Chapter 4 - The Envelope Behind the Wedding Photograph
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Isabella stood in the doorway as though she'd just walked into a nightmare.
Her eyes were fixed on the brown envelope in Luca's hand.
For several seconds, nobody spoke.
Then Luca slowly turned toward her.
“Why are you here?”
Isabella forced a smile.
“I was looking for you.”
“Why?”
“Your mother hasn't taken her afternoon medication.”
Teresa frowned.
“I took it at two.”
Isabella ignored her.
“Luca, darling, shouldn't we let her rest?”
Luca looked down at the envelope.
Then back at his fiancée.
“Did you know there was something hidden inside my parents' wedding photograph?”
Her expression changed.
Only slightly.
But I saw it.
“No.”
“Are you sure?”
“Of course.”
Luca stepped closer.
“Then why did you throw it away?”
She laughed nervously.
“We've already discussed this.”
“No. You've avoided answering.”
Her eyes narrowed.
“Luca, you're being unreasonable.”
He held up the envelope.
“My father hid something in this frame before he died.”
Isabella went completely still.
Then she said something strange.
“Whatever it is, it probably belongs with his business records.”
Luca studied her.
“How would you know?”
“I wouldn't. I'm guessing.”
Teresa suddenly spoke.
“Isabella.”
She turned.
“What?”
“Please leave.”
Isabella stared.
“Teresa, I—”
“I want to read my husband's letter with my son.”
The old woman's voice was calm.
But final.
Isabella looked toward Luca.
He nodded toward the door.
“You heard her.”
For a moment, she seemed ready to argue.
Then she smiled.
“Of course.”
She left.
But as the door closed, I saw her pull out her phone.
And begin typing.
Luca noticed too.
He turned toward Anthony, who stood outside the hallway.
“Make sure the security recordings are preserved. I want to know who comes in and out of this wing.”
Anthony nodded.
“Yes, boss.”
Then Luca returned to his mother.
“Ma, do you want me to open it?”
Teresa looked at the envelope.
Her fingers trembled.
For eleven years, she'd kept Giovanni's photograph above the fireplace.
Every morning, she'd looked at the face of the man she loved.
And all that time, a message from him had been hidden inches away.
“Yes,” she whispered.
Luca carefully opened the envelope.
Inside were three folded pages.
And a small silver key.
He unfolded the first page.
Then began reading aloud.
My dearest Teresa,
If you're reading this, it means I was unable to explain everything myself.
Teresa covered her mouth.
Luca paused.
“Do you want me to continue?”
She nodded.
He swallowed.
I've discovered that money intended for the children's scholarship foundation has been diverted through companies connected to Victor Bellini.
I haven't yet established everyone involved.
But I've confirmed that several invoices were deliberately falsified.
Luca's jaw tightened.
He continued.
I've placed the original records in a secure location. The key enclosed with this letter opens the private box where they are kept.
Please do not confront Victor yourself.
Teresa began crying.
I gently placed a hand on her shoulder.
Luca read on.
Most importantly, Teresa, do not let anyone convince you that your instincts are foolish. You've always understood people better than I have.
If something happens to me, protect yourself and tell Luca the truth when you believe he's ready to hear it.
The final paragraph was different.
More personal.
Luca's voice began breaking.
And my love, keep our wedding photograph wherever you wish. I know you tease me about never smiling in pictures, but that was the happiest day of my life.
If I had a thousand more years, I would spend every one of them loving you.
Teresa sobbed.
Not loudly.
Not dramatically.
Just a broken, exhausted sound.
I knelt beside her wheelchair.
She reached for my hand.
“Oh, Giovanni.”
Luca lowered the letter.
For a long time, he said nothing.
Then he leaned forward and kissed his mother's forehead.
“I'm sorry, Ma.”
She shook her head.
“You didn't know.”
“I should have asked.”
Teresa looked at him.
“Your father wanted to protect us.”
Luca stared at the key.
“And someone may have spent eleven years trying to find what he left behind.”
I felt a chill.
The missing watch.
The letters.
The diary.
The wedding photograph.
Everything Isabella had taken was connected to Giovanni.
But one detail bothered me.
“Mr. Moretti?”
Luca turned.
“Yes, Emma?”
“Why would Isabella throw the photograph away if she thought something was hidden inside?”
He studied me.
I continued.
“She could have opened it herself.”
Luca looked toward the frame.
Then at the discarded wrapping paper still lying on the side table.
“Unless she didn't know exactly where the evidence was.”
Teresa nodded slowly.
“Giovanni mentioned several belongings in the diary.”
I swallowed.
“So Isabella may have been searching through everything he left.”
Luca's expression hardened.
Then he reached for his phone.
“Anthony, ask our attorney to come immediately.”
He paused.
“And contact an independent forensic accountant.”
I thought the situation was finally under control.
Then Teresa whispered something.
“There's another letter.”
Luca turned.
“What?”
She looked at the wedding photograph.
“Giovanni sent me a letter the week before he died.”
“Where is it?”
Her face tightened.
“That's one of the letters Isabella took.”
Luca closed his eyes.
“What did it say?”
Teresa looked toward the door.
“He wrote that someone had been following him.”
My stomach dropped.
“Who?” Luca asked.
“He didn't know.”
She swallowed.
“But he said if anything happened to him, I should never believe it was simply bad luck.”
The room went completely silent.
Giovanni Moretti had supposedly died from a heart attack.
Eleven years earlier.
But suddenly, even that story didn't seem certain.
And when Luca looked down at the silver key in his hand, I knew exactly what he was thinking.
May you like
His father hadn't merely left behind financial records.
He'd left behind a warning.
