Chapter 3 - The Engagement Nobody Knew About|
"Engaged?"
Luca repeated the word as though it belonged to a language he didn't understand.
Vanessa closed her eyes.
"It was years ago."
I remained beside Lily's chair.
Her small fingers tightened around mine.
I gently shifted closer so she could follow Luca's face.
He looked at Vanessa.
"How many years?"
"Fifteen."
"Before Michael married my sister?"
"Yes."
"Why didn't you tell me?"
Vanessa gave a helpless laugh.
"Would you have dated me if I had?"
Luca stared at her.
"That's not an answer."
She looked away.
Eleanor spoke quietly.
"Michael met Vanessa when he was twenty-two. Their engagement lasted almost a year."
Luca turned toward her.
"What happened?"
Eleanor hesitated.
"Her family wanted him to help them gain access to property investments. Michael refused at first."
Vanessa scoffed.
"That's not what happened."
Eleanor looked at her.
"Then tell the truth."
Vanessa's expression hardened.
"Michael wasn't some innocent victim. He wanted money. He wanted status. He wanted to become somebody important."
I felt Lily shift beside me.
She was watching Vanessa's mouth.
I gently signed a simple explanation.
They are discussing your father.
Her expression changed.
Did he do something bad?
My heart tightened.
We don't know everything yet.
She nodded slowly.
Luca noticed.
He turned toward his niece.
"Sweetheart, would you like Rebecca to take you somewhere quieter?"
Lily shook her head.
"No."
He crouched.
"Are you sure?"
She nodded.
"I want to know why everyone is angry about Mommy and Daddy."
Luca's face softened.
He carefully signed while speaking.
You are not responsible for anything adults did.
Lily's eyes filled.
"I know."
But I could tell she wasn't certain.
Luca looked toward Eleanor.
"If you're going to talk about Lily's parents, you will do it respectfully."
Eleanor nodded immediately.
"Of course."
He glanced toward the guests.
Then stood.
"Everyone except immediate family and relevant witnesses may leave."
Chairs scraped against the marble floor.
The expensive dinner ended in uncomfortable silence.
Within minutes, only a small group remained.
Luca.
Vanessa.
Eleanor.
Patricia.
Daniel.
Harold Peterson, who had witnessed Lily's earlier humiliation.
And me.
I started to stand.
Lily caught my hand.
Please stay.
I looked toward Luca.
He nodded.
"Rebecca stays."
Vanessa laughed bitterly.
"Of course she does."
Nobody answered.
Eleanor took a slow breath.
"Michael was working for an investment company when he met Vanessa. Her father introduced him to several people who managed private trusts."
Luca frowned.
"What trusts?"
Eleanor lowered her eyes.
"One of them belonged to Isabella."
Luca went completely still.
"My sister's inheritance?"
"Yes."
His jaw tightened.
"When our father died, Isabella inherited a protected share of the family estate. Michael never had authority to manage it."
"I know."
"Then why was he discussing it with Vanessa's family?"
Eleanor looked devastated.
"Because he wanted to borrow money against assets he didn't control."
Vanessa crossed her arms.
"He was trying to build a business."
"Using my sister's inheritance?" Luca asked.
Vanessa said nothing.
Eleanor continued.
"Isabella discovered the financial documents six months before her death. She confronted Michael."
Luca frowned.
"Michael had already been dead for years."
Eleanor looked up sharply.
"That's what makes this so complicated."
The room became silent.
She took a trembling breath.
"The financial documents weren't new. Isabella discovered that Michael had signed them shortly before his accident."
Luca leaned forward.
"What did they authorize?"
Eleanor swallowed.
"A transfer of beneficial interests if certain conditions were met."
"What conditions?"
Eleanor looked toward Lily.
Her eyes filled.
"If Isabella died, the funds reserved for her daughter could become subject to a disputed guardianship claim."
I felt cold.
Luca stared at her.
"Explain."
"Someone had attempted to designate an outside financial guardian for Lily."
Vanessa suddenly stood.
"That document was never valid."
Luca turned toward her.
"How do you know?"
She froze.
He took one slow step closer.
"How do you know what document she's talking about?"
Vanessa looked toward Eleanor.
Then away.
"I heard about it years ago."
"From Michael?"
She said nothing.
Luca's expression darkened.
"From your father?"
Vanessa swallowed.
"Yes."
The room became painfully quiet.
Luca looked toward Daniel.
"I want every financial document connected to Michael Whitmore and Isabella's estate reviewed."
Daniel nodded.
"Already contacting counsel."
Eleanor began crying.
"That's why Isabella stopped speaking to me."
Luca turned.
"Why?"
"Because I knew Michael had been involved in something questionable. I tried to warn her, but I waited too long."
Her voice broke.
"She thought I'd protected him instead of protecting her."
Luca stared at the old woman.
Then asked quietly, "Why didn't you come forward after Isabella died?"
Eleanor wiped her cheeks.
"I tried."
"What happened?"
"Someone sent me a letter."
She opened her handbag.
With trembling fingers, she removed a yellowed envelope.
She handed it to Luca.
He unfolded the letter.
I watched his expression change.
Then he read the final sentence aloud.
"If you attempt to contact Lily Moretti again, the child will be removed from her uncle's custody."
The room fell silent.
Luca slowly looked toward Vanessa.
"Did your family send this?"
She shook her head.
"I don't know."
Eleanor began crying harder.
Luca turned the letter over.
Then froze.
There was an embossed seal on the back.
A small silver crest.
The Moretti family crest.
And beneath it were two initials.
A.M.
Luca stared at the letters.
May you like
For several seconds, he didn't move.
Then he whispered, "My uncle."
