Chapter 1 - The White Shoes and the Missing Butterfly
“TAKE THAT LITTLE GIRL'S WHITE SHOES AWAY, YOU STUPID LITTLE MAID! SHE ISN'T WALKING DOWN THE AISLE AT MY WEDDING!” THE MAFIA BOSS'S FIANCÉE HUMILIATED HIS 25-YEAR-OLD HOUSEKEEPER IN FRONT OF FORTY-SIX DINNER GUESTS—BUT WHEN THE MAID REFUSED TO THROW AWAY HIS SEVEN-YEAR-OLD DAUGHTER'S SHOES, LUCA MORETTI NOTICED A STRANGE MESSAGE WRITTEN INSIDE ONE OF THEM. THEN AN ELDERLY WEDDING PLANNER STOOD UP AND SAID, “MR. MORETTI, YOUR FIANCÉE HAS BEEN HIDING WHAT YOUR DAUGHTER SAW AT THE CHURCH.”
“Emily, take those shoes off her. Now.”
Vanessa Bellini stood beside the banquet table in a fitted red silk gown, glaring at the little girl holding my hand.
Forty-six wealthy guests watched beneath the crystal chandeliers.
Seven-year-old Lily Moretti wore a pale pink dress.
Her dark curls fell over her shoulders.
And she was wearing a pair of tiny white satin shoes.
One had a silver butterfly near the ankle.
The other was missing its butterfly.
“Mrs. Bellini,” I whispered, “Lily only wants to wear them for her father's wedding.”
Vanessa laughed.
“Oh, sweetheart. You're a maid, not a wedding planner. Stop encouraging this nonsense.”
Lily lowered her eyes.
“I'm sorry, Vanessa.”
“Then stop making everything about yourself. Nobody wants to see a little girl stumbling around in those ridiculous shoes.”
My chest tightened.
My name is Emily Carter.
I'm twenty-five, and I've worked at Luca Moretti's Chicago mansion for eleven months.
Lily was usually a cheerful little girl.
She loved strawberry pancakes.
Drawing butterflies.
And dancing in the kitchen whenever I played music while cleaning.
But she had been different for the past two weeks.
Quieter.
Nervous.
Sometimes she refused to go downstairs when Vanessa was home.
And every night, she asked me the same question.
“Miss Emily, do grown-ups always tell the truth when they get married?”
I never knew how to answer.
Her mother, Elena Moretti, had died three years earlier.
Before she died, she'd bought Lily a little pair of white satin shoes.
“For when you're big enough to be a flower girl,” she'd told her.
Elena never got to see that day.
But Lily kept the shoes in their original box.
And when Luca announced his engagement to Vanessa, Lily asked whether she could wear them.
Vanessa smiled in front of Luca.
“Of course, sweetheart.”
Then, when he left the room, her expression changed.
“Don't embarrass me at my wedding, Lily.”
The little girl nodded.
But that wasn't the worst part.
Three days earlier, Vanessa had taken Lily to the church for a private wedding rehearsal.
I went along to help with her dress.
While Vanessa spoke with the florist, Lily wandered toward the small room behind the altar.
A few minutes later, she came running back.
Her face was pale.
One silver butterfly was missing from her shoe.
And she wouldn't tell me what had happened.
Until that evening.
“Miss Emily,” she'd whispered, “I saw Vanessa doing something she said Daddy must never know about.”
My stomach tightened.
“What did you see, sweetheart?”
Lily shook her head.
“She said if I told, Daddy would be very angry with me.”
I'd gently held her hands.
“Lily, your father loves you.”
But she began crying.
“Then why did Vanessa say he'd send me away?”
Now Lily was standing beside me during the engagement dinner.
And Vanessa wanted the shoes removed.
“Emily!”
She snapped her fingers.
“Take them off.”
I swallowed.
“Please, ma'am. They're important to Lily.”
Vanessa's smile disappeared.
“You're a maid. You don't get to decide what's appropriate for my wedding.”
Then she grabbed Lily's ankle.
The little girl stumbled.
I caught her before she fell.
Several guests gasped.
Vanessa pointed toward the floor.
“Take them off.”
Lily began crying.
“Please! Mommy gave them to me!”
