CHAPTER FOUR
CHAPTER FOUR
THE WOMAN BESIDE HIM
Camila Moretti had perfected the art of looking innocent.
She knew when to smile.
When to lower her eyes.
When to touch Julian's arm.
When to pretend she was hurt.
And most importantly—
she knew when to remain silent.
For four months, Julian had mistaken that silence for elegance.
He now understood it was calculation.
At 8:16 that morning, Camila sat alone in the penthouse restaurant of the Grand Alcazar.
She wore a cream-colored dress.
Her hair was perfectly styled.
A diamond bracelet rested around her wrist.
To anyone watching, she looked like a woman waiting patiently for the man she loved.
But underneath the table, her fingers were shaking.
Julian had disappeared after their argument.
He had not answered her messages.
He had not returned to the suite.
And he had not called.
That wasn't like him.
Camila checked her phone again.
Nothing.
She opened their message history.
Hundreds of conversations.
Dinner reservations.
Travel plans.
Photographs.
Promises.
But now every message looked different.
Because Julian knew about Elena.
And if he had discovered the recordings—
Camila's entire future was in danger.
Her phone vibrated.
A message appeared.
Richard: COME TO THE PRIVATE OFFICE. NOW.
Camila stood.
She left the restaurant without finishing her coffee.
Richard Rossi was waiting inside the hotel's private office.
He stood near the window with his hands behind his back.
Camila entered.
“You wanted to see me?”
Richard didn't turn.
“Where is Julian?”
“I don't know.”
“What do you mean?”
“He left last night.”
“Where?”
“I told you. I don't know.”
Richard finally turned.
His expression was cold.
“You were supposed to keep him occupied.”
“I tried.”
“You were supposed to make him believe Elena abandoned him.”
“He did.”
“Then why is he investigating?”
Camila's eyes hardened.
“Because he found her.”
Richard's face remained expressionless.
“You failed.”
“I didn't know she would be at the hotel.”
“You should have known.”
“You told me she was gone.”
Richard stepped toward her.
“She was supposed to stay gone.”
Camila stared at him.
“Your plan is falling apart.”
Richard slapped the desk.
“You don't tell me when my plans are falling apart.”
Camila flinched.
Then steadied herself.
“You promised me something.”
Richard looked at her.
“What?”
“You promised that if I helped you, Julian would marry me.”
Richard said nothing.
“You promised me the Rossi name.”
“You will get it.”
“When?”
“When Julian is under control.”
Camila laughed bitterly.
“He's never going to marry me now.”
Richard's eyes narrowed.
“Why?”
“Because Elena is pregnant.”
Richard's expression changed.
Only slightly.
But Camila saw it.
“You knew?”
Richard looked away.
“I suspected.”
“She says the baby is Julian's.”
“I know.”
“And you still expect me to stay?”
“Yes.”
“Why?”
Richard turned toward her.
“Because the baby cannot inherit while Elena is alive.”
Camila's face went pale.
“What are you saying?”
Richard walked closer.
“You wanted to become Julian Rossi's wife.”
“Yes.”
“Then understand this.”
He lowered his voice.
“You're no longer competing with Elena.”
Camila swallowed.
“You're competing with her child.”
Julian spent the morning in his mother's old study.
He had ordered the house staff to leave.
He needed silence.
He needed answers.
On the desk lay everything he had found.
Elena's recording.
The forged divorce agreement.
The ultrasound.
The photograph of Richard and Camila.
The old medical record.
The anonymous messages.
And one name repeated everywhere.
Camila Moretti.
Julian stared at her photograph.
Four months ago, she had appeared at a charity auction.
She had been standing beside a famous investor.
She had laughed.
They had spoken.
Three days later, she had somehow been invited to a private Rossi dinner.
Julian remembered thinking it was strange.
But not enough to question it.
Now he opened his email archive.
He searched her name.
Nothing.
Then he searched the name of her company.
Nothing.
He searched her address.
Nothing.
Finally, he searched her passport number.
The result shocked him.
Camila Moretti wasn't her real name.
Julian sat upright.
He searched again.
The same result.
He called his chief investigator.
“Send me everything on Camila Moretti.”
“Everything?”
“Birth records. Education. Travel. Financial accounts. Employment. Family.”
“How far back?”
“Her entire life.”
The investigator hesitated.
“Mr. Rossi…”
“What?”
“There may be a problem.”
“What problem?”
“We've already investigated her.”
Julian froze.
“Who ordered it?”
Silence.
“Answer me.”
“Your father.”
Julian closed his eyes.
