Chapter 8 - The Child She Never Mentioned
Robert didn't sleep.
At 6:12 the next morning, another message arrived.
An address.
A school.
A name.
Sophie Cole, age 9.
Robert stared at the screen.
Daniel arrived before breakfast.
Together, they verified the records.
Sophie Cole had been born during Bianca's marriage to Ethan.
Mother listed:
Bianca DeLuca.
Robert sat back.
"She has a daughter."
Rosalie whispered.
"And she never told us."
Robert thought about every conversation they'd had about children.
Bianca saying she had always dreamed of becoming a mother.
Bianca telling him Livia would be "the daughter she never had."
Bianca crying while discussing whether they should have another baby.
All of it.
A lie.
"Why hide her own child?" Rosalie asked.
Daniel's expression was grim.
"Custody."
He had obtained public court records.
Four years earlier, Ethan had received primary custody after a contentious divorce.
Not because Bianca was legally barred from seeing Sophie.
But because Bianca had repeatedly left the child with caregivers while traveling.
She had also used money from a joint education account without Ethan's approval.
Robert's jaw tightened.
"How much?"
"Nearly seventy thousand dollars."
Rosalie looked sick.
"So this wasn't the first time."
"No."
Robert's phone rang.
Unknown number.
He answered.
"Robert Balboa?"
A man's voice.
"Yes."
"This is Ethan Cole."
Robert stood.
"Where is Bianca?"
"With me."
Robert's body tightened.
Ethan continued quickly.
"Not the way you think."
"You bought a house together."
"No. She used my company."
"Why?"
"Because she said she was paying back money she owed Sophie."
Robert glanced at Daniel.
"What money?"
Ethan exhaled.
"That's why I called."
He explained.
Six months earlier, Bianca contacted him unexpectedly.
She claimed she regretted everything.
She wanted to rebuild a relationship with Sophie.
Ethan was suspicious.
Then Bianca transferred $40,000 into Sophie's education account.
A month later, another $60,000.
"Where did she say it came from?" Robert asked.
"Consulting work."
Robert closed his eyes.
His household accounts.
Ethan continued.
"Then she asked me to buy the Connecticut property through my company."
"Why would you?"
"She said it was an investment for Sophie."
"And yesterday?"
"She showed up terrified."
"What did she say?"
"That you'd attacked her and were trying to destroy her."
Robert looked at Daniel.
Ethan's voice became quieter.
"But then I saw the news online about the canceled wedding."
Robert frowned.
"What news?"
"Some guest posted about the ceremony being called off."
Ethan paused.
"And Sophie heard Bianca on the phone."
"Talking to who?"
"I don't know."
"What did she say?"
Another pause.
"She said, 'The girl was supposed to be gone before he found out.'"
Robert's blood ran cold.
"Livia?"
"I think so."
Daniel leaned closer to the phone.
"Ethan, do not confront her. Call the police."
Ethan replied immediately.
"I already did."
A crash sounded through the phone.
Then a girl's scream.
"Sophie!"
May you like
The line went dead.
👉 Bianca had spent months trying to push Livia out of Robert's life—but now her own hidden daughter had overheard something that made Bianca panic.