The entire table went silent.
Vanessa laughed nervously.
“See? This is exactly what I mean. Her mother's been dead for three years, and she's still clinging to childish memories.”
But Lily shook her head.
“I'm not!”
Vanessa's expression hardened.
“Enough!”
She caught my apron and pulled me away from the child.
“Take her upstairs and apologize to my guests.”
I gently freed my apron.
“No, ma'am.”
Vanessa stared at me.
“What?”
“I'm not taking her upstairs.”
Several guests turned.
Vanessa stepped closer.
“You ungrateful little nobody. I can have you fired before dessert.”
I thought about my mother.
Her medical bills.
The mortgage payment I was struggling to help her make.
I needed this job.
But Lily was shaking now.
And I couldn't be another adult who made her afraid to tell the truth.
“Then I'm sorry, ma'am,” I whispered.
Vanessa grabbed the silver serving tray from my hand.
She slammed it against the table.
The glasses rattled.
“Get on your knees and apologize!”
That's when a chair moved at the head of the room.
“Vanessa.”
Luca Moretti stood.
Thirty-seven years old.
Dark swept-back hair.
Tailored black suit.
Tattoos visible across his hands.
He looked at Lily's frightened face.
Then at me.
“Why is my daughter crying?”
Vanessa immediately smiled.
“Darling, Emily has been encouraging Lily to make a scene over some old shoes.”
Luca looked at his daughter.
“Princess, did something happen?”
The little girl nodded.
Vanessa stepped forward.
“Luca, she's becoming impossible about this wedding.”
He looked at his fiancée.
“Then let her tell me.”
Vanessa stopped smiling.
Luca held out his hand.
“Lily, come here.”
She slowly approached him.
He knelt beside her.
“I'm listening, sweetheart.”
Her lower lip trembled.
Then she whispered:
“Daddy, do you really not want me at your wedding?”
Luca went completely still.
“What?”
Lily began crying.
“Vanessa said I wasn't allowed to walk down the aisle because I would remind everyone of Mommy.”
Luca's face changed.
“Princess, I want you there more than anything.”
The little girl looked confused.
“Then why did she say you wanted me to stay in my room?”
Silence.
Luca slowly turned toward Vanessa.
“Did you tell her that?”
Vanessa forced a smile.
“Luca, I was trying to manage her expectations.”
He stared at her.
“She's seven years old.”
“I know.”
“Then why would you tell her she isn't welcome at her father's wedding?”
Vanessa looked away.
For several seconds, nobody spoke.
Then Lily reached toward her shoe.
“Daddy?”
Luca immediately turned.
“Yes, sweetheart?”
“Mommy left me something.”
He smiled sadly.
“I know. Those are her shoes for you.”
Lily shook her head.
“No.”
She carefully removed the right shoe.
Then turned it over.
Inside the heel, beneath the white satin lining, someone had written three words in blue ink.
ASK MRS. HARRIS.
Luca frowned.
“Who's Mrs. Harris?”
Lily swallowed.
“The lady at the church.”
Vanessa suddenly stepped forward.
“Lily, give me that shoe.”
The little girl pulled it against her chest.
“No!”
Luca raised one hand.
“Vanessa. Stop.”
She froze.
Then he looked toward his daughter.
“Princess, did Mrs. Harris write this?”
Lily nodded.
“She said I had to show you.”
Luca's expression changed.
“Why?”
The little girl looked toward Vanessa.
Then whispered:
“Because she saw what happened.”
The dining room became completely silent.
Luca slowly turned toward his fiancée.
“What happened at the church?”
Vanessa folded her arms.
“Nothing happened. Lily wandered into a room she wasn't supposed to enter.”
Luca looked back at his daughter.
“Sweetheart, what did you see?”
Lily began trembling.
“I saw Vanessa with a man.”
Vanessa immediately interrupted.
“That was the florist!”
But Lily shook her head.
“No.”
She looked toward the far end of the table.
Then pointed.
“That man.”
Every head turned.
A distinguished gentleman sat beside Vanessa's father.
His name was Anthony Romano.
He'd been introduced as a wealthy Italian businessman helping finance the wedding reception.
Until now, he hadn't spoken a word.
