Chapter 7: The Night Every Lie Spoke
Luca took the phone from me.
“If you frighten him—”
“Lower your voice,” Isabella said.
“Matteo thinks we’re attending the foundation gala.”
“Put him on.”
A small voice came through.
“Daddy?
Isabella says you forgot the party.”
“I didn’t forget, champ.
Emma and I are coming.”
“Bring my blue cup.”
Isabella ended the call.
Dominic opened the metal case.
“She’ll take Matteo to the Moretti Hotel.
The board is gathering there to announce Victor as chairman.”
Luca called the officer who had visited the house.
“Detective Harris, Isabella removed my son without permission.
We know where she took him.”
Rosa touched my arm.
“You don’t have to go.”
“Yes, I do.”
At the hotel, Isabella stood beneath the ballroom lights with one hand on Matteo’s shoulder.
Victor addressed the board while reporters waited near the stage.
“There she is,” Isabella said when she saw me.
“The devoted caregiver.”
Matteo pulled away from her and ran into my arms.
“You came.”
“Always.”
Isabella held out her hand.
“The ledgers.”
Dominic stepped from behind Luca.
“They belong to the authorities.”
Her face changed.
“Father.”
“You told people I was de@d.”
“You were more useful that way.”
Victor grabbed Dominic’s case and threw it into a service cart.
“Security, remove these people.”
“No,” the gray-haired board member said.
“We will hear them.”
Isabella pointed at me.
“That woman manipulated a grieving child and seduced his father’s loyalty.”
I handed my phone to the technician beside the stage.
“Play the recording.”
Isabella’s own voice filled the ballroom.
“I will give you two hundred thousand dollars.
You resign today.
You tell the police you misunderstood what happened in the kitchen.”
Victor backed toward the service corridor.
Detective Harris entered with two officers.
“Stay where you are.”
Isabella laughed.
“A private conversation proves nothing.”
Dominic raised one ledger.
“These prove forty-three unauthorized transfers.”
“They carry Luca’s codes,” Victor said.
“And your handwritten approval marks,” Dominic replied.
Victor snatched a candle from a table and held its flame beneath the ledger.
Luca knocked his wrist aside, and the candle rolled harmlessly across the carpet.
Detective Harris restrained Victor’s arms.
“Attempting to destroy evidence in front of officers was a poor choice.”
The ballroom doors opened again.
A bank manager entered carrying a sealed case.
“Box 317 was frozen before Mr.
Vale arrived,” she said.
“Sofia Moretti left instructions that no acting trustee could open it without Dominic Vale and Luca Moretti present.”
Isabella stared at her father.
“You planned this.”
“No,” Dominic said.
“Sofia did.”
The manager connected a small drive to the ballroom screen.
Sofia appeared again.
“Isabella and Victor are moving money through false charities,” she said.
“If they discover this recording, they may accuse Luca.
The originals are in box 317.”
Victor stopped struggling.
Sofia lifted a document toward the camera.
“I have also revoked Isabella’s access to Matteo and named Dominic as independent co-trustee if Luca is removed.”
The board member faced Victor.
“Your appointment is void.”
Detective Harris took the ledgers.
“Victor Moretti, you are being detained for fraud, forgery, and attempted destruction of evidence.”
Another officer stepped toward Isabella.
She caught my injured wrist and squeezed.
“This servant ruined everything!”
I pulled free.
“No.
You ruined it when you thought kindness was weakness.”
The officer secured Isabella’s hands behind her.
She stared at Luca.
“Before you celebrate, ask him what he promised me the night Sofia was taken from him.”
The room fell silent.
Isabella smiled at me as the officer led her toward the doors.
May you like
“Go on, Luca,” she called.
“Tell Emma why you really brought me into your house.”
