Chapter 7 - The Dead Man's SignatureAlessandra spread the documents across the chapel floor.
Every payment bore the same signature.
Her father's.
But the dates were impossible.
Some were issued months after his official death.
Elias stared at the papers.
“Someone forged them.”
“Who had access?”
“Francesca.”
“Vincent.”
“Maybe Bianca.”
Bianca shook her head.
“I didn't forge anything.”
Alessandra looked at her.
“Then tell me why you were there.”
Bianca hesitated.
“I was eighteen when I met your father.”
Alessandra's eyes widened.
“What?”
“He knew I existed before Vincent married me.”
“That doesn't make sense.”
“He asked me to watch the family.”
“For who?”
“For him.”
The chapel fell silent.
Bianca continued.
“He knew Francesca was trying to change the succession.”
“And you helped her?”
“No.”
“You stood there while Caleb was abused.”
Bianca looked down.
“I was trying to protect Mason.”
Alessandra's voice sharpened.
“You call that protection?”
“I was afraid.”
“Of what?”
“Of the person behind all of this.”
Alessandra thought of the mystery man in the photograph.
“Tell me his name.”
Bianca swallowed.
“Adrian Vale.”
Elias went still.
“You know him?”
“I know the name.”
“Who is he?”
“He was your father's private legal adviser.”
Alessandra frowned.
“Then why would he betray him?”
“Because he believed your father had betrayed him first.”
The pieces became murkier instead of clearer.
Then the chapel door slammed.
The three women turned.
Mason stood there.
His eyes were swollen from crying.
“Mom?”
Bianca rushed toward him.
“Mason!”
The boy looked past her.
Toward Elias.
His face turned pale.
“I know you.”
Elias froze.
“Where?”
“In Grandpa's room.”
Alessandra crouched.
“What did you see?”
Mason began shaking.
“Grandpa talked to him.”
“Who?”
“Elias.”
Alessandra looked at Elias.
Mason continued.
“He said Elias couldn't leave because Grandma would hurt Grandma.”
“Which grandmother?”
“Francesca.”
The boy suddenly grabbed Alessandra's hand.
“She told me not to say anything.”
“What did she tell you?”
Mason whispered:
“She said if Elias came back, I'd lose everything.”
Bianca covered her mouth.
Alessandra's anger softened for one second.
Mason wasn't the enemy.
He was another child caught in the machine.
But then Mason said something that changed everything.
“Mommy…”
“Yes?”
“The man who talks to Grandma came yesterday.”
“What man?”
“He smelled like smoke.”
Alessandra looked at Bianca.
“Adrian?”
Mason shook his head.
“No.”
“Then who?”
Mason pointed at the door.
“Grandpa.”
Everyone froze.
“Vincent?”
Mason nodded.
“He wasn't alone.”
Alessandra felt the walls closing in.
“Who was with him?”
Mason whispered:
“The dead man.”
Then the lights in the chapel went out.
A gunshot cracked through the darkness.
Bianca screamed.
Someone grabbed Alessandra from behind.
And a voice spoke against her ear.
“You should have stopped searching three days ago.”
May you like
Alessandra recognized the voice.
Her father.
