Part 5: The Truth Finally Reached Him
Part 5: The Truth Finally Reached Him
For several long seconds, Damiano did not move.
His thumb slowly traced the edge of the paper heart Emily had handed him.
Then he looked at Sofia.
"What happened?"
The question was quiet.
Too quiet.
Sofia immediately shook her head.
"Mr. Verrone... please. Not here."
But it was already too late.
Damiano had noticed the panic in her voice.
And panic always had a reason.
He turned toward Rafael.
"Find out everything."
"Tonight."
Rafael nodded once.
He disappeared without another word.
Meanwhile, the orchestra resumed playing, hoping to erase the uncomfortable silence.
The guests began pretending nothing unusual had happened.
But whispers spread through the ballroom anyway.
"Who is that little girl?"
"Why is Damiano holding her?"
"I've never seen him smile at a child before."
Don Emilio Castri narrowed his eyes.
"Interesting..."
Don Silvio quietly sipped his wine.
"This isn't about the child."
"It's about the mother."
An hour later, the gala finally ended.
The last guests departed.
The mansion slowly grew quiet again.
Damiano walked into his private study with Rafael following behind.
Without sitting down, Rafael placed a thick folder onto the desk.
"I already checked."
"So fast?"
"I started the moment you picked up the girl."
Damiano opened the file.
Every page made his expression darker.
Sofia Bennett.
Age twenty-eight.
Single mother.
Working two jobs.
Housekeeper during the day.
Cleaning offices at night.
No criminal record.
Excellent references.
No family support.
No government assistance except basic health coverage.
He turned another page.
Hospital records.
Emergency room visits.
Untreated fractures.
Bruises.
Photographs.
Repeated injuries over three years.
Damiano slowly raised his eyes.
"Who did this?"
Rafael answered immediately.
"Her ex-husband."
"Victor Hale."
"He violated three restraining orders."
Damiano frowned.
"Then why is he still free?"
Rafael's jaw tightened.
"He has connections."
"Two witnesses withdrew."
"Evidence disappeared."
"The prosecutor eventually dropped the case."
Silence settled inside the study.
Then Rafael added something else.
"There's more."
He slid another photograph across the desk.
Damiano picked it up.
It showed Emily standing outside her elementary school.
Victor was parked across the street.
Watching.
Another photo.
Victor following Sofia home.
Another.
Victor standing outside the office building where she cleaned at midnight.
Damiano's fingers slowly curled around the photographs.
"He still follows them."
"Every week," Rafael confirmed.
"He threatens her constantly."
"She refuses to tell the police anymore."
"She believes no one will protect them."
Damiano stared at Emily's crayon heart lying beside the folder.
One sentence echoed inside his mind.
"Can I borrow you as my daddy... just for one day?"
Children did not invent requests like that.
They learned them from fear.
He looked back at Rafael.
"Where are they now?"
"In the servants' apartment."
"They're packing."
Damiano frowned.
"Packing?"
"Sofia submitted her resignation tonight."
Rafael handed him a folded envelope.
Damiano opened it.
Inside was a handwritten letter.
Thank you for everything.
Emily embarrassed you in front of your guests.
We never meant to cause trouble.
We'll leave before sunrise.
Please don't punish the other staff because of us.
— Sofia
Damiano finished reading.
Then he quietly folded the letter.
For the first time that night...
He looked angry.
Not at Sofia.
May you like
Not at Emily.
At the world that had convinced a terrified little girl that borrowing a father for one day was easier than asking for protection forever.
