Chapter 5 - The Last Recording|
The mansion felt different when we returned.
The marble floors still gleamed.
Fresh flowers still filled the entrance hall.
The household staff still moved quietly through the corridors.
But the building no longer felt like a home.
It felt like a place where secrets had been waiting behind locked doors.
Luca sent Marco to deliver the recovered evidence to Daniel Price, the attorney who had handled Isabella's personal trust and foundation affairs.
He then asked me to bring Sophia to his study.
I found her sitting on her bedroom carpet, carefully arranging the buttons from her mother's old sewing box.
"Sweetheart, your father wants to ask you something."
She looked frightened.
"Did Vanessa tell him something bad again?"
"No."
I held out my hand.
"He wants to hear something from you."
Sophia followed me downstairs.
Luca was sitting beside the fireplace with a photograph of Isabella in his hand.
When he saw his daughter, he stood.
"Come here, princess."
Sophia climbed onto the sofa beside him.
He showed her the drawing of three stars.
"Do you remember this?"
Her face immediately brightened.
"Mommy drew those."
"How do you know?"
"Because she always put three stars on my lunch notes."
Luca smiled faintly.
"One for you, one for me, and one for her?"
Sophia nodded.
Then her smile faded.
"She said the three stars meant we would always find each other."
Luca swallowed.
"Do you remember the day Mommy lost her wedding ring?"
Sophia looked down at her hands.
For a long moment, she didn't speak.
Then she whispered, "She didn't lose it."
Luca went still.
"What do you mean?"
"She gave it to me."
I stared at the little girl.
"Why would she do that, sweetheart?"
Sophia twisted a ribbon around her fingers.
"She said someone might try to take something important, and she wanted me to keep it safe."
Luca leaned forward.
"Where did you put it?"
Sophia's eyes suddenly filled with tears.
"Vanessa took my jewelry box after she moved into Mommy's room."
Luca rose so abruptly that Sophia flinched.
He stopped immediately.
"I'm not angry with you."
Sophia looked at him.
"Promise?"
"I promise."
He knelt beside her.
"Nobody is going to punish you for telling the truth again."
With Marco still away, Luca asked me to remain with Sophia while he went upstairs.
Ten minutes later, he returned carrying a small wooden jewelry box decorated with painted roses.
Sophia gasped.
"That's mine!"
Luca placed it on the table.
"Where did you keep the ring?"
She opened the box.
Inside were plastic bracelets, hair clips, a tiny silver necklace, and several folded drawings.
But no wedding ring.
Sophia's face crumpled.
"It was here."
Luca examined the box.
He noticed that the velvet lining inside the lid had been partially lifted.
Beneath it was a narrow compartment.
Inside lay a folded slip of paper.
There was no ring.
Instead, Isabella had written a short note.
For my brave little girl, remember our three stars.
If anyone tells you that love can be replaced, remember that love only grows when we make room for it.
I will always be your mommy.
Sophia pressed the note against her heart.
Luca looked as though he might break.
I gently wrapped my arms around her.
"Your mother knew you were brave."
Sophia shook her head.
"I'm not brave."
"Being frightened doesn't mean you aren't brave."
She looked toward her father.
"Mommy was scared too."
Luca lifted his head.
"Of what?"
Sophia hesitated.
"Of the lady who yelled at her in the garage."
Luca's expression changed.
"What lady?"
"Vanessa."
The room fell silent.
Sophia continued.
"I was in Mommy's car, and Vanessa was standing outside."
"What were they arguing about?"
"I don't remember everything."
She closed her eyes, trying to concentrate.
"Vanessa said Mommy had no idea who she was dealing with."
Luca gripped the edge of the table.
"And what did Mommy say?"
Sophia opened her eyes.
"She said, 'You won't touch my daughter.'"
A terrible silence followed.
Then Luca's phone rang.
Daniel Price was calling.
"Luca, I've reviewed the binder."
"What did you find?"
"Enough evidence of suspicious transfers to justify a criminal investigation."
"And the flash drive?"
Daniel hesitated.
"There's a recording."
Luca's voice hardened.
"Of what?"
"Isabella speaking to someone four days before she died."
"Who?"
"Vanessa Bellini."
I watched Luca's face turn pale.
Daniel continued.
"Isabella accused Vanessa of stealing foundation money and threatening her family."
"Does Vanessa admit it?"
"Part of it."
Luca closed his eyes.
"But there's something else," Daniel said.
"What?"
"Near the end of the recording, Isabella mentions a man who had access to your private security files."
Luca opened his eyes.
"Who?"
Daniel's voice dropped.
"Vincent DeLuca."
Before Luca could respond, the study door opened.
Vanessa stood there holding a cream-colored envelope.
She smiled at Sophia.
"Darling, I have wonderful news."
Luca stared at the envelope.
"What is that?"
Vanessa walked toward the desk.
"Something I've been planning for weeks."
She placed the papers in front of him.
Across the top was a petition concerning Sophia's adoption.
May you like
Vanessa smiled sweetly.
"I thought it was finally time to make our little family official."
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