Chapter 6 - The Woman Who Wanted to Become Her Mother|
Vanessa placed the adoption papers on Luca's desk as though she were presenting him with a birthday gift.
The cream-colored folder had a gold ribbon tied around it.
Sophia stared at the documents.
I felt her small hand search for mine.
"Isn't this wonderful?" Vanessa asked.
Luca didn't answer.
Vanessa continued smiling.
"I've already spoken with an attorney, and everything can be arranged before Christmas."
Sophia moved closer to me.
"What does adopted mean?"
Vanessa bent toward her.
"It means I'll officially become your mommy."
Sophia immediately shook her head.
"But I don't want that."
Vanessa's smile tightened.
"Darling, you don't understand how these things work."
"I already have a mommy."
"Your mother is gone."
Luca stood.
"Vanessa, stop."
She turned toward him.
"I'm trying to give this child some stability."
"By making decisions about her without asking either of us?"
Vanessa blinked.
"Luca, we're married."
"That doesn't give you permission to erase Isabella."
Her expression hardened.
"You're letting a nine-year-old dictate the future of our marriage?"
Luca picked up the folder.
He examined the first few pages.
Then his eyes narrowed.
"Why is Daniel Price's name here?"
Vanessa hesitated.
"He's Isabella's attorney."
"This document isn't part of the adoption petition."
She reached for the papers.
"It's just administrative paperwork."
Luca moved them away.
Attached to the adoption proposal was a draft agreement that would eventually give Vanessa substantial authority over Sophia's inheritance.
It proposed replacing Daniel as trustee of several accounts established by Isabella.
The language was complicated.
But its purpose was clear.
Vanessa wanted control over money that had never belonged to her.
Luca closed the folder.
"Who prepared this?"
"My attorney."
"Which attorney?"
"Why are you interrogating me?"
"Because these documents concern my daughter."
Vanessa's eyes filled with perfectly timed tears.
"Everything I do for this family gets treated like a crime."
Sophia flinched.
I had seen that performance before.
Vanessa would cry.
Luca would soften.
Sophia would apologize.
And the truth would disappear beneath Vanessa's wounded pride.
But this time, Luca didn't move.
"Take your papers and leave."
Vanessa stared at him.
"Excuse me?"
"You'll stay at the Bellini condominium until we decide what happens next."
"You can't throw your wife out."
"I'm asking you to leave peacefully."
She looked toward Sophia.
"This is what happens when children tell lies."
Luca's voice became sharp.
"Do not blame her."
Vanessa collected the folder.
Then she looked directly at me.
"You've been filling her head with nonsense."
I held her gaze.
"I've been listening to her."
"You're a servant."
"I'm someone she trusts."
Vanessa stepped closer.
"And you should remember your place."
Luca moved between us.
"Claire's place is wherever Sophia needs her."
For one brief moment, I saw the man Isabella had loved.
Not the feared head of the Moretti organization.
Not the wealthy businessman whose name opened doors throughout Chicago.
Just a father finally choosing his daughter.
Vanessa left the study without another word.
An hour later, as she was packing, a scream echoed through the upstairs hallway.
I hurried from the laundry room.
Vanessa was standing outside my bedroom holding an open jewelry case.
"My diamond earrings are missing!"
Several employees had gathered nearby.
Vincent DeLuca stood beside her.
Vanessa pointed at me.
"Search her room."
I froze.
"What?"
"My earrings disappeared after Claire cleaned my dressing room."
Vincent stepped forward.
"Miss Bennett, please cooperate."
Luca appeared at the top of the stairs.
"What's going on?"
Vanessa began crying.
"Your precious Claire has stolen from me."
I shook my head.
"Mr. Moretti, I haven't taken anything."
Vincent opened my wardrobe.
Inside my work apron, he found a velvet pouch.
He emptied it onto the dresser.
Two diamond earrings fell onto the wood.
My heart stopped.
"I've never seen those before."
Vanessa folded her arms.
"Of course you haven't."
Luca looked at the earrings.
Then at me.
For one terrible second, I thought he was going to believe her.
Instead, he turned toward Vincent.
"Why did you know exactly where to look?"
Vincent stiffened.
"I was following Mrs. Moretti's instructions."
"Why did you go straight to the apron?"
Nobody answered.
A small voice came from the doorway.
"Because Vanessa put them there."
Sophia stood beside Marco.
Her face was pale, but her voice was steady.
Vanessa whirled around.
"That's a lie!"
Sophia flinched.
Luca stepped toward her.
"Sweetheart, tell me what you saw."
"I was coming to ask Claire to fix my ribbon."
She swallowed.
"Vanessa came out of Claire's room carrying the little black bag."
Vanessa looked furious.
"She's making things up!"
Sophia began trembling.
But she didn't look away.
"She told me to go back to my room."
Luca placed a hand on his daughter's shoulder.
"Thank you for telling me."
Then he turned toward Vincent.
"Leave the earrings where they are."
"Boss?"
"Daniel will arrange for them to be documented properly."
Vanessa stared at him.
"You're choosing a maid over your wife?"
"No."
Luca looked at Sophia.
"I'm choosing the truth over the woman who keeps hurting my daughter."
May you like
Vanessa's face went white.
And for the first time since entering the Moretti mansion, she had no convincing answer.
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