Chapter 11 - THE LAST DOCUMENT
By sunrise, the entire vault had been photographed.
Federal agents carried boxes from the chapel.
Lorenzo stood beside me, silent.
Lena sat on a bench holding her teddy bear.
Then an investigator handed me a sealed envelope.
“This was addressed to you.”
I stared at the handwriting.
Gabriel.
My hands shook as I opened it.
Sophia,
If Lena ever reaches Lorenzo, it means I failed to protect you both.
I read the next line twice.
You are not her mother by accident.
My breath caught.
The letter revealed the truth.
Years earlier, Gabriel had discovered Matteo's plan.
He knew his daughter would be targeted.
He also knew that I was the only person he trusted enough to raise her.
He had arranged for me to become Lena's legal guardian after his death.
Then came the final sentence.
Lorenzo will protect her because he knows what it means to lose family.
I looked at Lorenzo.
He was already looking at me.
Neither of us spoke.
For the first time, I understood.
May you like
Gabriel hadn't simply left me his daughter.
He had left me a future.