Anthony slowly lowered his glass.
Vanessa went pale.
Luca turned toward him.
“Mr. Romano?”
The businessman looked uncomfortable.
“Yes?”
“Were you at the church with Vanessa?”
Anthony hesitated.
Then answered.
“Yes.”
Luca frowned.
“Why?”
Vanessa quickly interrupted.
“Anthony was helping us arrange the reception.”
But Lily shook her head.
“No.”
The little girl looked at her father.
“They weren't talking about the wedding.”
Luca knelt beside her.
“What were they talking about?”
Lily swallowed.
“A lady.”
The room became quiet.
Luca frowned.
“What lady?”
Lily's lips trembled.
“The one in the picture.”
Vanessa gripped the edge of the table.
Luca slowly turned toward her.
“What picture?”
She didn't answer.
Then a woman seated near the opposite end of the banquet table quietly spoke.
“Mr. Moretti?”
Everyone turned.
An elderly woman with silver hair sat beside the church's senior coordinator.
Her name was Margaret Harris.
She'd organized weddings at St. Augustine's Church for nearly thirty years.
And until now, she hadn't said a word.
Margaret looked toward Lily.
Then toward Vanessa.
Her expression was troubled.
“I believe I should explain something.”
Vanessa went still.
“Margaret, please.”
Luca slowly turned.
“What do you know about this?”
The wedding planner hesitated.
Then spoke quietly.
“Your daughter came to me after the rehearsal.”
Luca frowned.
“Why?”
“Because she was frightened.”
Vanessa laughed nervously.
“She'd wandered somewhere unfamiliar. That's all.”
Margaret shook her head.
“No, Miss Bellini.”
The room became silent.
“She was frightened because she recognized a photograph you were trying to remove from the church.”
Luca went completely still.
“A photograph?”
Margaret nodded.
“Yes.”
“Of whom?”
The elderly woman looked toward Lily.
Then back at Luca.
“Your late wife.”
Vanessa closed her eyes.
For several seconds, nobody moved.
Luca slowly turned toward his fiancée.
“Why were you removing a photograph of Elena?”
Vanessa swallowed.
“Luca, it's complicated.”
“Then explain it.”
She didn't answer.
Margaret continued.
“Your wife volunteered at our church for years.”
Luca nodded slowly.
“I know.”
“She helped organize meals for families who couldn't afford groceries.”
His expression softened.
“Elena loved that program.”
Margaret nodded.
“And after her death, the church created a small memorial display in her honor.”
Luca frowned.
“I remember.”
The wedding planner took a breath.
“Miss Bellini requested that the display be removed before the ceremony.”
The room became quiet.
Luca looked toward Vanessa.
“Why?”
She folded her arms.
“Because I didn't want our wedding to feel like a memorial service.”
Luca stared at her.
“Then why didn't you discuss it with me?”
Vanessa looked away.
But Margaret wasn't finished.
“Mr. Moretti, the photograph wasn't the only thing she wanted removed.”
Luca turned.
“What else?”
The wedding planner hesitated.
“A framed list of donors.”
Luca frowned.
“Donors?”
Margaret nodded.
“People who helped fund the church's children's meal program.”
Vanessa suddenly stood.
“Margaret, that's enough.”
But Luca raised one hand.
“Let her speak.”
The elderly woman continued.
“Your wife made a substantial donation shortly before she died.”
Luca nodded.
“I remember that.”
Margaret looked toward Anthony Romano.
Then back at Luca.
“She also left instructions about how the money was to be used.”
Luca frowned.
“What instructions?”
Margaret swallowed.
“That the church should never stop providing meals to the children, even if its other funding disappeared.”
The room became completely silent.
Luca slowly looked toward Vanessa.
“What does this have to do with the wedding?”
Margaret hesitated.
“Three weeks ago, someone informed us that the fund had been exhausted.”
Luca went still.
“Exhausted?”
The wedding planner nodded.
“Yes.”
“But Elena left enough to support that program for years.”
Margaret's eyes filled.
“That's what we believed.”
Vanessa covered her mouth.
Luca slowly turned toward Anthony Romano.
“Were you involved in managing that fund?”
The businessman hesitated.
“Yes.”
