Chapter 5 - The Woman Who Tried to Buy My Silence|
Isabella stared at Luca for three long seconds.
Then she smiled.
“Arthur Whitcomb? Darling, that old man retired years ago.”
Teresa's eyes narrowed.
“No, he didn't.”
Isabella ignored her.
“He hasn't handled your mother's accounts for a long time.”
Luca raised one eyebrow.
“Then why is he still listed as counsel on the trust documents?”
“Because nobody updated the paperwork.”
“Isabella.”
His voice hardened.
“Stop answering questions I haven't asked you.”
Her smile disappeared.
I stood beside Teresa's dresser, wishing I could vanish.
Isabella turned toward me.
“Emma, would you please give us some privacy?”
Before I could move, Teresa spoke.
“Emma stays.”
Isabella's eyes flashed.
“This is a family matter.”
Teresa looked straight at her.
“Then why are you speaking? You aren't family yet.”
The silence was devastating.
Even Luca looked surprised.
Isabella's face turned bright red.
For a moment, I thought she might scream.
Instead, she laughed softly.
“Well. I see how things are going to be.”
She turned and walked out.
But not before looking directly at me.
The message in her eyes was unmistakable.
You'll regret this.
Luca spent the next hour speaking with Arthur Whitcomb.
By lunchtime, an independent accountant had been contacted to review the disputed transfers.
Luca also instructed his security team to preserve the mansion's camera footage.
He asked Teresa whether she wanted a different attorney to provide a second opinion.
She shook her head.
“I trust Arthur.”
“Then we'll work with him,” Luca replied.
For the first time, Teresa looked relieved.
At two in the afternoon, Mrs. Romano found me in the linen room.
“Emma, Isabella wants to see you.”
My stomach dropped.
“Where?”
“Her private sitting room.”
I stared at the stack of folded towels.
“Do I have to go?”
Mrs. Romano's expression softened.
“No. Not if you're uncomfortable.”
I thought about the photograph of my father.
Then I made a decision.
“Would you come with me?”
Mrs. Romano nodded.
“Of course.”
When we entered Isabella's sitting room, she was standing beside a marble fireplace.
A black leather handbag rested on the table.
She looked at Mrs. Romano.
“I asked for Emma alone.”
Mrs. Romano smiled politely.
“Household matters are my responsibility, ma'am.”
Isabella's jaw tightened.
Then she turned toward me.
“Sit down.”
I remained standing.
“What did you need?”
She studied me.
Then opened her handbag.
And removed a thick white envelope.
“I understand your family is having financial difficulties.”
My blood turned cold.
“How do you know that?”
She smiled.
“People talk.”
I said nothing.
“Your father hasn't worked full-time in months. Your brother will be applying to college soon.”
I could barely breathe.
She placed the envelope on the table.
“Twenty-five thousand dollars.”
I stared.
“What?”
“Cashier's check. All yours.”
Mrs. Romano went still beside me.
Isabella continued.
“Enough to help your father. Enough to give your brother a good start.”
I looked at the envelope.
Then at her.
“What do you want?”
She smiled.
“Something very simple.”
My stomach twisted.
“Tell Luca you misunderstood what happened at dinner.”
I didn't answer.
“And explain that Teresa has been forgetful lately. Nothing dramatic. Just that she's occasionally confused.”
I felt sick.
“You want me to lie about her?”
Isabella's expression hardened.
“I want you to stop exaggerating ordinary family disagreements.”
“Mrs. Moretti isn't confused.”
“She's eighty.”
“That doesn't mean she can't think.”
Isabella's smile disappeared.
She stepped closer.
“You are making this very difficult for yourself.”
I remembered my father's voice.
We'll figure it out.
Then I looked at the envelope again.
Twenty-five thousand dollars.
More than enough to change our lives.
For one terrible moment, I imagined taking it.
Paying the bills.
Helping Daniel.
Giving my father a chance to rest.
Then I imagined Teresa alone in the hallway.
Asking whether she would be allowed to join dinner.
I stepped backward.
“No.”
Isabella blinked.
“Excuse me?”
“I won't say something that isn't true.”
Her face twisted.
“You ungrateful little—”
Mrs. Romano stepped forward.
“That's enough.”
Isabella turned on her.
“Get out.”
Mrs. Romano didn't move.
Instead, she said calmly, “I've witnessed the offer. Emma has declined it. This conversation is over.”
We left together.
My knees were shaking so badly I nearly stumbled in the hallway.
Mrs. Romano caught my arm.
“Emma?”
I looked at her.
And burst into tears.
She held me while I cried.
Not because I regretted refusing.
But because refusing had cost me something my family desperately needed.
That evening, I received another anonymous message.
This time, it wasn't a photograph.
It was an audio recording.
My father's voice.
He was speaking to someone outside our apartment.
“I don't know anything about my daughter's work,” he said. “Please leave us alone.”
Then a man's voice replied.
“Your daughter has until tomorrow morning.”
The recording ended.
I stared at my phone.
And this time, I didn't hesitate.
I went straight to Luca's office.
He looked up when I entered.
“Emma?”
I placed the phone on his desk.
“Someone is threatening my family.”
His expression changed instantly.
He listened to the recording.
Then looked at me.
“Why didn't you tell me sooner?”
Tears filled my eyes.
“Because I was afraid you'd believe Isabella.”
For a moment, he said nothing.
Then he reached for his phone.
“Anthony. Get Detective Harris here.”
He paused.
“And arrange for officers to check on the Collins family.”
Then he looked at me.
“You're not handling this alone anymore.”
But before I could answer, Anthony rushed into the office.
“Boss, there's a problem.”
Luca turned.
“What?”
“Mrs. Moretti's driver just called.”
My stomach tightened.
Anthony swallowed.
“He says your mother left the property twenty minutes ago.”
Luca stood.
“Where was she going?”
Anthony hesitated.
Then said, “He says Isabella sent him a message claiming you'd approved a medical appointment.”
I felt all the blood drain from my face.
Because Teresa hadn't mentioned any appointment.
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And Isabella had just been told she couldn't control Teresa's finances without her permission.
Now Teresa was gone.
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