Chapter 10 - The Wedding That Was Never Going to Happen
By afternoon, everything had changed.
The woman who'd called herself Vanessa Bellini was actually Victoria Bellini.
Richard Bellini's daughter.
Elena's cousin.
The person who'd entered Catherine's life wearing a false nurse's uniform.
And the woman who'd spent two years convincing Luca Moretti to marry her.
But there was one question nobody could answer.
Why?
Why would Richard Bellini send his own daughter into the Moretti household years after Catherine's death?
The answer came from Daniel Mercer's attorney.
He agreed to a meeting with federal investigators.
Luca attended with his own legal team.
I remained at the mansion with Teresa.
Around three o'clock, Mrs. Alvarez found us sitting beside the fireplace.
She carried a tray of tea.
Teresa smiled sadly.
“Thank you, dear.”
Then she looked toward me.
“Hannah, would you sit with me?”
I nodded.
She took my hand.
“I owe you an apology.”
I stared.
“For what?”
“For letting that woman frighten you.”
“Mrs. Moretti—”
“No. Please.”
Her voice trembled.
“I saw what she was becoming. I heard the cruel things she said to the staff. And I kept thinking that if I stayed quiet, Luca would be happy.”
I squeezed her hand.
“You were afraid.”
“Yes.”
She looked toward the family portraits.
“But fear isn't always an excuse.”
Her honesty nearly broke my heart.
“You tried to tell him.”
“Because you helped me find the courage.”
Before I could answer, her telephone rang.
It was Luca.
Teresa put him on speaker.
“Sweetheart?”
“Mom, I'm okay.”
“Did you find out why they did it?”
A pause.
Then Luca answered.
“Richard wanted control of the company.”
Teresa closed her eyes.
Luca continued.
“Daniel told investigators that Richard had been using our shipping routes without permission. Catherine found the records. After she died, Richard kept blackmailing Daniel with evidence of the illegal shipments.”
“And Victoria?”
“She was supposed to marry me.”
Teresa stared at the phone.
“What?”
“Richard believed he could gain control of Moretti Holdings through the marriage agreement. Victoria had convinced me to sign a prenuptial arrangement that included provisions about certain company shares if anything happened to me.”
My stomach turned.
Luca's voice hardened.
“They planned to take over the company from inside the family.”
Teresa whispered, “Dear God.”
“But they made mistakes. And now investigators have the records Catherine preserved.”
“What about Elena?”
“We're still trying to find her.”
His voice softened.
“Mom, I need you to do something for me.”
“Anything.”
“Stop blaming yourself.”
Teresa began crying.
Luca continued.
“Catherine loved you. And I love you. Nothing Victoria said changes that.”
After the call ended, Teresa held the phone against her chest.
For the first time since I'd met her, she looked peaceful.
That evening, however, the peace didn't last.
At seven thirty, an unfamiliar car pulled into the driveway.
A woman stepped out.
She wore a gray coat and dark sunglasses.
Marco met her at the gate.
I watched from the upstairs window.
Something about her looked familiar.
The way she stood.
The shape of her face.
The dark curls escaping beneath her scarf.
Then she removed her sunglasses.
My breath caught.
Elena Bellini.
Alive.
Standing outside the Moretti mansion.
I ran downstairs.
Marco escorted her inside.
She looked thinner than in Catherine's photograph.
A faint scar crossed her forehead.
Her hands trembled.
“Where's Luca?” she whispered.
Before I could answer, the front doors opened.
Luca entered.
He stopped when he saw her.
“Elena?”
She nodded.
Then she began crying.
“I'm sorry.”
Luca approached carefully.
“Why are you sorry?”
“Because Catherine died trying to protect me.”
He shook his head.
“You didn't kill her.”
Elena looked up.
Her eyes filled with terror.
“No.”
She swallowed.
“But I know who did.”
The room went completely silent.
Luca's voice became dangerously quiet.
“Tell me.”
Elena looked toward the door.
Then whispered:
“Richard Bellini ordered it.”
Luca didn't move.
But Elena wasn't finished.
“Victoria arranged the mechanic.”
May you like
My heart hammered.
“And Daniel Mercer paid him.”
