Chapter Five — The Woman in the Photograph

Lena's mother arrived at midnight.

The moment the doors opened, Lena ran toward her.

"Mum!"

Her mother pulled her into a tight embrace.

For several seconds, neither spoke.

Lena could feel her mother's hands trembling.

"Are you okay?"

Her mother nodded.

"I'm fine."

"No, you're not."

Lena pulled back.

"Who took you?"

Her mother's eyes moved toward Damian.

She immediately stepped away.

"Lena..."

"What?"

"Who told you about the blue room?"

Lena froze.

"You know about it."

Her mother's face changed.

"I shouldn't have said that."

"Who is the woman in the photographs?"

Silence.

"Mum."

Her mother looked toward the floor.

"Your father wanted to tell you."

"When?"

"Before he died."

"Then why didn't he?"

Her mother's eyes filled with tears.

"Because he was afraid."

"Of what?"

"Of them."

Lena felt frustrated.

"Everyone keeps saying 'them.' Who are they?"

Her mother whispered:

"The Romano family."

Lena turned toward Damian.

He didn't move.

"You said my father trusted you."

"He did."

"My mother says your family is responsible."

Damian looked at her mother.

"Is that what you believe?"

Her mother shook her head.

"No."

Damian frowned.

"Then what?"

She looked at Lena.

"Your father was trying to protect you from them."

"Why?"

Her mother took a deep breath.

"Because nineteen years ago, there was a war between two families."

Lena listened.

"The Carters and the Romanos."

"Why?"

"Money. Power. Territory."

Lena looked at Damian.

"And the woman?"

Her mother closed her eyes.

"She was the reason the war began."

"Who was she?"

Her mother didn't answer.

Damian finally spoke.

"Her name was Isabella."

Lena looked at him.

"Who was she?"

"My mother."

Silence.

Lena stared.

The woman in the photograph was Damian's mother.

But why was she holding a baby?

She suddenly understood.

"The baby."

Damian nodded.

"You."

Lena's breath caught.

She looked at the photograph again.

Damian's mother.

Her father.

A baby.

Damian.

Something didn't make sense.

"How old were you?"

"Nineteen."

"And the baby?"

"Not me."

Lena froze.

"What?"

Damian looked at her.

"The baby was you."

Her mother covered her mouth.

Lena stepped backward.

"No."

Damian continued.

"Isabella wasn't holding me."

"Then why was she holding me?"

"Because she was your mother."

The room went silent.

Lena felt dizzy.

"My mother?"

Damian nodded.

"The woman who raised you wasn't your biological mother."

Lena turned toward the woman standing beside her.

Her mother was crying.

"I'm sorry."

Lena couldn't speak.

She looked at Damian.

"You knew."

"Yes."

"How long?"

"Since before I met you."

She shook her head.

"Then why did you marry me?"

Damian's expression hardened.

"I didn't marry you for love."

Lena's heart sank.

"Then why?"

He looked at the photograph.

"Because your mother left one final instruction."

"What?"

Damian reached into his jacket.

He pulled out an old letter.

He handed it to Lena.

She opened it.

The handwriting was elegant.

The first line made her stop breathing.

To my daughter, Lena.

Her hands shook.

She continued reading.

If you're reading this, then the truth has finally found you.

I am sorry.

Your father is not the man who raised you.

The man you call your father saved you from the Romano family nineteen years ago.

Lena's eyes filled with tears.

She read the next line.

But he couldn't save you from your inheritance.

She looked up.

"What inheritance?"

Damian said nothing.

Her mother whispered:

"Your grandfather was the founder of the Romano empire."

Lena stared at her.

"What?"

"You are the last surviving heir."

The room seemed to disappear.

Damian stepped closer.

"That's why they want you."

Lena looked at the letter.

"Who?"

He answered quietly.

"Everyone who wants control of the Romano empire."

She looked at him.

"And you?"

Damian's eyes met hers.

"I was ordered to protect you."

"By whom?"

He hesitated.

Then he said:

"Your real father."

Lena's heart stopped.

"My father is alive?"

Damian didn't answer.

Instead, his phone rang.

He looked at the screen.

His expression changed.

Lena knew immediately that something was wrong.

"What happened?"

Damian answered.

"Where?"

A pause.

"How many?"

Another pause.

His eyes moved toward Lena.

"Don't touch him."

He ended the call.

Lena stood.

"What happened?"

Damian looked at her.

"Your father has been found."

Her heart leaped.

"He's alive?"

Damian nodded.

"But there's a problem."

"What?"

"He isn't the man you think he is."

Lena stared at him.

Then the lights in the mansion went out.

Again.

A gunshot sounded somewhere downstairs.

Lena screamed.

Damian grabbed her hand and pulled her behind him.

Security alarms began blaring.

Then a voice echoed through the darkness.

"Lena Carter."

She froze.

The voice continued.

"Or should I call you..."

"Princess Romano?"

Lena looked at Damian.

His face was completely expressionless.

Then he whispered:

"Don't answer."

Another voice came through the speakers.

A woman's voice this time.

Calm.

Familiar.

And impossible.

"Hello, daughter."

Lena stopped breathing.

Because the woman speaking...

was the woman from the photograph.

Isabella.