Chapter 2 - THE PEARL THAT HELD A DEAD MAN'S SECRET|
“I remember every one of their names.”
Evelyn Moretti's trembling words seemed to freeze the entire ballroom.
For the first time in his forty years, Luca Moretti looked at his mother and realized she had been fighting a battle he knew nothing about.
The woman who had raised him, protected him, and buried his father without shedding a tear in public was now lying on a cold marble floor because someone had tried to silence her.
And that someone had been welcomed into his home.
Vanessa Bellini stood near the staircase, her red satin gown trembling around her knees.
“Luca, please,” she whispered.
But Luca wasn't looking at her.
He was looking at the tiny pearl resting in Sarah Collins's palm.
“Daniel,” he said quietly, “nobody leaves until the police arrive.”
His security chief nodded.
Richard Bellini suddenly pushed back his chair.
“You cannot detain fifty respectable people because of some ridiculous accusation!”
Luca turned toward him.
“I'm not detaining anyone, Richard. The doors are open. But anyone who leaves may have to explain why they didn't stay to help an injured woman.”
Richard's expression hardened.
“You're making a terrible mistake.”
“No,” Luca replied. “I made my mistake when I trusted you.”
An ambulance siren sounded outside.
Sarah remained kneeling beside Evelyn, holding the elderly woman's uninjured hand.
“Mrs. Moretti, help is here,” she whispered.
Evelyn squeezed her fingers.
“Don't let them take the pearls.”
“I won't.”
“Promise me, Sarah.”
“I promise.”
The paramedics entered moments later.
As they carefully examined Evelyn's shoulder, Luca stepped aside to speak with the police officers who had arrived behind them.
Sarah tried to stand, but Evelyn caught her apron again.
“Come with me.”
Sarah glanced toward Luca.
He nodded immediately.
“Go with her. I'll arrange transportation.”
Vanessa suddenly moved forward.
“Luca, surely you aren't letting the housekeeper become involved in our private family business?”
Sarah lowered her eyes.
For nine months, she had endured Vanessa's insults because losing her job meant losing the health insurance contribution and steady paycheck that kept her daughter alive.
But something had changed tonight.
Evelyn was injured.
Twelve children had lost their scholarships.
And Sarah's little girl had apparently been denied medical assistance that should have been available.
Sarah slowly raised her head.
“Your family business nearly cost my daughter her surgery, Miss Bellini.”
Vanessa opened her mouth.
No words came out.
Luca looked at Sarah with an expression she had never seen before.
Not pity.
Respect.
“Sarah is staying,” he said.
Then he turned toward Vanessa.
“You are leaving.”
Vanessa's face crumpled.
“After everything we've planned?”
“After what happened to my mother, there is nothing left to plan.”
Richard grabbed his daughter's arm.
“Come on, Vanessa.”
But as they approached the entrance, Margaret Lewis spoke.
“Richard, there's something you should know.”
He stopped.
Margaret held up the broken necklace's clasp, which a police officer had allowed her to examine without removing it from the scene.
“Evelyn never trusted the Bellini family with her husband's legacy.”
Richard gave a humorless laugh.
“Your friend is confused.”
“She's eighty-three, Richard. She's not confused.”
Margaret's voice grew stronger.
“She remembered twelve children whose names you hoped everyone would forget.”
Richard stared at her.
Then his gaze shifted toward the pearl in Sarah's hand.
For one terrible second, Sarah saw genuine fear in his eyes.
Not embarrassment.
Not anger.
Fear.
At the hospital, doctors confirmed that Evelyn had suffered a dislocated shoulder, a fractured wrist, and a concussion.
She would need observation overnight.
Sarah sat outside the examination room, still wearing her black housekeeping uniform.
Her hands were shaking.
She took out her phone and called her neighbor, Mrs. Alvarez, who was watching her daughter.
“Is Lily asleep?”
“Finally, sweetheart. She kept asking whether you'd be home for breakfast.”
Sarah closed her eyes.
“Tell her I love her.”
“Sarah, what's wrong?”
“Something happened at work.”
“Are you hurt?”
“No.”
Sarah looked toward the hospital doors.
“But I think everything is about to change.”
When she ended the call, Luca was standing a few feet away.
He had removed his jacket.
His expensive watch was stained with his mother's blood.
“Your daughter's name is Lily?” he asked.
Sarah nodded.
“Lily Collins.”
“How old?”
“Seven.”
“And what surgery does she need?”
Sarah swallowed.
“She was born with a heart defect. The doctors repaired part of it when she was a baby, but now she needs another operation.”
Luca sat beside her.
“Why didn't you tell me?”
Sarah gave a sad little smile.
“You're my employer, Mr. Moretti. I didn't think my daughter's medical bills were your responsibility.”
“They weren't,” he said softly. “Until someone used money intended for her treatment and made sure she never received it.”
Sarah stared at the floor.
“I don't understand why your mother would help us.”
“Because that's who she is.”
He hesitated.
“And because my father believed a family is responsible for more than the people who share its last name.”
A nurse approached.
“Mr. Moretti? Your mother is awake. She's asking for Sarah.”
They entered together.
Evelyn lay against white pillows, her silver hair loose around her face.
She looked smaller than Sarah had ever seen her.
But her eyes were sharp.
“Close the door,” she whispered.
Luca obeyed.
Evelyn looked at Sarah.
“The pearl.”
Sarah reached into her pocket.
A police officer had photographed it and allowed her to retain it temporarily after documenting Evelyn's gift, pending formal collection of the evidence.
She placed it gently in Evelyn's hand.
The elderly woman shook her head.
“Not that one.”
Luca frowned.
“Mom, what do you mean?”
Evelyn's voice dropped.
“The pearl Vanessa stole.”
Sarah felt a chill.
“There were two hollow pearls?”
Evelyn nodded.
“One held the warning.”
“And the other?” Luca asked.
His mother looked directly at him.
“Your father's confession.”
Luca went completely still.
“My father died eleven years ago.”
Evelyn's eyes filled with tears.
“Yes, darling.”
She reached for his hand.
“And before he died, he told me something about Richard Bellini that could destroy everything you think you know about our family.”
Luca leaned closer.
“What did he tell you?”
Evelyn took a shaky breath.
May you like
Then she whispered five words.
“YOUR FATHER DIDN'T DIE NATURALLY.”
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