.
One that changed everything.
Who was the father of Della Marsh's child?
Luca told himself it did not matter.
He repeated it whenever the thought appeared.
It did not matter.
Della was not something to be claimed.
She was not a person whose value depended on another person's name.
But he was still human.
And every time he saw her place a protective hand over her stomach, something inside him tightened.
Not jealousy.
Not anger.
Fear.
Because Luca knew what it felt like to grow up surrounded by secrets.
And he could not bear the thought of a child entering the world with unanswered questions.
The answer came unexpectedly.
Della was sitting in the hospital garden when Luca found her.
The afternoon sun was warm.
For once, there were no reporters.
No lawyers.
No business discussions.
Just quiet.
"You disappeared."
Della looked up.
"I went for a walk."
"You should have told someone."
She smiled slightly.
"There it is."
"What?"
"The Luca Moretti solution."
He frowned.
"The what?"
"Someone disappears for ten minutes, and suddenly you are ready to organize a security team."
Despite himself, Luca almost smiled.
"I was concerned."
"I know."
She looked at him carefully.
"That's the problem."
Luca sat beside her.
"What does that mean?"
Della looked toward the trees.
"It means you care."
He said nothing.
"And I don't know what to do with that."
The honesty surprised him.
"Della."
She took a breath.
"There is something you should know."
Luca became still.
The tone changed.
Eight years in business had taught him something.
People rarely started serious conversations by accident.
"What?"
Della looked down.
"The baby's father."
The world seemed to become quieter.
Luca did not move.
Not because he did not care.
Because he cared too much.
"I never told anyone the whole story."
She continued.
"I wasn't trying to hide him."
A pause.
"I was trying to forget him."
Luca listened.
"His name was Daniel."
The name meant nothing to him.
And somehow that made it worse.
"Daniel Reed."
Della swallowed.
"We met three years ago."
She looked at her hands.
"He wasn't rich."
"He wasn't powerful."
A small, sad smile appeared.
"That's probably why I trusted him."
Luca felt something move inside him.
Understanding.
Della continued.
"Daniel was kind."
A pause.
"At least I thought he was."
The garden became silent.
"He knew about my life."
"My mother."
"My struggles."
"He told me I deserved better."
Luca looked at her.
"And then?"
Della's expression changed.
"Then he found out I was pregnant."
The words were quiet.
"He disappeared."
Luca's jaw tightened.
"He left?"
Della nodded.
"No explanation."
"No goodbye."
"Just gone."
A familiar anger appeared inside Luca.
The same anger he felt toward Cordelia.
Toward anyone who hurt someone who could not fight back.
But Della noticed.
"Don't."
He looked at her.
"Don't what?"
"Don't hate him for me."
The answer surprised him.
"He abandoned you."
"Yes."
"And your child."
"Yes."
"Then why are you defending him?"
Della looked at him.
"I'm not."
A pause.
"I'm just tired of carrying anger that doesn't belong to me."
Luca became quiet.
That was Della.
Even hurt, she refused to become cruel.
"Does he know about the baby?"
She hesitated.
"Yes."
The answer changed something.
"When?"
"A month ago."
Luca turned toward her.
"You contacted him?"
"No."
"Then how?"
Della looked away.
"Someone told him."
A cold feeling entered Luca's chest.
"Who?"
She did not answer immediately.
That was the first time Luca saw fear in her eyes.
"Della."
She whispered:
"Your family."
Silence.
"My family?"
She nodded.
"Daniel contacted me after he received a message."
"What message?"
Della looked at him.
"That if he wanted to protect himself, he should stay away from me."
Luca stood.
"Who sent it?"
"I don't know."
But Luca already had a suspicion.
The Moretti family.
The Vance family.
Someone.
Anyone.
Who believed Della was a piece on a board.
He hated that.
Because Della was not a piece.
She was the person who had saved his life.
The person carrying a child who deserved better than the secrets surrounding them.
"Why didn't you tell me?"
Della looked up.
"Because I was afraid."
The answer stopped him.
"Of me?"
"No."
She shook her head.
"Of what you would do."
Luca understood.
She was not afraid he would hurt Daniel.
She was afraid he would use his power.
And she was right to worry.
Because the old Luca would have already destroyed everything connected to the man's name.
But Della had changed him.
Slowly.
Without trying.
"I won't do anything you don't want."
She searched his face.
"You promise?"
"Yes."
"Even if you hate him?"
A pause.
"Yes."
Della looked surprised.
Because Luca Moretti was a man whose promises were usually made with consequences.
This one was different.
This one was made with restraint.
That evening, Adrian arrived at Luca's office.
"We found Daniel Reed."
Luca looked up.
"Where?"
"Chicago."
"Alive?"
"Yes."
A pause.
"And there is something else."
Luca waited.
Adrian placed a file on the desk.
"Daniel Reed was not acting alone."
Luca opened the folder.
Inside were photographs.
Emails.
Financial records.
His expression changed.
Because Daniel had not simply abandoned Della.
He had been paid.
A large amount of money.
The sender was hidden.
But the account belonged to a company connected to—
Luca stopped.
The Vance family.
Meanwhile, Della sat alone in her apartment.
She looked at the ultrasound photograph on her table.
Her child.
The one person who had never betrayed her.
She whispered:
"I promise you something."
Her hand rested over her stomach.
"You will never grow up wondering if you matter."
A tear escaped.
"Because I know what that feels like."
Outside her window, a black car stopped.
A man stepped out.
Daniel Reed.
After three years of silence...
he had finally returned.
And he was not alone.
Because behind him stood someone Della never expected to see.
Someone from her past.
Someone who knew the truth about her father.
Someone who could explain why the Moretti family had hidden her.
The doorbell rang.
Della froze.
She looked toward the entrance.
A voice came from the hallway.
"Della."
Her blood turned cold.
Because she knew that voice.
And the last time she heard it...
she was still a child.
"Open the door."
Della slowly stood.
Her hand moved protectively over her stomach.
Because the secret of her child had finally been revealed.
May you like
But the secret of her own identity...
was only beginning.
