CHAPTER 2: THE GIRL WITH ISABELLA'S EYES
Untouchable.
No one spoke Isabella's name anymore.
Until one rainy afternoon.
Lucas collapsed in his office from a heart attack.
Everyone froze.
No one moved.
Except a ten-year-old girl visiting the building with her school charity program.
She immediately began CPR.
"Call 911!" she screamed.
Against all odds, Lucas survived.
Hours later, when he opened his eyes in the hospital, the little girl was sleeping in a chair beside him.
Lucas looked at her.
And froze.
She had Isabella's eyes.
END OF CHAPTER 1.
"What is your name?" Lucas asked softly.
The little girl smiled.
"Lily Carter."
"Where are your parents?"
The smile disappeared.
"My mom died when I was little."
Lucas felt something twist inside his chest.
"And your father?"
Lily hesitated.
"I've never met him."
Lucas couldn't explain it, but he felt strangely connected to her.
Before leaving the hospital, he handed Lily his card.
"If you ever need anything, call me."
Three weeks later, Lucas received a call.
Lily had collapsed at school.
Severe asthma attack.
Without hesitation, Lucas rushed to the hospital.
Lily's foster mother looked exhausted.
"The treatments are expensive," she admitted.
Lucas immediately paid every medical bill.
As the months passed, Lucas became part of Lily's life.
He attended school plays.
Birthday parties.
Doctor appointments.
For the first time in years, he smiled again.
Victor noticed.
"You've grown attached," Victor said one evening.
Lucas nodded.
"She reminds me of Isabella."
Victor suddenly looked uncomfortable.
Lucas frowned.
"What's wrong?"
"Nothing."
But later that night, Victor secretly made a phone call.
"We have a problem," he whispered.
"The girl is getting too close."
Lucas knew nothing about that conversation.
Until weeks later.
Lily was kidnapped.
Security cameras showed masked men taking her outside school.
Lucas exploded.
"Find her!"
For seventy-two hours, the entire Moretti organization searched.
Finally, one kidnapper was captured.
Lucas personally interrogated him.
"Who hired you?"
The terrified man broke almost immediately.
"You won't believe me."
Lucas slammed his fist on the table.
"Try me."
The kidnapper whispered one name.
Victor Romano.
Lucas stared.
"No."
The man nodded desperately.
"He said the girl could never be allowed to tell you the truth."
Lucas felt ice run through his veins.
"What truth?"
The kidnapper began crying.
May you like
"That Lily's mother is still alive."
END OF CHAPTER 2.