Of course.
His father had known about Camila.
His father had introduced her into his life.
But why?
The investigator continued.
“There is something else.”
“What?”
“Her records are almost completely fabricated.”
Julian looked up.
“Meaning?”
“Her identity exists.”
“But?”
“The person behind the identity doesn't.”
Julian's blood went cold.
“Find her.”
“We're trying.”
“Try harder.”
He ended the call.
Then another thought occurred to him.
He opened Elena's files again.
One photograph showed Camila entering the Rossi estate.
The date was six months before Julian had ever met her.
Julian stared.
Six months.
She had been inside his home before they met.
Why?
He zoomed in.
Camila was carrying a folder.
Beside her was Richard.
And behind them—
Elena.
Julian's heart stopped.
He called Elena.
No answer.
Again.
Nothing.
He called the private number she had used at the clinic.
Still nothing.
Then a message arrived.
DO NOT TRUST CAMILA.
Julian stared at it.
He knew.
But he wanted to understand why.
At noon, Camila returned to the penthouse.
She had changed clothes.
She wore a soft blue blouse.
Her eyes were red.
She looked like a woman who had spent the morning crying.
Julian was waiting.
She opened the door.
“Julian.”
He didn't respond.
She walked toward him.
“Where were you?”
He looked at her.
“That's what I should be asking you.”
Camila froze.
“What?”
“Where were you six months before we met?”
Her expression changed.
“I don't understand.”
“Don't lie.”
She swallowed.
“I haven't lied to you.”
Julian placed a photograph on the table.
Camila looked at it.
Her face went white.
Richard.
Camila.
Elena.
The Rossi estate.
She stared at the photograph.
“Where did you get this?”
“So you admit it's you.”
“I…”
“Answer me.”
Camila stepped backward.
“I can explain.”
Julian laughed bitterly.
“That's what Elena said.”
“Julian—”
“You knew her.”
Camila shook her head.
“No.”
“You were inside my house.”
“No.”
“You met my father.”
“I…”
“You met Elena.”
Silence.
Julian's voice dropped.
“You knew my wife before you met me.”
Camila began crying.
“I didn't want to hurt you.”
“Then why did you?”
“I didn't.”
“You lied.”
“I was scared.”
“Of whom?”
Camila looked toward the door.
“Richard.”
Julian went still.
“What did he threaten you with?”
Camila didn't answer.
“Tell me.”
“He said he would destroy my family.”
Julian stared.
“What family?”
Camila wiped her tears.
“My younger brother.”
“What about him?”
“He has a criminal record.”
Julian frowned.
“He threatened to send him to prison.”
“Did he?”
“No.”
“Why?”
“Because I did what he wanted.”
Julian felt sick.
“What did he want?”
Camila looked at him.
“He wanted me to make you believe Elena had left because she was unfaithful.”
Julian's jaw tightened.
“What else?”
“He wanted you angry enough to divorce her.”
“And then?”
“Marry me.”
Julian stared at her.
“Why?”
Camila looked down.
“Because the Rossi family trust would change hands.”
Julian felt the last piece click into place.
The marriage.
The divorce.
The inheritance.
The baby.
Everything.
But there was still one question.
“Did you love me?”
Camila began crying harder.
“Yes.”
Julian looked away.
“That makes it worse.”
“I did love you.”
“No.”
He shook his head.
“You loved what I represented.”
Camila stepped closer.
“I never planned to fall in love with you.”
Julian stared at her.
“But you did.”
“Yes.”
“And you still betrayed me.”
“I was trapped.”
“You could have told me.”
“I was afraid.”
“You could have warned Elena.”
Camila's face crumbled.
“I tried.”
Julian stopped.
“What?”
“I tried once.”
“When?”
“Before she disappeared.”
Julian stepped closer.
“What did you tell her?”
Camila looked at him.
“I told her your father wanted her gone.”
Julian's eyes widened.
“And?”
“She didn't believe me.”
“Why?”
“Because she thought I was trying to steal you.”
Julian looked down.
For the first time, he realized the tragedy.
Elena had seen Camila as a rival.
Camila had been trying to warn her.
But Richard had positioned them against each other perfectly.
He had made two women fight over a man while he controlled the outcome.
Julian whispered:
“What happened after that?”
Camila hesitated.
“Your father found out.”
“What did he do?”
“He threatened me.”
“And Elena?”
Camila looked away.
“He told me that if Elena didn't disappear…”
Julian waited.
“…he would make sure you died.”
Julian's breathing stopped.
“You knew.”
“Yes.”
“And you still stayed with me.”
