Chapter 2 - THE LAST PERSON WHO SPOKE TO MATTHEW|
For a moment, nobody in the dining room seemed capable of breathing.
Olivia Moretti sat frozen in her chair, her six-week-old daughter sleeping against her chest.
Eleanor Price stood beside her, tears shining in her eyes.
And Vanessa Bellini, the woman who had spent the entire evening pretending to care about Olivia's well-being, looked as though someone had just pulled the floor out from beneath her.
“Eleanor,” Olivia whispered, “what are you talking about?”
The older woman pressed a trembling hand against her mouth.
“Matthew told me something before the accident, sweetheart.”
Luca Moretti stepped closer.
“What exactly did my brother-in-law tell you?”
Eleanor looked toward Vanessa.
“He said Adrian was hiding something about the restaurant.”
Vanessa immediately shook her head.
“This is ridiculous.”
Nobody answered her.
Eleanor continued.
“Matthew said he'd discovered financial irregularities, but he didn't want to frighten Olivia while she was pregnant.”
Olivia's face crumpled.
“He never told me.”
“He was trying to protect you.”
“From what?”
Eleanor hesitated.
Then she looked directly at Luca.
“From Vanessa's brother.”
A murmur spread through the dining room.
Adrian Bellini wasn't simply Vanessa's brother.
He was one of Luca's oldest friends.
He'd grown up with Luca on Chicago's North Side, attended his family celebrations, and stood beside him at his father's funeral.
For years, Luca had treated Adrian like another brother.
Now Eleanor was accusing that man of hiding something connected to Matthew's death.
Luca rested one tattooed hand on the back of Olivia's chair.
“Let's start with the hospital.”
Eleanor nodded.
“The night Matthew died, Adrian arrived before I did.”
Olivia stared at her.
“That can't be right.”
“Why not, sweetheart?”
“Because Adrian told me he didn't know about the accident until the following morning.”
Vanessa closed her eyes.
It was such a small movement.
But I noticed.
And so did Luca.
“Vanessa,” he said quietly.
She straightened.
“What?”
“Did you know Adrian went to the hospital that night?”
She looked around the room.
Thirty guests watched her.
Several had stopped pretending not to listen.
“Luca, honestly, you're turning a tragic accident into some ridiculous conspiracy.”
“That wasn't my question.”
Vanessa lifted her chin.
“I don't remember.”
Luca stared at her.
“You remember what Olivia supposedly spilled on her dress, but you can't remember whether your own brother was at the hospital when Matthew died?”
Her cheeks flushed.
“That isn't fair.”
“Neither is what you've done to my sister.”
Olivia began trembling.
I crouched beside her.
“Mrs. Olivia, would you like to take Emma upstairs?”
She shook her head.
“No.”
Her voice was barely audible.
“I want to know.”
I looked at the sleeping baby.
Emma's tiny fingers were curled around the edge of her blanket.
She had no idea that a conversation taking place above her could change everything about her future.
Olivia kissed her daughter's forehead.
“Matthew was so excited to meet her,” she whispered.
Then she looked at Eleanor.
“Please tell me what happened.”
Eleanor sat down.
“I received a call from the hospital shortly before midnight.”
“They told me Matthew had been involved in a serious highway collision.”
“I drove there immediately.”
She swallowed.
“When I arrived, Adrian was standing near the nurses' station.”
Olivia frowned.
“Did he speak to you?”
“Yes.”
“What did he say?”
“He said Matthew was gone.”
Eleanor's voice broke.
“He told me there was nothing anyone could have done.”
For several seconds, she couldn't continue.
Luca waited.
Then Eleanor wiped her cheeks.
“But when I asked to see my son, a nurse told me Adrian had asked the staff to delay family visits.”
Olivia's expression changed.
“Why?”
“He said he needed to speak with Vanessa first.”
Everyone turned toward the woman in red.
Vanessa stood completely still.
