Chapter 2
Luca Moretti didn't shout. He never shouted. When anger possessed him, his voice dropped an octave. It became dangerous. Like ice cracking over deep water. “Explain yourself,” Luca whispered. He looked at Arthur Bellini. The elder businessman cleared his throat. His hands trembled against the white tablecloth. “Luca, calm down,” Arthur said. “Let's speak in private.” “No,” Luca replied. The single word echoed through the grand dining hall. Fifty guests held their breath. Not a single person dared to move. “You will speak now,” Luca added. Vanessa stepped forward. Her red dress rustled against the marble floor. “Daddy, don't listen to them,” she pleaded. “They are lying.” “Lying?” Lorenzo Bianchi adjusted his glasses. “I do not lie, Miss Bellini.” The Italian doctor stepped toward the table. “You offered me fifty thousand euros.” Gasps rippled through the room. Vanessa froze. “To falsify the medical report,” Lorenzo continued. “To state that the child's legs were permanently paralyzed.” Luca turned his head slowly. His dark eyes locked onto Vanessa. “Fifty thousand euros?” he repeated. “Luca, please,” Vanessa sobbed. Fake tears appeared in her eyes. “He is trying to ruin us.” “Stop talking,” Luca ordered. He walked over to Arthur Bellini. The mafia boss towered over the older man. “What was the promise?” Luca asked. “What did you give her permission to do?” Arthur wiped sweat from his forehead. “The merger, Luca.” “The shipping merger.” “You promised Vanessa fifty percent of the Moretti holdings upon our marriage.” Luca stared at him. “Under one condition.” Arthur swallowed hard. “That you had no heirs to inherit.” Sofia gasped. She buried her face in my shoulder. I held her tight. My hands were shaking. “An heir,” Luca murmured. “Yes,” Arthur whispered. “If Sofia remained disabled... she could never claim the estate.” “And if she recovered?” Luca asked. “She would inherit everything,” Arthur admitted. Silence descended upon the room. Heavy. Suffocating. Luca took a deep breath. He reached into his jacket. He pulled out his phone. He pressed a single button. “Max,” Luca said into the screen. “Secure the perimeter.” “Nobody leaves this building.” “Lock all doors.” Arthur sprang to his feet. “Luca, you can't do this!” “I am the law in this city,” Luca said coldly. “And you just threatened my daughter.” Vanessa backed away. Her heels clicked frantically against the floor. “You can't trap us here!” she screamed. “I am your fiancée!” “Not anymore,” Luca said. He looked at me. “Emily.” “Yes, sir?” “Take Sofia upstairs.” “Lock the nursery door.” “Do not open it for anyone except me.” “Yes, Mr. Moretti,” I said. I lifted Sofia into my arms. She clung to my neck. “Don't let them hurt my daddy,” she whispered. “Nobody is going to hurt anyone,” I promised. I carried her away from the banquet hall. Behind us, the storm finally broke.
