Chapter 9 - The Death Everyone Blamed on Time

Luca stepped out from behind the pillar.

Rachel froze.

“You lied.”

I looked at her.

“Yes.”

She almost laughed.

“Good.”

Luca approached slowly.

“You said your father killed mine.”

Rachel looked at the blue ledger.

“Yes.”

“How?”

“Not with a gun.”

“With what?”

“Medication.”

Sofia went pale.

Dante had died after a sudden heart attack.

Nine years ago.

Rachel continued.

“My father had access to his doctor.”

Luca’s face emptied.

“Why?”

“Dante wanted out.”

Arthur stared.

“No.”

Rachel looked at him.

“He did.”

“Dante was never leaving.”

“He was after Sofia escaped for good.”

Sofia looked shocked.

Rachel opened the ledger.

A page near the back.

DANTE MORETTI EXIT PLAN.

Luca read.

Sell criminal accounts.

Return Sofia’s shares.

Pay restitution.

Expose Hale.

Luca’s jaw tightened.

“My father was going to expose your father.”

“Yes.”

“So Hale killed him.”

Rachel nodded.

“My father bribed a nurse to alter medication.”

Sofia covered her mouth.

Luca looked at the page.

“When did you learn?”

“Two years ago.”

“Why wait?”

“Because I needed proof.”

“The ledger.”

“Yes.”

“Why steal it now?”

“Because Arthur was going to destroy it.”

Arthur stepped forward.

“No.”

Rachel looked at him.

“You told my father you would.”

Arthur went still.

Celeste stared.

“Dad?”

Arthur whispered:

“I told Peter what he needed to hear.”

Rachel shook her head.

“You always say that after.”

Arthur closed his eyes.

Luca looked at him.

“Did you plan to destroy it?”

Arthur hesitated.

“No.”

“Did you consider it?”

Silence.

Luca understood.

“Of course.”

Arthur’s voice broke.

“I thought if the ledger disappeared, Celeste would be safe.”

Celeste laughed through tears.

“You nearly erased the only proof I was framed.”

Arthur looked at her.

“I know.”

She stepped away.

Rachel handed Luca a flash drive.

“Copies.”

“Of everything?”

“Yes.”

“Why give this to me?”

“Because my father is leaving tonight.”

“Where?”

“Private airfield.”

Arthur’s face changed.

“He still uses North Field?”

Rachel nodded.

Luca looked at security.

One call.

Federal investigators.

Another.

Airport authority.

Rachel watched him.

“You are not going after him yourself?”

“No.”

She looked surprised.

Luca held up the ledger.

“I am done letting family business mean private justice.”

Sofia looked at him.

Proud.

Sad.

Both.

Thirty minutes later, Peter Hale was arrested before boarding a plane.

The blue ledger was turned over.

Executives were suspended.

Accounts frozen.

Investigators reopened Dante Moretti’s death.

Marco’s petition collapsed when Sofia appeared by video before the judge and Elias produced fifteen years of evidence that she had remained alive.

Her legal status was restored three days later.

The merger clause was ruled unenforceable.

Celeste’s signature could not bind a marriage that had never occurred.

Arthur’s old companies went under investigation.

So did Luca’s.

Nobody was spared.

Not because Luca hated them.

Because this time, no one was allowed to hide behind a surname.

A week later, Luca sat with Sofia in the empty ballroom.

The engagement decorations were gone.

The locket sat between them.

Sofia looked at him.

“You have not asked me the question.”

“What question?”

“Whether I am staying.”

Luca looked at her.

“Are you?”

She smiled sadly.

“I want to.”

“Then stay.”

“That simple?”

“No.”

He looked at the locket.

“It will probably be terrible.”

She laughed softly.

“Good.”

He smiled.

“I do not trust easy things anymore.”

Celeste entered quietly.

No red gown.

No ring.

Simple black dress.

She stopped several feet away.

“I can come back later.”

Luca looked at Sofia.

Sofia stood.

“I suddenly need tea.”

He almost laughed.

She left with Elias.

Celeste looked at Luca.

“I signed a statement today.”

“Against Arthur?”

“Yes.”

“That could send him to prison.”

“I know.”

“How do you feel?”

“Like his daughter.”

Silence.

Then:

“And like someone who finally stopped being his excuse.”

Luca looked at her.

She placed the engagement ring on the table.

“I kept this because I thought you might ask for it.”

He picked it up.

Then looked at her.

“Do you want it back?”

Celeste shook her head.

“Not like that.”

“What does that mean?”

“If we ever get there again, I want a different ring.”

Luca raised an eyebrow.

She almost smiled.

“One that nobody signed a corporate agreement around.”

He looked at the ring.

Then closed his hand.

“That seems reasonable.”

Celeste’s eyes filled.

“Are we finished?”

Luca looked at her for a long moment.

“No.”

She stopped breathing.

“But we are not engaged.”

“I know.”

“And I do not trust you yet.”

“I know.”

“And if you hide one more dead relative from me—”

She laughed through tears.

“I promise there are none left.”

Luca looked toward the doorway.

Sofia called from the hall:

“Do not promise things you cannot verify.”

For the first time, all three laughed.

Then Luca’s phone rang.

Federal investigator.

He answered.

Listened.

His expression changed.

“What?”

Celeste asked.

He ended the call.

“They searched Hale’s house.”

“And?”

“They found letters from my father.”

Sofia returned.

“What letters?”

Luca looked at her.

“Letters written after Father supposedly died.”

Silence.

Sofia stared.

“That is impossible.”

Luca’s face became still.

The investigator had said one more thing.

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The latest letter was dated seven years ago.

Two years after Dante Moretti’s funeral.