Chapter 3 - The Marriage Planned Before They Met

Luca read the trust again.

His name.

Celeste’s.

Arthur’s.

Then his father’s signature.

Date:

Seventeen years ago.

Luca looked up.

“I was sixteen.”

Sofia nodded.

“Celeste was fourteen.”

Luca’s face hardened.

“Our marriage was planned when we were children?”

“Not the marriage.”

“Then what?”

“A future alliance.”

“With whom?”

“The Vane family.”

Luca turned the page.

A clause had been underlined.

If Luca Moretti marries a direct descendant of Arthur Vane, disputed ownership claims between Moretti Maritime and Vane Holdings shall be considered settled through merger.

Luca stopped.

“That is insane.”

Elias spoke quietly.

“It was also enforceable under the private agreement they created.”

Luca looked at him.

“You knew?”

“Not until Sofia showed me.”

Luca looked at his mother.

“So my father wanted this.”

“Yes.”

“Arthur wanted this.”

“Yes.”

“And Celeste?”

Sofia shook her head.

“I believe she learned only recently.”

“Believe?”

“I cannot prove what she knew before eight months ago.”

Luca stood.

“I can.”

He called Celeste.

She answered immediately.

“Luca?”

“Did you know our fathers planned a merger through marriage?”

Silence.

Too long.

Luca closed his eyes.

“How long?”

Celeste whispered:

“Four months.”

He looked at Sofia.

Not eight.

Four.

“Who told you?”

“My father.”

“Before or after I proposed?”

“After.”

Luca’s expression changed slightly.

“When after?”

“Two weeks.”

He looked at the ring on his own hand.

Then the locket.

“And you stayed engaged.”

“Yes.”

“Why?”

“Because I loved you before I knew.”

“That did not answer me.”

Celeste started crying.

“I thought if I ended it immediately, you would think the relationship had always been fake.”

“Was it?”

“No.”

“Was our first meeting arranged?”

“I don’t know.”

Luca glanced at Sofia.

She watched him carefully.

“Ask your father.”

Celeste’s voice shook.

“He won’t tell me.”

“Then put him on the phone.”

“He left.”

Luca went still.

“Left where?”

“I don’t know.”

“Security was watching him.”

“He used the kitchen corridor.”

I looked at Elias.

Luca’s expression hardened.

“When?”

“Ten minutes ago.”

“Was he alone?”

Celeste did not answer.

“Celeste.”

“No.”

“Who was with him?”

She whispered:

“Your uncle.”

Luca froze.

“What uncle?”

Sofia stood.

Her face went white.

Celeste continued.

“Marco Moretti.”

Luca looked at his mother.

“My father’s brother died twenty-two years ago.”

Sofia whispered:

“No.”

Luca’s voice dropped.

“No?”

“He disappeared.”

“You told everyone he died.”

“Your father told everyone.”

“Why?”

Sofia walked toward the window.

“Because Marco knew about the Vane accounts.”

Luca stared.

“Is he here?”

Celeste answered through the phone.

“Yes.”

“He was at the ball?”

“Yes.”

“Under what name?”

Celeste hesitated.

“Mr. Bennett.”

I felt cold.

I had served him champagne.

Gray hair.

Blue tie.

Quiet.

Near Arthur.

Luca looked at me.

I nodded.

I remembered him.

Luca turned back to the phone.

“Why was he with Arthur?”

Celeste whispered:

“Because my father says Marco owns the original Vane agreement.”

Sofia closed her eyes.

Luca understood.

“The copy here is not enough.”

“No.”

“Without the original, Arthur cannot enforce the merger.”

“That is what my father said.”

Luca’s jaw tightened.

“So Arthur needs Marco.”

“Yes.”

“And Marco needs Arthur.”

Sofia whispered:

“No.”

Luca looked at her.

“Why not?”

“Marco needs you.”

Silence.

Luca ended the call.

“What does he need from me?”

Sofia opened another drawer.

Inside was a photograph.

Two brothers.

Dante.

Marco.

And a younger Sofia.

Behind them stood Arthur Vane.

Luca looked at Marco.

Younger.

But unmistakable.

“What happened between them?”

Sofia answered:

“Marco discovered your father was stealing from him.”

“From Marco?”

“Yes.”

“They owned the company together?”

“Yes.”

Luca frowned.

“Moretti Maritime was Father’s.”

“No.”

Sofia shook her head.

“It belonged to both brothers.”

Luca stared.

“What happened?”

“Dante forged Marco’s signature.”

“For what?”

“To transfer controlling shares.”

Luca went silent.

Sofia continued.

“Marco threatened to expose him.”

“And Father made him disappear.”

“Yes.”

“Did he kill him?”

“No.”

“How do you know?”

“Because I helped Marco escape.”

Luca looked at her.

Another secret.

Another lie.

“Where?”

“Switzerland.”

“For twenty-two years?”

“At first.”

“That phrase again.”

Sofia looked ashamed.

“He contacted me several times.”

“When?”

“The last time was five years ago.”

“What did he want?”

“To come back.”

“Why didn’t he?”

“Because your father was still alive.”

“My father died nine years ago.”

“Yes.”

“Then why wait another four?”

Sofia’s face changed.

“Because Marco learned something after Dante died.”

“What?”

“He learned someone else had been controlling the Vane accounts.”

Luca waited.

Sofia whispered:

“Arthur.”

Luca nodded slowly.

“That seems obvious.”

“No.”

She looked directly at him.

“I mean controlling them before your father ever became involved.”

Luca frowned.

“How far back?”

“Thirty years.”

“That would make Arthur—”

“Twenty-nine.”

Luca understood.

Arthur had not been a victim.

Not originally.

He had been there from the beginning.

Sofia handed him a bank statement.

Arthur Vane.

Marco Moretti.

Joint account.

Luca stared.

“Marco was Arthur’s partner.”

“Yes.”

“So the two men who disappeared from the story were actually working together.”

“Yes.”

“And my father stole from both.”

“Yes.”

Luca looked toward the door.

“Where would Arthur take him?”

Sofia answered:

“The old Vane warehouse.”

“Why?”

“Because that is where they signed the first agreement.”

Luca picked up the locket.

Then the folders.

Elias frowned.

“Where are you going?”

“To meet an uncle I was told was dead.”

Sofia stepped forward.

“I’m coming.”

“No.”

“Luca.”

He looked at her.

“You already disappeared once.”

Her face fell.

He continued.

“I’m not losing you again because another man decided you should be somewhere dangerous.”

Sofia stared.

Then nodded.

Luca headed for the door.

His phone rang.

Celeste.

He answered.

Her voice was shaking.

“Luca.”

“What?”

“My father just called.”

“And?”

“He said Marco is not the one who owns the original agreement.”

Luca stopped.

“Who does?”

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Celeste whispered:

“Your mother.”