CHAPTER 8— THE WORSE TRUTH

Hohenegg Clinic, voice said, we have more papers about Miss Vale, you asked for truth, we found truth, it is worse than fake cancer, do you want us to send.

I stood outside boardroom, Leo playing on floor with Lorenzo, both grey eyes same, but my hand cold holding phone.

Send, I said, send now.

Email came, one file, one scan, doctor note from three years ago, not in English, in German, but translation below.

I read, my blood cold.

Patient Seraphina Vale, age twenty nine, admitted for anxiety, not cancer, treatment rest and talk, patient asked for fake report, said she needs paper for marriage, doctor refused, patient offered money, fifty thousand euro, doctor wrote that he refused but nurse wrote fake report without his sign, nurse later fired.

And second paper, more recent, from same clinic, last year.

Patient Seraphina Vale returned, asked for new treatment, said she cannot have child, womb damaged from old surgery, she wanted paper that says she can have child, doctor refused again.

I read twice, then again.

Not only fake cancer, she cannot have child, but she told Lorenzo she can, she told board she will give Blackwood an heir.

I walked back into boardroom, Lorenzo still on floor playing car with Leo, suit dirty, but happy.

Lorenzo, I said, I have more paper, worse than before.

He stood up, looked at me.

What worse, he asked.

Seraphina, I said, she cannot have child, she knew last year, she still told you she can, she lied again.

Lorenzo took phone, read email, face changed again, from sad to angry.

Where is she now, he asked to assistant.

She left building, assistant said, she went to car.

Lorenzo looked at Leo, then at me.

Keep Leo here, he said, I will come back in ten minutes, please.

He ran out, door bang, fast steps in hall.

Board members looked at me, twelve men, uncomfortable, but one spoke.

Mrs Blackwood, I mean Miss Aria, he said, sorry, we did not know, we thought Seraphina was sick, we thought she was good wife.

She is not sick, I said, she was never sick, she lied for money and for name.

Leo tugged my dress.

Mama, he said, where did dad go, will he play again.

He will come back, I said, he will come back soon.

Outside, on street, Lorenzo found Seraphina car, black car, door open, she inside.

Seraphina, he said, open door.

She opened, eyes still red.

You come to say sorry, she said.

No, he said, I come to ask truth, can you have child.

Her face went white, white like paper.

Who told you that, she said.

Hohenegg sent file, he said, last year you went there, doctor said you cannot have child, you knew, you told me you can, you told board you will give heir, why.

She stepped out of car, white dress dirty now.

Because you want son, she shouted, you always wanted son, she gave you son, I cannot give son, so I had to lie, I had to keep you.

Keep me with lie, he said, you kept me three years with lie about cancer, now second lie about child, what else is lie.

Everything you believed was lie, she said, laugh now, crazy laugh, I never loved you, I loved your name, Blackwood, I loved money, I loved house, you were easy, you felt guilty, you thought you made me sick, so you married me.

Lorenzo stood still, like stone.

I did not make you sick, he said.

No, she said, you made nothing, you were just stupid man who thought love is duty.

Inside building, I heard loud voice from street, I took Leo, Rhys with me, we went down, elevator fast.

We came to street, people looking, Seraphina and Lorenzo in middle of sidewalk, arguing.

Leo held my hand tight.

Mama, he said, dad is shouting.

Lorenzo saw us, saw Leo, he stopped shouting.

Seraphina saw Leo too, eyes narrowed.

Ah, your son, she said, your perfect son with perfect eyes, you think he will save you, you think board will want you now because you have heir, but I am still Mrs Blackwood, I have paper, marriage paper, you cannot remove me easy.

I stepped forward, Leo behind me.

You have marriage paper, I said, but paper built on lie is no marriage, you lied about cancer, you lied about child, court will see that.

Court, she laughed, you think court cares, I have lawyers, best lawyers, I will take half of Blackwood.

You will take nothing, Lorenzo said, voice low but hard, you took three years of my life, you took my son first three years, you will take nothing more.

He turned to me, eyes soft now, but tired.

Aria, he said, I am sorry, sorry for everything, I know sorry is small word now, but I am sorry, I was blind, I lost you, I lost Leo three years, can you forgive.

I looked at Leo, Leo looked at Lorenzo.

Mama, Leo said, is dad sad.

Yes, I said, dad is sad.

Leo walked to Lorenzo, small steps, then hugged his leg.

Do not be sad dad, he said, small voice, we can play car again.

Lorenzo kneeled, hugged Leo tight, big man crying now, not hiding.

At that moment, Another car came fast, police car, white and blue, two men out.

Miss Seraphina Vale, one said, we have call from Hohenegg Clinic about fake medical report, fraud, need you to come with us for questions.

Seraphina face went from white to grey.

No, she said, no, it is mistake, I did not do fraud.

Paper says fifty thousand euro paid for fake report, police said, we need to check.

They took her, white dress, into police car for questions, door closed, car left, not arrest, only questions, she will be back tomorrow

Silence on sidewalk, New York noise far.

Lorenzo held Leo, Leo held car, I stood close.

What now, I whispered.

Now we go home, Lorenzo said, but not Blackwood tower, not that house, we go where we can be three, only three.