Chapter 2 - The Birth Certificate Said Lorenzo Was My Father—Then My Mother Called the Blackwood Mansion and Begged Me to RunI read the birth certificate three times.
The first time, I thought it was a mistake.
The second time, I thought someone had forged it.
The third time, I stopped breathing.
Father: Lorenzo Blackwood.
I looked up.
Lorenzo was staring at me.
His eyes were wet.
Adrien looked furious.
Not at me.
At the document.
“Where did you get that?”
The doctor answered,
“From the hospital archives.”
Adrien took the paper.
He read it.
Then read it again.
“This isn't possible.”
I laughed bitterly.
“Apparently, it is.”
He looked at me.
“You knew?”
“No.”
“Your mother never told you?”
“No.”
“What did she tell you about your father?”
“That he died before I was born.”
Adrien stared at the birth certificate.
Lorenzo closed his eyes.
I suddenly understood the silence.
My entire life had been built around a lie.
My father was not a stranger.
He was Lorenzo Blackwood.
The man sitting ten feet away from me.
The man whose son I had just served bread to.
Adrien was—
my brother.
The thought was too absurd to hold.
I looked at him.
He looked back.
Neither of us spoke.
Then Lorenzo whispered,
“Claraara.”
My heart broke.
It was the first time he had said my name.
I moved closer.
“Why didn't you find me?”
He looked down.
Tears rolled down his cheeks.
Adrien sat beside him.
“Father couldn't.”
“Why?”
“Because he believed your mother died.”
“She didn't.”
“We know.”
I pulled out my phone.
“I'll call her.”
Adrien stopped me.
“Not yet.”
“Why?”
“We need to know who is listening.”
I glared.
“She is my mother.”
“And this family has enemies.”
“I don't care.”
“I do.”
“You don't get to control this.”
His jaw tightened.
“You walked into a restaurant tonight and changed my entire family.”
“I didn't ask to.”
“I know.”
“Then don't treat me like a threat.”
His expression softened.
“I don't.”
He hesitated.
“I don't know what to treat you as.”
Silence.
Then my phone rang.
Mom.
I answered.
“Mom?”
Her breathing was shaky.
“Where are you?”
“New York.”
Silence.
Then she whispered,
“Claraara, listen to me.”
“What happened?”
“Leave.”
My heart dropped.
“What?”
“Leave New York immediately.”
“Why?”
“Do not trust the Blackwoods.”
I looked at Lorenzo.
Then Adrien.
“Mom…”
“Did you speak to him?”
“To whom?”
“Lorenzo.”
I closed my eyes.
“Yes.”
She began crying.
“Oh God.”
“Mom, what's happening?”
“He promised me he would protect you.”
“What?”
“Your father.”
The word hit me.
“My father is Lorenzo?”
Silence.
Then:
“Yes.”
I covered my mouth.
“Why did you lie?”
“I had to.”
“Why?”
“Because someone wanted you dead.”
I looked at Adrien.
“Who?”
“I don't know.”
“You do.”
She cried.
“I know enough.”
“Tell me.”
“No.”
“Mom.”
“Listen to me.”
Her voice became urgent.
“The Blackwoods are not the family you think they are.”
I looked at Lorenzo.
“Then tell me what they are.”
She whispered,
“They are the reason I disappeared.”
The line went dead.
I stared at the phone.
Adrien stood.
“We're going to Ohio.”
I nodded.
Lorenzo tried to rise.
He almost fell.
I caught him.
The moment my hand touched his arm, his eyes filled with tears.
He whispered,
“Daughter.”
I couldn't help myself.
I hugged him.
He held me like he was afraid I would vanish.
For several seconds, neither of us moved.
Then Adrien turned away.
He looked overwhelmed.
The next morning, we flew to Ohio.
Security surrounded the hospital.
My mother was in a private room.
When she saw me, she cried.
When she saw Lorenzo, she stopped breathing.
They stared at each other.
Twenty-three years of secrets collapsed into one silence.
Lorenzo whispered,
“Maria.”
She began crying.
“You survived.”
“So did you.”
“I thought you died.”
“I thought you forgot me.”
He shook his head.
“Never.”
I stood between them.
“Tell me everything.”
My mother looked at me.
“You were never supposed to know.”
“I'm tired of everyone deciding what I can handle.”
She closed her eyes.
Then began.
Twenty-three years earlier, she had worked at Saint Vincent Hospital.
Lorenzo had been admitted after an attempted assassination.
She had been assigned to him.
They fell in love.
Secretly.
But Lorenzo's family hated the relationship.
His father arranged for Maria to disappear.
She was pregnant.
With me.
She ran.
Lorenzo tried to find her.
But he was told she had died.
He went searching.
Someone created fake medical records.
Fake death certificates.
Fake travel records.
And then Lorenzo's wife became sick.
He returned to his family.
Maria raised me alone.
But someone kept watching us.
“Who?” I asked.
My mother shook her head.
“Your father's brother.”
“Uncle?”
“Silas.”
I stared.
“Silas Blackwood.”
She nodded.
“He believed Lorenzo would eventually destroy the family.”
“Why?”
“Because Lorenzo wanted to leave the criminal business.”
That surprised me.
“My father wanted to leave?”
“Yes.”
“Then why didn't he?”
“Because he couldn't leave alone.”
My mother looked at Lorenzo.
“He had a son.”
Adrien.
“And later, a daughter.”
Me.
Silence.
Lorenzo reached for my hand.
“I would have taken you.”
My mother's eyes filled.
“I know.”
“Then why?”
“Because Silas threatened her.”
I looked at Lorenzo.
“He knew about me?”
“He knew.”
“Why didn't he kill me?”
“Because he needed you.”
I froze.
“For what?”
My mother hesitated.
Then:
“Your bloodline.”
“What?”
“Your grandmother had a trust.”
A hidden inheritance.
Control of a Blackwood foundation.
A voting block.
And a clause that transferred everything to Lorenzo's first daughter.
Me.
Suddenly the truth became clearer.
I wasn't just Lorenzo's hidden child.
I was a legal threat.
Silas needed me alive long enough to control my inheritance.
Then he would eliminate me.
I looked at Adrien.
“What happens now?”
His answer was simple.
“He will come for you.”
My mother began crying.
I held her.
Then a nurse screamed in the hallway.
Gunfire exploded.
Security moved.
Adrien pulled me behind him.
Lorenzo struggled to stand.
Men flooded the hospital.
Someone shouted,
“Protect the girl!”
I realized something terrifying.
They didn't want me dead yet.
They wanted me alive.
May you like
Because I was worth more alive than dead.
And whoever was coming for me knew exactly why.
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