Chapter 7 - The Threat Adrian Never Told His Wife About|
Allison returned to the mansion three days later.
She wore a simple gray coat.
No jewelry.
No wedding ring.
And her face looked as though she'd aged several years in one week.
I greeted her in the entrance hall.
“Mrs. Romano.”
She smiled faintly.
“Emily.”
“Would you like tea?”
She nodded.
“That would be lovely.”
I led her into the small sitting room.
The one overlooking the winter garden.
It was quieter than the formal dining room.
No chandeliers.
No guests.
No woman in red watching every movement.
Just a sofa, a fireplace, and a table with fresh flowers.
Allison sat carefully.
I brought tea.
Then she looked at me.
“Emily, may I ask you something?”
“Of course.”
“Did Adrian ever seem frightened of Vanessa?”
I thought about the engagement dinner.
The whisper.
The way he caught her wrist.
The way his face changed whenever she looked toward him.
“Yes,” I said quietly.
Allison lowered her eyes.
“I thought he was ashamed.”
My throat tightened.
She continued.
“I thought he was afraid I'd discover the affair.”
I nodded.
“But now…”
Her voice broke.
“Now I wonder whether he was afraid she'd hurt me.”
I sat across from her.
For several seconds, neither spoke.
Then Allison whispered, “I found another letter.”
My stomach tightened.
“From Adrian?”
She nodded.
“He left it in his desk.”
She reached into her handbag.
Removed a folded piece of paper.
Then handed it to me.
I hesitated.
“Are you sure?”
“Yes.”
I opened it.
The first line made my chest ache.
Allison, if anything happens to me, please know I loved you.
I looked up.
Her eyes filled.
“He wrote that two months ago.”
I continued reading.
Adrian described becoming trapped in Richard Bellini's financial scheme.
He admitted making false entries in company records.
He said Vanessa had threatened to expose him.
And then he wrote something that made me stop.
She says she'll ruin you if I refuse to help her.
I looked at Allison.
Her face crumpled.
“She threatened me before the wedding.”
I nodded.
“But this started earlier.”
Allison wiped her cheeks.
“She knew I was asking questions.”
Then she looked toward the window.
“I thought she wanted Adrian because she loved him.”
I swallowed.
“And now?”
Allison gave a bitter laugh.
“I think she wanted someone she could control.”
For several seconds, neither spoke.
Then she asked something that surprised me.
“Do you think Adrian ever loved me?”
My heart tightened.
I couldn't know the answer.
And I refused to pretend I did.
“I think that's something only he can explain honestly.”
She nodded slowly.
“Yes.”
Then she looked down.
“But loving someone doesn't excuse what he did.”
“No.”
She smiled sadly.
“I'm glad you understand.”
Later that afternoon, Luca joined us.
He looked exhausted.
But his expression softened when he saw Allison.
“Thank you for coming.”
She nodded.
“I wanted to give you the letter.”
He examined it.
Then looked toward her.
“Did Adrian ever tell you about the threats?”
She shook her head.
“No.”
Luca's jaw tightened.
“Allison, investigators are arranging protection while they examine the case.”
She looked surprised.
“Protection?”
He nodded.
“Because Vanessa specifically threatened you.”
Her eyes filled.
“I don't want to live afraid.”
Luca's expression softened.
“Neither do I.”
He paused.
“But taking a threat seriously isn't surrendering to it.”
She looked down.
Then nodded.
“All right.”
The following week, Adrian agreed to give investigators a full statement.
His attorney was present.
He admitted helping conceal unauthorized shipments.
He admitted knowing Richard intended to destroy records.
He also admitted leaving Giovanni inside the warehouse before the fire began.
But he maintained that he hadn't known the door would be locked or the building set ablaze.
Investigators would have to determine the truth.
Adrian also acknowledged the affair.
He admitted Vanessa had used their relationship and his financial misconduct to pressure him into helping with the wedding-day agreement.
When Allison heard the statement, she cried.
But she didn't collapse.
She didn't ask Luca to punish Adrian.
And she didn't ask anyone to make excuses for him.
Instead, she called an attorney.
Then began planning a future that belonged to her.
For the first time in seventeen years, she was making decisions without wondering whether Adrian would approve.
And I realized something.
Allison had entered the Moretti mansion as a woman whose husband wouldn't even look at her.
Now she was learning how to look toward her own future.
But the investigation wasn't finished.
Because one of Richard Bellini's former employees had contacted Detective Ramirez.
He claimed he knew who locked Giovanni inside the warehouse office.
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And when investigators asked for the name, he didn't say Adrian.
He said Vanessa.
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