Chapter 10 - THE VAULT BENEATH THE CHAPEL
For a moment, nobody spoke.
The little girl whimpered against Claire's shoulder.
Leo stared at his uncle.
Vincent held the silver key between two fingers.
“Say that again.”
Daniel looked sick.
“Father changed the inheritance.”
“When?”
“Before he died.”
“Why wasn't I told?”
“Because Sabrina found the new documents first.”
I looked at Vincent.
His face was unreadable.
But his hand trembled.
He had lost his wife.
Nearly lost his son.
And now his brother was telling him his entire life had been arranged around a lie.
“What's in the chapel vault?” I asked.
Daniel shook his head.
“Records. A letter. Maybe the original trust.”
“Maybe?” Vincent repeated.
“I never opened it.”
Vincent held up the key.
“Then we're going to.”
Claire stepped forward.
“Not with the children.”
She was right.
For once, everyone agreed.
Vincent called Evelyn.
He explained the discovery.
She listened.
Then said something that made him close his eyes.
“The hearing has been moved forward.”
“How far?”
“Two hours.”
Vincent checked the time.
We had less than ninety minutes.
Evelyn continued.
“Daniel must come with you.”
Daniel recoiled.
“I can't.”
“Then the court may believe you fled,” she said.
“And Leo could be removed.”
Leo stepped toward his uncle.
“You already hurt me.”
Daniel lowered his head.
“Please don't hurt Dad too.”
I had never heard Leo sound older.
Daniel covered his face.
“I'll go.”
We drove toward the city in separate cars.
Claire took her daughter to a protected location.
Evelyn arranged it through a trusted investigator.
Marco was missing.
No one had heard from him since the ranger station.
I wanted to ask Vincent about that.
But he was watching Leo sleep.
His expression stopped me.
At the courthouse, reporters crowded the steps.
Cameras flashed.
Someone shouted my name.
“Emma! Did you help kidnap Leo?”
I froze.
Vincent took my elbow.
“Keep walking.”
Another reporter shouted.
“Did you sign a statement against Vincent?”
I looked straight ahead.
Leo held my hand.
“Don't listen,” he whispered.
I squeezed his fingers.
Inside, Evelyn met us beside the elevators.
She looked exhausted.
“Pierce has disappeared.”
“Daniel?” Vincent asked.
“His testimony is being prepared.”
“And Sabrina?”
Evelyn hesitated.
“She filed a sworn statement this morning.”
“What does it say?”
“That Isabella is alive.”
Vincent stopped walking.
“And that you're keeping her hidden.”
The words struck like a slap.
I stared at Evelyn.
“She knows where Isabella is?”
“We don't know.”
Vincent's face hardened.
“Then we find out.”
The hearing began behind closed doors.
The judge reviewed the forged reports.
Evelyn presented the original notes from the laundry room.
She presented Isabella's letter.
Then she called Daniel.
He took the witness chair.
He admitted the shell companies existed.
He admitted signing false guardianship documents.
He admitted Sabrina had paid Dr. Pierce.
The judge leaned forward.
“Mr. Caruso, why are you confessing now?”
Daniel looked at Leo.
“Because my nephew deserves his father.”
For the first time, I believed he felt ashamed.
That didn't make him innocent.
The judge suspended the emergency removal request.
She ordered a full investigation.
Leo could remain with Vincent.
I nearly collapsed with relief.
Then the court officer handed Evelyn a sealed envelope.
Her face changed.
“What is it?” Vincent asked.
Evelyn read the document.
“An emergency injunction.”
“Against whom?”
“Against the transfer of Leo's controlling shares.”
“Who filed it?”
Evelyn looked up.
“Isabella Caruso.”
Vincent went still.
I heard Leo inhale sharply.
The judge examined the filing.
A live video testimony had been requested.
A screen lowered at the front of the room.
The connection opened.
A woman sat in a dim room.
Dark hair.
Pale face.
A scar above her left eyebrow.
Vincent gripped the table.
“Isabella?”
The woman looked directly at him.
Then she said:
May you like
“Vincent, if you open your father's vault, they'll kill our son.”
MASTER TITLE: THE MAFIA BOSS'S SON HID HIS DEAD MOTHER'S SECRET IN A TEDDY BEAR—THEN A WOMAN WITH HER FACE RETURNED
