Chapter 13 - THE WEDDING THAT WASN'T A WEDDINGVanessa survived.
The bullet grazed her shoulder.
Luca moved her into a secure room while Daniel locked down the property.
But my mind stayed on one thing.
My mother was alive.
And she had come back.
The next morning, the mansion was surrounded by security.
Yet the wedding was still scheduled.
Luca refused to cancel it.
“Why?” I asked.
“Because Matteo expects it.”
“And you're going to let him walk into the trap?”
“No.”
“What are you planning?”
He looked at me.
“Let him think he has won.”
The ceremony began at noon.
Guests filled the garden.
Cameras recorded everything.
Vanessa stood at the altar in a white gown.
She looked pale.
Luca stood opposite her.
I remained near the rear entrance.
Daniel was everywhere.
Security watched every gate.
The priest began speaking.
Then Matteo arrived.
He walked slowly down the aisle.
Every guest turned.
Nobody knew who he was.
Luca did.
Vanessa did.
Anthony did.
Matteo smiled.
“Beautiful day.”
Luca stared at him.
“You're not invited.”
“I own half the people sitting here.”
A murmur moved through the guests.
Matteo turned toward the crowd.
“Today, my family becomes whole again.”
He looked at Vanessa.
Then Luca.
The priest raised a hand.
“Shall we continue?”
Luca nodded.
The ceremony moved forward.
But when the priest asked Vanessa whether she accepted Luca as her husband, she didn't answer.
She looked at him.
Then at me.
Then said,
“No.”
The crowd gasped.
Matteo's face changed.
Vanessa took a breath.
“I won't marry him.”
Luca looked surprised.
“Vanessa.”
“I was wrong.”
Matteo stepped forward.
“You fool.”
Vanessa turned.
“Tell them.”
He stared at her.
“Tell them what you did.”
Vanessa's eyes filled with tears.
“I helped you.”
Silence.
“I stole Bruno.”
Gasps.
“I forged Luca's authorization.”
More whispers.
“I lied about the dog being aggressive.”
Matteo smiled coldly.
“Keep talking.”
Vanessa shook.
“And I helped hide the truth about Luca's father.”
Luca's expression hardened.
Then Vanessa looked toward the guests.
“But I wasn't the one who ordered the murder.”
Matteo suddenly reached inside his coat.
Daniel shouted.
“GUN!”
Security tackled him.
The gun fired into the air.
Chaos erupted.
Guests screamed.
Luca grabbed Vanessa.
“Where is my mother?”
Vanessa looked toward the mansion.
“She's already inside.”
Luca ran.
I followed.
We reached the library.
The curtains moved.
A woman stepped out.
Older.
Gray hair.
Tired eyes.
I knew her immediately.
“Mom.”
She began crying.
I ran into her arms.
For twelve years, I had believed she was gone.
Now she held me like I was still seven years old.
“I’m sorry,” she whispered.
“Why did you leave?”
“To save you.”
“From what?”
She looked at Luca.
“From Matteo.”
Luca stepped closer.
“You knew my father.”
“Yes.”
“You knew who killed him.”
“Yes.”
“Who?”
She looked at me.
Then said,
“Your father's death was ordered by your grandfather.”
Luca went still.
“My grandfather?”
She nodded.
“And your mother helped him.”
“What?”
My mother took the final page from inside her coat.
She handed it to Luca.
The page contained a list.
Names.
Dates.
Payments.
And one final line.
MURDER ORDER: VIVIAN MORETTI. AUTHORIZED BY MATTEO MORETTI. EXECUTED BY FRANK BELLINI.
Luca stared.
Then another line caught my eye.
WITNESS: EMMA CARTER.
My mother touched my hand.
“You were never supposed to remember.”
A sound came from outside.
Slow applause.
Matteo stood in the doorway.
“Very touching.”
He smiled.
“But you're too late.”
He raised a remote.
Every screen in the mansion turned on.
A countdown appeared.
00:10:00.
Luca stared.
“What did you do?”
Matteo smiled.
“At zero, every document in this house goes public.”
He looked at me.
“And once the world sees what your family has done…”
May you like
The countdown reached nine minutes.
“…there won't be a Moretti family left to save.”