Luca frowned.
“Through which company?”
Anthony looked toward Vanessa's father.
Then answered.
“Bellini Financial Services.”
The room went completely silent.
Luca stared at him.
“My wife's charitable donation was managed by your company?”
Anthony nodded.
“Yes.”
“And now the money is gone?”
The businessman looked away.
For several seconds, nobody spoke.
Then Lily tugged on her father's sleeve.
“Daddy?”
Luca immediately turned.
“Yes, princess?”
“That's why the lady was crying.”
He frowned.
“What lady?”
Lily looked toward Margaret.
“Mrs. Harris.”
The wedding planner covered her mouth.
Lily continued.
“She told Vanessa the children wouldn't have lunch anymore.”
The dining room became completely silent.
Luca slowly turned toward Vanessa.
“You knew the program was losing its funding?”
Vanessa began crying.
“Luca, I was trying to solve it.”
He stared at her.
“By removing Elena's photograph?”
She didn't answer.
Then Margaret quietly spoke again.
“Mr. Moretti, your daughter found something important during the rehearsal.”
Luca turned.
“What?”
The wedding planner reached into her handbag.
And removed a small silver butterfly.
It matched the decoration on Lily's white shoes.
Lily gasped.
“My butterfly!”
Margaret smiled gently.
“Yes, sweetheart.”
Then she looked at Luca.
“I found it beneath a cabinet in the church office.”
Luca frowned.
“Why is that important?”
Margaret hesitated.
“Because Lily lost it while trying to retrieve something she saw Miss Bellini put inside.”
Vanessa's face went pale.
Luca stared at the wedding planner.
“What was inside the cabinet?”
Margaret swallowed.
“A folder.”
Luca leaned forward.
“What folder?”
The elderly woman looked toward Anthony Romano.
Then answered.
“THE ORIGINAL DONATION AGREEMENT SIGNED BY YOUR WIFE.”
The room became completely silent.
Vanessa stepped backward.
Luca slowly turned toward her.
“Why did you take that agreement?”
She began crying harder.
“Luca, please.”
He didn't move.
“Answer me.”
Vanessa looked away.
Then Margaret continued.
“The church kept a copy of the original agreement.”
Luca turned.
“Did you compare them?”
She nodded.
“Yes.”
“And?”
The elderly woman's voice trembled.
“The document Miss Bellini brought to the church was different.”
Luca frowned.
“Different how?”
Margaret swallowed.
“It changed who had the authority to withdraw money from the fund.”
The dining room went silent.
Luca stared at Vanessa.
“You tried to change my wife's instructions?”
Vanessa began crying.
“Luca, it wasn't supposed to happen this way.”
He stepped closer.
“What wasn't?”
She didn't answer.
Then Anthony Romano quietly cleared his throat.
“Mr. Moretti, I believe you should know something.”
Luca slowly turned.
“What?”
The businessman hesitated.
“Miss Bellini asked me to arrange a transfer from the church fund.”
Luca's expression hardened.
“To whom?”
Anthony looked toward Vanessa's father.
Then answered.
“Bellini Development Group.”
The room became completely still.
Luca stared at him.
“Your family's construction company?”
Anthony nodded.
“Yes.”
Luca looked toward Vanessa.
“You took money Elena left to feed children?”
Vanessa shook her head.
“Luca, it was supposed to be temporary.”
He stared at her.
“Temporary?”
“I was going to put it back.”
“When?”
She didn't answer.
For several seconds, nobody spoke.
Then Margaret quietly said:
“Mr. Moretti, there's another reason Lily was frightened.”
Luca turned.
“What reason?”
The wedding planner hesitated.
“She overheard Miss Bellini asking Mr. Romano to remove the original agreement before you saw it.”
Luca looked toward his daughter.
“Princess?”
Lily nodded.
Her eyes filled.
“She said if Daddy found out, the wedding would be ruined.”
Vanessa covered her face.
Then Lily whispered:
“And she said it would be my fault.”
Luca went completely still.
He knelt beside her.
“Sweetheart, none of this is your fault.”
The little girl began crying.
“But Vanessa said you wouldn't want me anymore.”
Luca gently pulled her into his arms.
