Chapter 6: What Luca’s Father Hid
“Who wrote it?” I asked.
Luca took the letter.
“My father.”
Elena reached for it.
“That is private family correspondence.”
“It names Emma’s mother.”
“It was written by a sick man.”
Luca stepped away and read aloud.
“Margaret discovered payments made through Belladonna Holdings.
Elena told me the transfers protected the family.
I believed my sister and dismissed Margaret.”
Elena’s face hardened.
“Your father was confused.”
Luca continued.
“By the time I learned Belladonna was taking money from employee pensions, Margaret had signed a settlement and disappeared.
Elena threatened to expose business records that would have ruined hundreds of innocent workers.”
Marco looked at Elena.
“Belladonna Holdings still receives monthly transfers.”
Isabella moved toward the door.
I blocked her.
“Where are you going?”
“To get air.”
“You knew the name Belladonna.”
“I knew it was an investment company.”
“You said the transfers had to stop before your wedding.”
“Because Elena told me they were hurting Luca.”
I held her gaze.
“Then why frame me?”
“Because you saw the flash drive.”
There it was.
Luca folded the letter.
“What was on it?”
Isabella glanced at Elena.
“Copies of the accounts.”
Elena’s voice sharpened.
“Say another word and you lose everything.”
Isabella laughed bitterly.
“You already filed the petition.”
“Because you became careless.”
“You promised I would control the trust after the wedding.”
Luca’s face went still.
“What trust?”
Elena tried to walk away, but Marco closed the doors.
Isabella looked at Luca.
“Your mother’s trust.
Marriage activates your authority to appoint a second trustee.”
“And you planned to make that person Elena?”
“She said it was temporary.”
Elena struck the table with her palm.
“Enough.”
I faced her.
“You framed my mother.”
“Your mother accepted a settlement.”
“After you threatened the workers’ pensions.”
“She made a practical choice.”
“You destroyed her name.”
“I preserved this family.”
Luca placed the letter in front of Elena.
“My father says you betrayed him.”
“My brother enjoyed clean hands because I handled the dirt.”
“You stole from employees.”
“I moved money where it could survive.”
“Into accounts you controlled.”
Elena’s chin lifted.
“And I kept this company alive through two recessions while you were drinking in college and pretending your surname was a burden.”
Luca’s hand closed around the back of a chair.
“How much?”
Marco answered.
“At least eight million over twelve years.”
Isabella stared at Elena.
“You told me it was two.”
“You were never good with numbers.”
“You used me.”
“I gave you access to a life you could never have earned.”
Isabella picked up a crystal glass and threw it against the fireplace.
Bruno barked as the pieces scattered.
“I was going to marry him.”
“You were going to secure his signature.”
Luca looked at her.
“Was any part of our engagement real?”
Isabella opened her mouth, but Elena answered first.
“She met you because I arranged it.”
Luca’s fingers released the chair.
Isabella stepped toward him.
“I did love you.”
“You prepared a false confession for Emma.”
“I was scared.”
“You watched her walk on that ankle.”
“I didn’t mean for her to fall.”
“You put your hands on her.”
Isabella’s voice rose.
“Because Elena said Emma had the key!”
“The key to what?” I asked.
“The safe holding the original pension ledgers,” Marco said.
Elena’s gaze cut toward him.
Marco pulled out his phone.
“The safe was opened at 8:42 this morning.
Isabella’s key was used.”
“I was with Luca at breakfast,” Isabella said.
Luca shook his head.
“You left the table at eight thirty.”
“Only for a few minutes.”
Marco turned the screen toward us.
“The safe is empty.”
Elena smiled faintly.
“Then your accusations have no foundation.”
“My father’s letter does,” Luca said.
“A letter is not a ledger.”
Isabella pointed at Elena’s handbag.
“The black flash drive has copies.”
Elena opened the bag and turned it upside down.
Lipstick, keys, and a wallet struck the table.
“No flash drive,” she said.
I remembered Bruno carrying the scarf, the silk dragging through wet leaves, and the small weight in one corner.
“The second key wasn’t the only thing sewn into that scarf.”
Everyone turned.
Isabella’s face drained of color.
“Emma, don’t.”
I picked up the cream scarf from the side table and felt along its hem.
My fingers found a hard rectangle beneath the silk.
Before I could tear the stitches, the front doors opened.
Two board members entered with the company attorney and three uniformed officers.
Elena smiled at Luca.
May you like
“You’re too late.
The board removed you ten minutes ago.”
