Chapter 4 - The Wife Who Brought More Than Proof of an Affair|
Allison Romano didn't cry when Adrian admitted Giovanni Moretti had still been alive.
She simply stared at him.
For seventeen years, she'd shared a home with that man.
She'd made breakfast beside him.
Celebrated anniversaries.
Waited through late business meetings.
Believed his explanations.
And defended him when others questioned his loyalty to Luca.
Now she was discovering that her husband had hidden something far worse than an affair.
“Adrian,” she whispered, “did you try to help Giovanni?”
He looked down.
She waited.
He said nothing.
Then she slowly removed her wedding ring.
The movement was quiet.
Almost ordinary.
But every person at the table seemed to notice.
She placed the ring beside her untouched dinner plate.
And whispered, “I think I already know.”
Adrian reached toward her.
“Allison, please.”
She moved her hand away.
“No.”
Her voice shook.
“You don't get to touch me while you're deciding which truth to tell.”
For several seconds, nobody spoke.
Then Luca approached.
“Allison.”
She looked up.
“Would you like someone to take you home?”
She shook her head.
“Not yet.”
Her eyes filled.
“There's more.”
Vanessa immediately stood.
“Allison, I swear, if you—”
Luca turned.
“Sit down.”
The woman in red froze.
Then slowly lowered herself into her chair.
Allison looked toward me.
“Emily, would you bring my handbag?”
I nodded.
“Of course, ma'am.”
I retrieved the navy leather purse she'd placed beside her chair.
Her hands trembled as she opened it.
Inside was a small external drive.
Black.
No bigger than my thumb.
She placed it on the table.
“Adrian didn't know I found this.”
His expression changed.
“Allison.”
She ignored him.
“Three days ago, when I discovered the messages between him and Vanessa, I searched for financial records.”
Luca frowned.
“Why?”
“Because the messages weren't only romantic.”
She swallowed.
“Vanessa kept asking whether Adrian had secured the documents.”
Luca looked toward the drive.
“What documents?”
“Shipping records. Bank transfers. Insurance claims.”
She paused.
“And security footage from the South Harbor warehouse.”
The room became completely silent.
Adrian lowered his head.
Luca stared.
“Security footage?”
Allison nodded.
“Copies.”
She looked toward her husband.
“He'd kept them hidden in a private folder.”
Adrian began crying again.
“I was going to tell you.”
Allison turned toward him.
“When?”
Her voice cracked.
“After the wedding? After Vanessa had control of Luca's companies?”
He couldn't answer.
Allison looked back toward Luca.
“I don't know everything that's on it.”
She pushed the drive toward him.
“But I know enough to understand why Vanessa wanted me gone before Saturday.”
Luca took a slow breath.
Then looked toward Marco.
“Secure it. Have an independent forensic examiner preserve and review the contents.”
Marco nodded.
Vanessa's expression changed.
She looked toward the door.
For one moment, I thought she might run.
But Luca noticed.
“Vanessa.”
She froze.
“Don't destroy anything.”
Her face hardened.
“You're treating me like a criminal.”
He looked at her.
“I'm treating this as evidence that needs to be examined.”
She opened her mouth.
Then closed it.
I stood beside Allison.
Her breathing was uneven.
“Mrs. Romano?”
She looked up.
“Would you like some water?”
A tiny smile crossed her face.
“Thank you, sweetheart.”
I brought her a glass.
Then placed a fresh napkin beside her untouched plate.
She stared at the food.
For a moment, tears filled her eyes again.
“Vanessa wanted you to take this away.”
I nodded.
“Yes, ma'am.”
She looked toward me.
“Do you know why I kept holding my fork?”
I shook my head.
“Because I thought if I acted like everything was normal, perhaps I wouldn't fall apart.”
My throat tightened.
She gave a small, broken laugh.
“Seventeen years.”
I gently touched her shoulder.
“You don't have to pretend anymore.”
Her face crumpled.
She covered her eyes.
And finally, Allison Romano cried.
Not because everyone was watching.
But because she'd spent the entire evening trying to remain strong while her marriage collapsed in front of strangers.
I stayed beside her.
Just as I'd promised.
An hour later, the first forensic review produced a list of recovered files.
Most were financial records.
But one folder caught Luca's attention.
Its title was simple.
GIOVANNI — LAST NIGHT.
Inside was a video file.
Timestamped less than twenty minutes before the warehouse fire.
Luca stared at the screen.
Then whispered:
“Play it.”
The video began.
A dim hallway appeared.
Giovanni Moretti walked toward the camera carrying a leather briefcase.
Then a second man entered the frame.
Richard Bellini.
And behind him—
May you like
Vanessa.
Three years before she claimed she'd ever met Luca.
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