Luca's voice became dangerously quiet.
“Explain that.”
She gave a strained laugh.
“Adrian was probably trying to spare everyone unnecessary distress.”
“Why would he need to speak to you?”
“Because we're family.”
“Matthew was family too.”
Vanessa looked away.
Luca leaned closer.
“Why did your brother contact you before contacting Matthew's wife?”
“I don't know.”
“Then we'll ask him.”
Vanessa immediately reached for her purse.
“Luca, don't.”
He stopped.
“Why not?”
“Because Adrian's dealing with enough business problems already.”
Luca studied her.
“What business problems?”
She hesitated.
“Nothing serious.”
“Then he can answer a few questions.”
He took out his phone.
Vanessa's face turned white.
“Please.”
That single word changed the atmosphere.
It wasn't the sharp command she'd used with me.
It wasn't the condescending voice she'd used with Olivia.
It was fear.
Luca noticed.
He dialed Adrian's number.
The call rang six times.
No answer.
He tried again.
Voicemail.
Then he looked at his security director.
“Marco, please find out where Adrian is tonight.”
Marco nodded and stepped away.
Vanessa suddenly stood.
“You can't treat my brother like a criminal.”
Luca looked at her.
“Then stop giving me reasons to question him.”
Olivia made a small sound.
I turned.
Her face had gone pale.
“Claire.”
“Yes, ma'am?”
“I feel strange.”
I immediately placed a hand beneath her elbow.
She was shaking.
Her lips were dry.
And she hadn't eaten properly all day.
“Mr. Moretti,” I said, “your sister needs a quiet room.”
Luca turned immediately.
“Olivia?”
She tried to stand.
Her knees weakened.
I caught her before she fell.
“Easy,” I whispered.
Emma startled and began crying.
Eleanor reached for the baby.
“May I?”
Olivia hesitated.
Then nodded.
Eleanor gently took Emma into her arms.
I supported Olivia while Luca pulled out another chair.
“Sit down, sweetheart.”
Olivia shook her head.
“I can't.”
“Why?”
Her voice broke.
“Because if I sit down, I'm going to cry.”
Luca's expression softened.
“Then cry.”
She stared at him.
“You don't have to pretend you're okay anymore.”
That was all it took.
Olivia collapsed against her brother.
“I miss him,” she sobbed.
Luca wrapped his arms around her.
“I know.”
“I miss him so much.”
“I know, sweetheart.”
“He was supposed to be here.”
Her voice cracked.
“He was supposed to hold our daughter.”
Luca closed his eyes.
For the first time that evening, the frightening man in the black suit looked completely helpless.
He could buy buildings.
He could command powerful men.
He could make entire rooms fall silent.
But he couldn't bring Matthew home.
And he couldn't erase the pain his sister had carried alone.
I looked away.
Some grief deserved privacy.
But Vanessa didn't seem to understand that.
She folded her arms.
“Are we really going to do this in front of everyone?”
Luca slowly lifted his head.
“What did you say?”
Vanessa glanced toward the guests.
“This was supposed to be our engagement dinner.”
He stared at her.
“My sister just learned someone may have lied to her about the night her husband died.”
“And?”
Vanessa blinked.
“And you think the most important thing is your party?”
“I'm saying there are better ways to handle family disagreements.”
Luca stood.
“Then here's how we're handling this one.”
He turned toward the guests.
“Ladies and gentlemen, thank you for coming.”
His voice was calm.
“But dinner is over.”
Nobody moved.
He continued.
“My family needs privacy.”
Chairs scraped against the marble floor.
Guests quietly collected their belongings.
Within minutes, the room began emptying.
A few women approached Olivia to offer sympathy.
An older gentleman shook Luca's hand.
But most hurried away without speaking.
I couldn't blame them.
They had witnessed something nobody expected.
Vanessa Bellini had walked into dinner believing she'd soon become the most powerful woman in the Moretti household.
