Chapter 16 - Helena’s Hidden Daughter
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Lucia Bellucci was alive.
That did not excuse Helena.
But it changed something.
Twenty years earlier, Helena had given birth to a baby girl during a chaotic period in the family.
The child had severe medical complications.
The Belluccis were told Lucia died before leaving the hospital.
That story was false.
Not because Helena invented it.
Because Lucia’s father took the child.
Anthony Vale.
He was not just Helena’s former fiancé.
He was Lucia’s father.
Helena had been nineteen.
Anthony was older.
Controlling.
When the relationship collapsed, he disappeared with the baby after arranging private custody through relatives.
Helena spent years searching.
Eventually, she found Lucia.
Alive.
Raised under another surname.
Lucia wanted no relationship with her.
But Helena started sending money anyway.
Five thousand a month.
Sometimes more.
Carmine sat quietly.
Jonathan said—
“This may be part of her motive.”
“Part.”
Not all.
Helena had apparently become obsessed with never being powerless again.
Anthony re-entered her life three years earlier.
He still had access to information about Lucia.
He used it.
Helena used him too.
Their partnership was toxic in both directions.
Anthony helped build Belmont.
Helena funneled money.
Some money enriched them.
Some went secretly toward Lucia.
But millions were not needed for five-thousand-dollar transfers.
Helena had also purchased jewelry.
Travel.
The Bentley.
Power became its own appetite.
Carmine visited Helena through attorneys only once after learning about Lucia.
He did not bring Leo.
They spoke in a monitored legal room.
“You lost a child.”
Helena looked up.
“Yes.”
“And then you terrorized mine.”
Her eyes filled.
“It wasn’t like that.”
“It was exactly like that.”
“I never hurt him badly.”
Carmine’s expression hardened.
“That sentence should disgust you.”
Helena looked down.
“I thought fear made children listen.”
“Because fear made you listen?”
She said nothing.
Anthony had controlled her when she was young.
Threatened access to Lucia.
Threatened abandonment.
Threatened poverty.
Helena eventually escaped him.
Then, years later, she recreated the same system around other people.
Carmine finally understood.
Understanding was not forgiveness.
“I’m sorry about Lucia.”
Helena looked surprised.
He continued.
“I mean that.”
Her eyes filled.
“And I still want you nowhere near Leo.”
She nodded slowly.
For the first time, she did not argue.
Carmine stood.
Then Helena whispered—
“Does he hate me?”
Carmine stopped.
“He’s three.”
She looked at him.
“He shouldn’t have to carry that.”
Carmine left.
Outside, he felt no victory.
Only sadness.
Cycles could explain cruelty.
They did not excuse repeating it.
Then Jonathan called.
Lucia herself had contacted prosecutors.
She had learned her name was appearing in Helena’s case.
And she had something to say.
Not in defense of Helena.
About Anthony.
May you like
👉 Helena’s hidden daughter had stayed silent for years—but she possessed evidence that could finally expose how Anthony helped turn Helena’s fear into a multimillion-dollar scheme.
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