“I will always want you.”
Lily buried her face against his shoulder.
For several seconds, nobody spoke.
Then Luca looked toward Margaret.
“Where is the original agreement?”
The wedding planner reached into her handbag.
And removed a sealed envelope.
“I brought it because I thought you deserved to know.”
Luca carefully opened it.
Inside were several pages.
His wife's signature appeared at the bottom.
He began reading.
Then stopped.
His expression changed.
“Margaret.”
The elderly woman looked up.
“Yes?”
“This agreement names a second beneficiary.”
She nodded.
“Yes.”
Luca frowned.
“Who?”
Margaret hesitated.
Then looked toward Vanessa.
The room became completely silent.
Luca read the name again.
He slowly lowered the document.
“Why is this person's name familiar?”
Anthony Romano went pale.
Vanessa gripped the edge of the table.
Then Lily whispered:
“Daddy?”
Luca immediately turned.
“Yes, princess?”
“That's the lady from the picture.”
His expression changed.
“What picture?”
Lily pointed toward the wedding planner.
“The one Vanessa was trying to hide.”
Margaret slowly nodded.
Then she took another photograph from her handbag.
It showed Elena standing outside St. Augustine's Church.
Beside her was a young woman holding a baby.
The woman had dark hair.
A pale blue coat.
And a small silver necklace.
Luca stared at the photograph.
He recognized the necklace.
It had belonged to his mother.
And he'd believed it was lost years earlier.
“Who is that woman?” he whispered.
Margaret looked toward Vanessa.
Then toward Anthony Romano.
Her eyes filled.
“MR. MORETTI, YOUR WIFE WASN'T ONLY HELPING THE CHILDREN THROUGH THAT FUND. SHE WAS ALSO PAYING FOR THE CARE OF ONE PARTICULAR WOMAN AND HER BABY.”
Luca went completely still.
“Why?”
Margaret hesitated.
“Because Elena believed the woman was in danger.”
Vanessa began crying.
“Margaret, please.”
But the elderly wedding planner continued.
“SHE CAME TO THE CHURCH ASKING FOR HELP AFTER SOMEONE THREATENED TO TAKE HER CHILD.”
Luca stared at the photograph.
Then slowly turned toward Vanessa.
“Who threatened her?”
No answer.
Then Lily caught his sleeve.
“Daddy?”
He knelt.
“Yes, sweetheart?”
The little girl looked toward the photograph.
Then whispered:
“THAT'S THE LADY WHO CAME TO OUR HOUSE BEFORE MOMMY DIED.”
The entire dining room fell silent.
Luca stared at his daughter.
“What?”
Lily swallowed.
“She was crying.”
His expression changed.
“Why?”
The little girl looked toward Vanessa.
Then whispered:
“SHE SAID SOMEBODY HAD TAKEN HER BABY.”
Vanessa stopped moving.
Luca slowly turned toward Anthony Romano.
The businessman lowered his eyes.
Then Margaret quietly spoke.
“Mr. Moretti, I think you should ask why Miss Bellini wanted the church's records destroyed before the wedding.”
Luca stared at his fiancée.
His voice was barely above a whisper.
“VANESSA... WHY DID YOU MAKE MY DAUGHTER AFRAID TO WALK DOWN THE AISLE IN HER MOTHER'S SHOES, TRY TO HIDE ELENA'S DONATION RECORDS, AND TAKE MONEY MEANT FOR HUNGRY CHILDREN?”
Vanessa began crying harder.
But Margaret wasn't finished.
She looked directly at Luca.
Then said:
“BEFORE YOU ASK WHERE THAT MONEY WENT, MR. MORETTI, YOU NEED TO KNOW WHAT YOUR WIFE DISCOVERED ABOUT THE WOMAN IN THIS PHOTOGRAPH. BECAUSE THE CHILD ELENA WAS TRYING TO PROTECT IS THE REASON SOMEONE WANTED THOSE CHURCH RECORDS TO DISAPPEAR.”
May you like
Luca slowly turned toward his security chief.
“LOCK THE GATES,” HE SAID. “NOBODY LEAVES THIS HOUSE UNTIL I FIND OUT WHAT HAPPENED TO THAT CHILD.”
