Miranda sat in her sleek, polished office, papers sprawled across her desk.
The Luca Falcone situation was spiraling out of control, and she knew that if she didn't handle it soon, it could all blow up in their faces.
Luca was still recovering in the hospital, but he was becoming more coherent with each passing day. He kept asking for Y/N and Elizabeth, becoming insistent on seeing them, his questions becoming harder for doctors and nurses to deflect. Miranda had stationed Sofia's security personnel at Luca's hospital room door, blocking anyone from entering. She had also been paying off the doctors to assure Luca he wasn't ready for visitors yet, but those excuses were wearing thin.
The more time Miranda spent strategizing ways to keep Luca away, the more she realized this situation needed a permanent fix, but bringing Sofia into the mix could complicate things further, so she decided to search for a way to resolve this herself. There had to be some loophole, some hidden detail in the Falcone family documents that would keep Luca out for good.
Hours passed as Miranda poured over stacks of files, papers, and records. She went through every Falcone-related document she could find, scouring for anything that could legally keep Luca away from Y/N's company, her family, and her life. But it seemed like Luca was every bit as important as Y/N.
He and Y/N were technically equal heirs to their father's empire, each with a 50% stake in Falcone Entertainment and Casa Falcone. It dawned on Miranda that if Luca reappeared publicly, he'd have the right to step in as CEO. Not only would that threaten Y/N's control, but it would also put her job as COO under his scrutiny. Luca would hold a final say in every decision she made—a thought Miranda could hardly bear.
Her frustration growing, Miranda flipped through a set of older documents from the Falcone estate, her eyes catching on a page labeled, "Final Will of Lorenzo Falcone." Curiosity piqued, she scanned the document, reading every line carefully. Lorenzo's will specified that his inheritance would be split 50/50 among his children, but there was a key detail: he intended this only for children born within wedlock. The document clearly stated that all legitimate children under the law and God were entitled to his estate.
Miranda's eyes widened. Under wedlock. That was it. She began frantically searching through the records for marriage certificates and legal documentation. It didn't take long for her to confirm her suspicion. Lorenzo Falcone had only ever legally married one woman whom he never legally divorced: Nicole Falcone, Y/N's mother.
Therefore Luca was technically an illegitimate heir under Lorenzo's will, making him entitled to nothing.
A smile crept onto Miranda's face as the weight of this revelation settled in. Legally, Luca has no claim. This could solve everything. If Luca had no legitimate right to Y/N's assets or her company, then he would have no leverage, no foothold to reenter the family business. She reached for her phone, dialing Y/N's number, eager to share the news. The call connected after a couple of rings.
"Hey, baby," Miranda began, her tone filled with satisfaction. "I'll be quick, but I just wanted to tell you that you don't have to worry about Luca being awake anymore. I've figured it out... for good. He has no claim to your money or our company, and I'm sure he'll leave you alone. If we can prove his illegitimate then the will doesn't stand, and we can get a restraining order saying that you feel scared that he might do something to take your money away or harm your family... I don't know yet, but I just wanted to say that I found a way to him far far away from you and your family"
There was a pause on the other end of the line, and to Miranda's horror, a voice finally responded, but it wasn't Y/N's.
"What do you mean Luca is awake?" Elizabeth's voice was sharp, stunned. Miranda froze, her mind racing, realizing her mistake.
"Elizabeth..." Miranda stammered, scrambling to recover. "I— I thought Y/N was on the line. You never pick up her phone..."
Elizabeth's voice trembled with both anger and worry. "Luca... Luca's awake? And no one told me?"
Miranda took a deep breath, trying to sound calm, but her usual composure was slipping, Y/n was going to kill her if she messed this up even more. "Elizabeth, baby, listen, we didn't tell you because Luca's still in the hospital. He's not fully stable yet, and we thought it was better to wait—"
"To wait?" Elizabeth's voice grew cold. "You thought it was better to wait and keep this from me? He's my best friend, Miranda. He's practically family. I had a right to know the moment he woke up."
Miranda tried to keep her voice even. "I understand you're upset, but we were only thinking of what was best for you. Luca's condition is complicated. There's a lot going on behind the scenes that you don't need to worry about."
"You don't get to make that call, Miranda," Elizabeth said, her voice firm. "I deserve to know what's happening with him. I've been to that hospital every day, thinking he's in a coma. And you've been lying to my face?"
Miranda clenched her jaw, realizing how badly this was spiraling. "Elizabeth, please. I was only trying to protect Y/N and the kids—"
"Don't use them as an excuse," Elizabeth snapped. "This is about control, isn't it? You've been keeping him away, making decisions behind my back! I allowed you to take control over my company because you are a smart business woman... but Luca... YOU KEPT LUCA FROM ME?!" Elizabeth yelled and Miranda took a deep breath.
" I know you are mad but you have to understand, it's for the best... it wasn't a lightly made decision Lizzie... we... I mean... I made that call."
Elizabeth's anger simmered into something colder, something dangerous. "It's wasn't your fucking call to make! I'm going to the hospital. I want to see Luca myself. If you try to stop me—"
"No one's going to stop you," Miranda cut in, feeling her grip slipping. "But remember, Elizabeth, you're walking into a situation that's more complicated than you know. Y/N and I... we only wanted to protect you—"
" Y/N knew?" Elizabeth said and Miranda breath caught in her throat as she realised her mistake.
She ran a hand through her hair " We are trying to find the best solution, for you, for Y/N... for everyone."
"I'll decide what's best for me, Miranda," Elizabeth replied, her voice steely. "And if this is how you and Y/N operate, I'm not sure how much more trust I have left to give." The line went dead, leaving Miranda gripping her phone in frustration.
She knew this wasn't going to end well... Y/N was going to kill her.