“I thought I could protect you.”
“You couldn't.”
“No.”
Camila wiped her face.
“I failed.”
Julian looked at her.
Then he noticed something.
A tiny scar on her wrist.
He remembered seeing it before.
He had asked her about it.
She had said it was from a childhood accident.
Now he understood.
Richard had hurt her.
Perhaps not physically.
But enough to leave a mark.
Julian sat down.
For several seconds, neither spoke.
Then Camila whispered:
“There's something else.”
Julian looked up.
“What?”
“Richard wasn't the one who started this.”
His eyes narrowed.
“Who was?”
Camila shook her head.
“I don't know.”
“You just said Richard controlled you.”
“He did.”
“Then who controlled him?”
Camila looked terrified.
“Someone above him.”
Julian's blood ran cold.
“Who?”
“I don't know his name.”
“Then how do you know he exists?”
“Because I saw him.”
“When?”
“The night Elena disappeared.”
Julian stood.
“Where?”
“At the chapel.”
He froze.
The same chapel.
The meeting place from the anonymous message.
Julian stared at her.
“What did you see?”
Camila whispered:
“Your father wasn't alone.”
“Who was with him?”
“A woman.”
“What woman?”
Camila shook her head.
“I didn't see her face.”
“What did she say?”
Camila closed her eyes.
“I heard her voice.”
“And?”
“She told your father something I'll never forget.”
Julian waited.
“She said…”
Camila's voice trembled.
“'The boy must survive.'”
Julian's face went pale.
“The boy?”
Camila nodded.
“I thought she meant you.”
Julian stared.
“But now…”
She looked toward his phone.
“…I think she meant your child.”
That evening, Julian returned to the chapel.
He went alone.
The building stood abandoned beneath a black sky.
Broken windows.
Cracked stone.
An old wooden door hanging from one hinge.
He entered.
His footsteps echoed.
“Hello?”
Nothing.
He walked toward the altar.
A single envelope lay on the floor.
His name was written on it.
JULIAN ROSSI
He opened it.
Inside was an old photograph.
A baby.
A hospital bracelet.
And a woman's handwriting.
YOU WERE NEVER TOLD ABOUT THE FIRST HEIR.
Julian stared.
Then another piece of paper slipped out.
A birth certificate.
The mother's name:
Elena Rossi.
Julian stopped breathing.
The father's name:
Julian Rossi.
Date of birth:
Six years ago.
He looked at the photograph again.
The baby was alive.
His child.
His first child.
Julian dropped into the nearest pew.
For years, he had believed Elena had suffered a miscarriage.
But the document said otherwise.
There had been a child.
A son.
And someone had made him disappear.
Then Julian noticed one final line on the certificate.
Current legal guardian: Richard Rossi.
His father.
Julian's hands shook.
A sound came from behind him.
He turned.
Nobody.
Then his phone rang.
Elena.
Julian answered immediately.
“Elena?”
Her voice was barely audible.
“Julian…”
“Where are you?”
“I can't tell you.”
“Listen to me.”
“What?”
“I know about the first child.”
Silence.
Then Elena began to cry.
“You found him.”
Julian's heart stopped.
“Where is he?”
“I don't know.”
“You're his mother.”
“I know.”
“Then where is our son?”
“I thought he was dead.”
Julian froze.
“What?”
“I was told he died.”
“Who told you?”
Elena whispered:
“Your father.”
Julian closed his eyes.
Everything suddenly made sense.
The first child.
The second pregnancy.
The inheritance.
Richard.
Camila.
The chapel.
The lies.
It had never been about Elena leaving.
It had never even been about Julian's marriage.
It had been about controlling the Rossi bloodline.
And somewhere in the world was a child who had been erased from his parents' lives.
Julian looked at the photograph.
His son.
Alive.
Perhaps.
Then Elena whispered:
“Julian, there's something you need to know.”
“What?”
“The child you're carrying…”
Julian's heart stopped.
“Elena, the baby is ours.”
“Yes.”
“Then what?”
She began crying.
“I wasn't the one who hid our first child.”
Julian stared into the darkness.
“Who did?”
Elena answered:
“Camila.”
The line went dead.
Julian stood frozen.
And suddenly, the woman he had thought was another victim of his father's conspiracy had become the most dangerous person in his life.
Camila had lied.
Elena had lied.
His father had lied.
And somewhere between them was a child Julian had never known existed.
A child who might still be alive.
A child who might be the key to destroying the Rossi empire.
May you like
And now Julian had only one question left.
Why had Camila hidden his son?
