Standing directly behind him was his own uncle, Richard Moreto.
Lily immediately screamed.
“That’s him!”
Richard’s smile vanished.
Mr. Moreto stepped between him and Ethan.
“What did you do?”
Richard laughed nervously.
“You’re seriously trusting a three-year-old?”
Then a security guard noticed Richard’s hand inside his jacket.
“Take your hand out. Now.”
Richard didn’t move.
Two guards grabbed him.
Something slipped from his pocket and smashed onto the marble floor.
A tiny glass vial.
The ballroom erupted.
Ethan stared at his uncle.
“Why would you want me dead?”
Richard suddenly shouted:
“Because you were NEVER supposed to inherit this family!”
Silence.
Mr. Moreto’s face went white.
“What did you just say?”
Richard realized his mistake.
But before he could answer, Lily’s mother slowly stood.
She was staring at Richard as if she had seen a ghost.
“I know him.”
Everyone turned toward the maid.
Mr. Moreto whispered:
“From where?”
Her eyes filled with tears.
“From the hospital…”
She looked directly at Ethan.
“The night he was born.”
Ethan stopped breathing.
Then she revealed the secret Richard had apparently spent thirty years trying to bury:
“There were two newborn boys in that room that night.”
Mr. Moreto froze.
The maid continued.
“And one of them disappeared before sunrise.”
Ethan stared at his father.
“Dad… which baby was I?”
Mr. Moreto couldn’t answer.
Because Richard suddenly began laughing.
Then he looked Ethan directly in the eyes.
“You still think Moreto is your real name?”
The entire ballroom fell silent.