She was leaving the table with her lies unraveling.
When the final guests had gone, Luca turned toward me.
“Claire, please bring Olivia something warm to drink.”
“Of course, sir.”
“And make sure she has whatever she needs for Emma.”
I nodded.
Olivia caught my wrist.
“Please don't go far.”
I smiled gently.
“I'll be right back.”
She looked frightened.
“Promise?”
“I promise.”
As I entered the kitchen, I heard Luca speaking to Vanessa.
“You told my sister she had to leave on Monday.”
“Yes.”
“You arranged for Eleanor to take Emma.”
“I was trying to help.”
“And you withheld information about Matthew's business.”
Vanessa said nothing.
Luca's voice dropped.
“Was any of this your idea?”
A long silence followed.
Then Vanessa whispered something I couldn't hear.
I returned carrying tea, water, and a plate of sandwiches.
Olivia was sitting beside Eleanor.
Emma had fallen asleep.
For the first time all evening, the grandmother and mother were talking without Vanessa between them.
I placed the tray nearby.
Then Olivia looked up.
“Claire?”
“Yes?”
“Did Matthew ever come to the mansion while I was in the hospital?”
I frowned.
“I wasn't working here during your delivery, ma'am.”
“No.”
She shook her head.
“I mean before the accident.”
I thought carefully.
Matthew had visited the mansion several times.
He was friendly.
He always thanked the staff.
And he frequently brought flowers for Olivia.
Then I remembered something unusual.
“Actually, ma'am, he came here the afternoon before the accident.”
Olivia went still.
“What?”
“He asked for Mr. Moretti.”
Luca turned.
“I was in New York that day.”
I nodded.
“Yes, sir.”
“Did you tell him?”
“Yes.”
“What happened?”
I hesitated.
“Mr. Bellini spoke with him in the front hallway.”
Luca frowned.
“Adrian was here?”
“Yes, sir.”
Vanessa suddenly stood.
“Claire, that's enough.”
My stomach tightened.
I looked at Luca.
He noticed my hesitation.
“Continue.”
I swallowed.
“They went into the study.”
“For how long?”
“About twenty minutes.”
“Did they argue?”
I hesitated.
The memory was clear.
Matthew had come out looking furious.
His usually gentle expression had disappeared.
He'd walked past me, stopped, and asked whether I could give Luca a message.
I had nearly forgotten.
Because later that evening Vanessa told me Matthew had already spoken to Luca.
And she'd ordered me not to trouble him with unnecessary household gossip.
Now I looked directly at Luca.
“Sir, Matthew asked me to tell you something.”
Olivia's eyes widened.
“What?”
My voice shook.
“He said Adrian was lying about the restaurant accounts.”
Luca went still.
I continued.
“He said he had proof.”
Vanessa took a step backward.
Luca's jaw tightened.
“Did he say where?”
I searched my memory.
Then I remembered Matthew standing beneath the staircase, holding his car keys so tightly his knuckles had turned white.
He'd leaned toward me and whispered one sentence.
At the time, I hadn't understood it.
Now the words seemed terrifying.
I looked at Luca.
“Sir, Matthew told me to say that if anything happened to him, you should look inside the restaurant's original lease agreement.”
Olivia covered her mouth.
Luca stared at me.
Then Eleanor whispered, “Oh, dear God.”
Everyone turned.
The older woman's face had gone white.
“Eleanor?” Olivia asked.
She began trembling.
“Matthew gave me a copy of that agreement.”
Luca stepped closer.
“Where is it?”
Eleanor swallowed.
“Inside the apartment Vanessa wanted Olivia to give up.”
For several seconds, nobody spoke.
Then Eleanor looked toward her sleeping granddaughter.
May you like
And whispered the words that turned the entire evening into something far more frightening.
“Matthew told me that if Adrian ever discovered what was hidden in that lease, Emma might be the only person who could legally claim what belonged to her father.”
