Chapter 9 - The Woman in Red Finally Told the Truth|
Vanessa Bellini returned to the mansion under very different circumstances.
There was no red satin gown.
No champagne.
No diamonds.
She arrived wearing a plain cream-colored coat, accompanied by her attorney.
Investigators had prevented her from leaving the country while they reviewed the financial scheme.
Now she had agreed to provide information about Richard's activities.
Luca met her in the library.
Isabella sat beside him.
I wasn't required to attend.
But Isabella asked me to stay.
“She tried to make you lie,” she whispered.
“And I want someone who remembers what actually happened.”
So I stood near the window while Vanessa entered.
For several seconds, she stared at the room.
Then her eyes moved toward Luca.
“Darling.”
His expression hardened.
“Don't.”
She swallowed.
“Luca.”
He nodded toward the chair.
“Sit.”
Vanessa lowered herself carefully.
Her attorney placed a folder on the table.
“We've provided investigators with the relevant documents.”
Luca looked toward the folder.
“Why did you destroy my mother's piano?”
Vanessa closed her eyes.
“I didn't intend to destroy it.”
“You removed seven keytops.”
“My designer used six for the comb.”
“And the seventh?”
She hesitated.
“My father told me to remove it.”
The room became silent.
Isabella leaned forward.
“Why?”
Vanessa looked toward her.
“Because Richard believed your mother had hidden evidence beneath the ivory.”
Luca's jaw tightened.
“So you used the wedding as an excuse.”
She nodded.
“Yes.”
He looked toward the damaged piano visible through the hallway.
“And then you ordered it taken away.”
Vanessa began crying.
“My father told me the entire instrument had to disappear.”
Isabella stared.
“Why?”
“Because he was afraid there might be another compartment.”
I felt a chill.
He'd been right.
But he'd been too late.
Luca looked at her.
“Did you know he was stealing from the foundation?”
Vanessa wiped her cheeks.
“At first, no.”
“When did you learn?”
She hesitated.
“Two years ago.”
Luca went still.
“Before we became engaged.”
“Yes.”
His expression changed.
For a moment, he looked genuinely hurt.
“You knew.”
Vanessa began crying harder.
“Luca, I loved you.”
He stared at her.
“Then why did you help your father hide this?”
She looked down.
“Because he told me the truth would destroy everything.”
“What everything?”
“My family. His company. Our future.”
Luca gave a bitter laugh.
“Our future?”
Vanessa covered her face.
“He said if the foundation recovered the money, we'd lose our investments.”
Isabella leaned forward.
“You tried to make me sign documents giving Richard control of my trust.”
Vanessa nodded miserably.
“Yes.”
“And when I refused?”
Vanessa's voice broke.
“I told him.”
Isabella's eyes filled.
“You knew what he planned to do to me.”
Vanessa shook her head.
“I thought he would only frighten you.”
The silence was painful.
Luca stared at her.
“You watched my sister disappear.”
Vanessa lowered her eyes.
“You told me she was in Boston.”
She began crying again.
“I know.”
“And you were preparing to marry me while my sister was being held somewhere against her will.”
Vanessa said nothing.
Luca slowly stood.
For several seconds, he looked toward the window.
Then he turned.
“The wedding is over.”
Vanessa stopped breathing.
“What?”
“Permanently.”
She began sobbing.
“Luca, please.”
He shook his head.
“You knew how much my mother meant to me.”
His voice trembled.
“You took something she loved and turned it into jewelry.”
Vanessa stared at him.
“You knew Isabella was in danger.”
He paused.
“And you chose the life you wanted over the people I loved.”
For a moment, Vanessa looked as though she might argue.
Then her expression crumpled.
“I was wrong.”
Luca nodded slowly.
“Yes.”
But he didn't comfort her.
He didn't promise forgiveness.
He simply stepped aside as her attorney prepared to leave.
Then Vanessa stopped.
“Luca.”
He turned.
She swallowed.
“My father kept a copy of the original documents.”
His expression changed.
“Where?”
She looked down.
“In his private office.”
Luca stared.
“Which office?”
Vanessa hesitated.
“The one beneath the Bellini warehouse.”
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Then she whispered something that made Isabella's face turn white.
“And there's a recording of the night your mother confronted him.”
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