Chapter 7 - Belini Finally Told the Truth
Belini did not deny the transmitter.
That surprised everyone.
“I put it there.”
Caterina stepped toward her.
“You.”
“Yes.”
“Why?”
“To make Antonio believe I was still working for him.”
Antonio’s face hardened.
Belini looked at Luca.
“You wanted the truth.”
“Try it.”
She took a breath.
“My father worked with Antonio for years. When he died, Antonio expected me to continue.”
“And you did.”
“At first.”
“How long?”
“Two years.”
Emma stared.
“While you were engaged to Luca?”
“Yes.”
Luca’s face did not move.
Belini continued.
“I gave Antonio schedules. Guest lists. Trust drafts. Access codes.”
Marco looked murderous.
“Security codes?”
“Yes.”
“Why?”
“Because I wanted control.”
No excuses.
That was almost worse.
Belini looked at Luca.
“I thought if I married you, I could cut Antonio out later.”
“You thought you could inherit the machine.”
“Yes.”
“And Lily?”
Belini closed her eyes.
“I knew she existed.”
Emma tightened her hold on her daughter.
Belini continued.
“I knew she was yours.”
Luca’s voice dropped.
“And the hospital?”
“I brought the waiver.”
Emma’s eyes filled.
“You lied to me.”
“Yes.”
“You told me he rejected her.”
“Yes.”
“Why?”
Belini looked at Luca.
“Because if Emma stayed, you would never marry me.”
Silence.
Simple.
Ugly.
True.
Emma looked away.
Belini continued.
“I expected Emma to disappear with the money. She didn’t take it.”
Luca frowned.
“What money?”
“Two hundred thousand.”
Emma shook her head.
“There was no money.”
Belini looked confused.
“I left it with the nurse.”
Caterina’s face changed.
Vittorio noticed.
“What?”
Caterina whispered:
“The nurse.”
Marco looked at her.
“What about her?”
“She worked for Antonio.”
Belini stared.
“I didn’t know.”
Antonio smiled again.
There it was.
The missing piece.
Belini had tried to buy Emma’s silence.
Antonio had intended something worse.
The nurse took the money.
Vittorio’s people removed Emma and Lily first.
Everyone had been operating around the same child.
Nobody had told Emma anything.
Luca looked at Antonio.
“You wanted Lily.”
Antonio’s smile faded.
“Yes.”
“Alive?”
“Yes.”
“Why?”
“Because succession is cleaner when you control the heir.”
Vittorio swore under his breath.
Antonio continued.
“I never needed Luca dead.”
Luca stared.
“You needed me weak.”
“Exactly.”
“The sedative.”
“Yes.”
“Matteo.”
“Leverage.”
“Alessandro.”
“Disposable.”
Alessandro lunged.
Marco stopped him.
Antonio did not flinch.
Luca said:
“And Belini?”
Antonio smiled.
“She believed she was my partner.”
Belini looked at him.
For the first time, she seemed to understand what she had always been.
Useful.
Nothing more.
Then Antonio looked at Caterina.
“And she believed she was hunting me.”
Caterina’s face changed.
Antonio continued.
“But every path she followed came from information I allowed her to find.”
Luca’s eyes narrowed.
“What are you saying?”
Antonio leaned back.
“I did not build this alone.”
Vittorio turned.
“Who?”
Antonio looked toward him.
“Ask your brother.”
Nobody moved.
Luca’s voice went flat.
“I don’t have a brother.”
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