Carmen stood frozen, her mind refusing to process what she was seeing.
One moment, Matteo had been upstairs.
Then, minutes later, he was outside the gate with a small suitcase, looking completely at ease.
Her heart pounded painfully in her chest.
This felt like a horror movie.
First, the empty, untouched bedroom.
Now, this?
It was impossible.
And yet—
Matteo stood there, smiling up at her like nothing was wrong.
“Hi, Mama,” he had said, his voice light, innocent. But there was nothing innocent about this. This wasn’t normal. This wasn’t real.
Carmen felt her legs go weak beneath her.
Marco stepped forward, his jaw clenched, his entire body tense.
“We need to take another DNA test,” he said coldly.
Luca, who had been standing stiffly beside him, nodded sharply.
“Yeah,” Luca muttered. “Because this? This isn’t f**king right.”
Marco’s gaze never left Matteo.
“We need to know if this is the real one… or the fake one.”
Marco didn’t waste time.
He called the doctor immediately, demanding another test.
Within the hour, they were back at the hospital.
Marco slammed his hands on the front desk, his voice sharp, unrelenting.
“I need the results today.”
Michael, the doctor, looked at Marco’s face and didn’t even argue.
“I’ll have them processed as fast as possible,” he promised.
Marco nodded stiffly, stepping back, his arms folded tightly over his chest.
Carmen barely heard them.
She was too focused on Matteo.
He sat in the chair, kicking his feet back and forth, humming softly to himself.
Completely unbothered.
Like this wasn’t about proving whether he was their real son or not. Like it was just another normal day. Carmen’s hands tightened into fists.
“You’re too calm,” she whispered.
Matteo looked up, blinking at her.
“What, Mama?” he asked sweetly.
Carmen swallowed hard.
“You’re not scared,” she murmured.
Matteo tilted his head, confused.
“Why would I be scared?” Carmen didn’t answer. Because she knew.
A child—a real child—would be scared. Would be nervous. Would be confused about why his parents were testing him.
But Matteo? He wasn’t confused at all.
Back at the mansion, they sat Matteo down at the kitchen table. Marco’s patience was wearing thin.
“Where were you, Matteo?” he asked, his voice clipped.
Matteo took a slow sip of his juice, completely relaxed.
“In a beautiful mansion,” he said.
Carmen’s throat tightened. “And the nanny was taking care of me,” Matteo added, his small fingers drumming against the table.
Marco and Carmen exchanged a look. “Okay,” Carmen said slowly. “What did the mansion look like?”
Matteo shrugged, smiling. “I don’t know much.”
“Matteo,” Marco’s voice hardened. “Think.”
Matteo blinked up at him. Then, after a long pause, he simply said—
“I can’t tell much.”
“Why not?” Carmen pressed.
Matteo’s smile didn’t waver. “Because the nanny said secrets are important.”
Carmen’s stomach turned. She felt physically sick. Marco’s face darkened, his fingers twitching on the table. He was about to demand more answers when his phone buzzed.
Marco snatched it up, answering immediately.
“Tell me.”
Michael’s voice came through the line.
“We’re bringing the DNA results to your estate now.”
An hour later, Michael arrived, a sealed envelope in his hands. Marco took it, his fingers trembling slightly as he ripped it open. Carmen stood so still, she wasn’t even breathing. Luca leaned against the counter, his arms folded tightly.
Marco’s eyes scanned the document. His face didn’t change. Didn’t twitch. Didn’t show a single emotion.
“Well?” Luca asked impatiently.
Marco finally exhaled sharply, dropping the paper onto the table.
Then, his voice came out low, controlled.
“This Matteo… is the real one.”
Silence. A long, thick, suffocating silence. Carmen’s head snapped up.
“What?”
Marco pinched the bridge of his nose, his jaw tight.
“He’s ours.”