Chapter 5 - The Message That Arrived Before Catherine Died|
I had never seen Luca Moretti afraid before.
Angry, yes.
Exhausted, sometimes.
Quietly furious when someone disobeyed his instructions.
But afraid?
Never.
Now he stood beside the dining table staring at Amelia Hart as though he were frightened of what she might say next.
“What time did Catherine die?”
Amelia opened the hospital record.
“According to the certified medical record, 12:26 a.m.”
Sofia covered her mouth.
Luca turned toward her.
“When did Vanessa tell you?”
Sofia took out her phone.
Her hands were trembling.
“I kept the message.”
She searched through an old conversation.
Then showed him the screen.
11:58 p.m.
I'm sorry, Sofia. Catherine is gone. Please don't come here. Luca has been notified.
Luca stared.
Then looked toward Vanessa.
“You told my sister Catherine was dead twenty-eight minutes before the recorded time.”
Vanessa's face went pale.
“I was told she wasn't going to survive.”
“By whom?”
She hesitated.
“Someone at the hospital.”
Amelia frowned.
“Who?”
Vanessa shook her head.
“I don't remember.”
Luca's jaw tightened.
“You don't remember the person who told you my wife was dying?”
Vanessa started crying.
“Luca, please.”
But he no longer looked at her.
He looked at Sofia.
“I wasn't notified until after one.”
His sister nodded.
“I know.”
He stared at the message again.
Then whispered, “She kept us away.”
A terrible silence settled over the room.
I felt Teresa begin shaking.
I crouched beside her chair.
“Mrs. Moretti?”
She looked at me.
Her eyes were filled with tears.
“Hannah, Catherine was trying to bring Sofia home that night.”
My chest tightened.
“What do you mean?”
Teresa swallowed.
“She called me earlier that evening.”
Luca turned immediately.
“Mom?”
The old woman looked toward him.
“Catherine said Sofia was coming to help her.”
His expression changed.
“She told you?”
Teresa nodded.
“She said they were going to give you some papers together.”
Luca slowly sat down beside her.
“Why didn't you tell me?”
Tears slipped down Teresa's cheeks.
“Vanessa said it wasn't true.”
Luca closed his eyes.
“She told me Catherine had been confused.”
Teresa's voice broke.
“And after the funeral, she told me Sofia was blaming herself.”
Sofia began crying.
“Mom…”
Teresa reached for her daughter.
“I didn't know who to believe.”
Sofia crossed the room.
She knelt beside her mother.
Then wrapped both arms around her.
“I never stopped loving you.”
Teresa cried harder.
“Oh, sweetheart.”
I watched them hold each other.
Eight months of separation.
A missed birthday.
Four Thursdays of waiting.
And one simple truth.
Neither had wanted to abandon the other.
Someone had carefully made each believe she was unwanted.
I looked toward Vanessa.
She was standing beside her father.
Richard Bellini had been silent for most of the confrontation.
But now he leaned close and whispered something into her ear.
Vanessa's expression changed.
Luca noticed.
“Richard.”
The older man straightened.
“Yes?”
“Did your company receive money from Catherine's foundation?”
Richard smiled stiffly.
“We managed investments on behalf of several charitable entities.”
“Were those investments authorized?”
“Of course.”
Sofia shook her head.
“No.”
Richard turned toward her.
“You're making accusations you don't understand.”
Sofia reached into her handbag.
Then placed a folder on the table.
“Then explain these.”
Richard's smile disappeared.
Inside were bank statements.
Transfer authorizations.
Copies of invoices.
And a handwritten note from Catherine.
Luca stared.
“Where did you get those?”
Sofia wiped her cheeks.
“Catherine mailed them to me before the accident.”
“Why didn't you show me?”
“I tried.”
Her voice broke.
“Vanessa told you they were forgeries.”
Luca's expression changed.
He remembered.
I could see it.
Then Sofia continued.
“She said I'd stolen from Catherine.”
Vanessa looked away.
Luca slowly examined the documents.
Then stopped.
A signature appeared at the bottom of one authorization.
His own name.
He stared.
“I never signed this.”
Richard shifted in his chair.
Luca looked up.
“This is forged.”
Nobody spoke.
He turned another page.
Another authorization.
Another signature.
Then he reached the final document.
A transfer of nearly two million dollars from the foundation into a holding company.
The listed recipient was Bellini Strategic Investments.
Luca stared at the amount.
Then whispered:
“They stole from Catherine's charity.”
Amelia nodded.
“That appears to be what she was trying to prove.”
Richard abruptly stood.
“I won't sit here and be accused of crimes in front of household staff.”
Luca looked up.
“Then you'll have no problem speaking with investigators.”
Richard's face hardened.
But before he could answer, Marco entered the dining room.
“Boss.”
Luca turned.
“What?”
“There's a problem.”
Marco looked toward Sofia.
Then toward Amelia.
“The security footage from the hospital has been located.”
Luca slowly stood.
“And?”
Marco swallowed.
“It shows someone entering Catherine's room after Vanessa left.”
The room went still.
Luca asked quietly, “Who?”
May you like
Marco looked directly at Richard.
“Your future father-in-law.”
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