Chapter 7 - The Agreement Behind the Engagement

Luca read the message twice.

Then handed the phone back to Belini.

“Why did you agree to marry me?”

Belini wiped her face.

“Not for the reason he thinks.”

“That sentence is becoming popular tonight.”

Emma almost smiled despite herself.

Belini did not.

She sat down again.

“My father approached me eighteen months ago. He said the Valenti Foundation was under quiet review from three banks.”

Dante frowned.

“For what?”

“Old transactions. Orion. Mercer. Other companies I had never heard of.”

Luca’s expression cooled.

“And where do I enter this?”

“He believed a formal alliance with the Moretti family would stabilize lenders and discourage deeper scrutiny.”

Sofia entered from the hall.

“You mean he wanted our name.”

“Yes.”

“And you said yes.”

Belini looked at her.

“I thought if I stayed close enough to Luca, I could eventually get access to people powerful enough to protect me when I turned on my father.”

Luca laughed once.

There was no humor in it.

“You planned to use our marriage as witness protection.”

“When you say it like that—”

“How else should I say it?”

Belini lowered her eyes.

“You shouldn’t.”

Emma watched Luca.

He was angry.

But beneath that was something colder.

Betrayal without heartbreak.

Their engagement had never looked affectionate.

Now Emma understood why.

Belini reached into her handbag and removed a small red leather card case.

“I copied something three months ago.”

Dante stepped closer.

“What?”

“A list of accounts my father kept outside the foundation books.”

“Where is it?”

“Not here.”

Luca’s eyes narrowed.

“Belini.”

“I’m done hiding things. But if I give you the location, I want one promise.”

Luca looked at her.

“You’re not in a position to negotiate.”

Emma spoke before she could stop herself.

“Let her.”

Everyone turned.

Emma met Luca’s gaze.

“She hid evidence for eight years. She also kept it from being destroyed. If she has something that finishes this, let her ask.”

Luca considered that.

Then looked at Belini.

“One request.”

“My mother.”

Emma blinked.

Belini continued.

“She knew nothing about Orion. Nothing about Catherine. My father kept her financially dependent and out of the foundation. Don’t let him drag her down with him.”

Luca nodded once.

“If the evidence supports that, she stays out of it.”

Belini exhaled.

“The account list is in the old Valenti chapel. Behind the memorial plaque for my grandfather.”

Sofia stared.

“You hid financial evidence in a church?”

“My father never enters unless photographers are present.”

Even Dante almost smiled.

The retrieval took less than an hour.

The card contained photographs of account ledgers, transfer instructions, and one document that changed Luca’s face completely.

A draft engagement memorandum.

Not romantic.

Not personal.

Transactional.

The Valenti family would provide financing for two Moretti hotel developments.

In exchange, Alessandro wanted access to Moretti-controlled logistics companies and international banking introductions.

Dante read the final clause.

“Upon marriage, Valenti Foundation holdings may be consolidated into joint charitable vehicles.”

Emma understood.

“He wanted to bury the stolen money inside something bigger.”

“Yes,” Luca said.

Belini looked at him.

“I never signed that version.”

“But you knew it existed.”

“Yes.”

Sofia crossed her arms.

“And you still wore his ring.”

Belini looked at the diamond on her hand.

Then removed it.

She placed it on Luca’s desk.

“I was afraid of my father before I ever met you.”

Luca did not touch the ring.

“That explains your choices.”

Belini nodded.

“It doesn’t excuse them.”

“No.”

She accepted that.

Dante’s phone rang again.

He answered.

His expression changed immediately.

“Boss.”

“What?”

“Alessandro left his townhouse.”

“Where is he going?”

“We don’t know.”

Emma felt cold.

Dante continued.

“But he withdrew cash, dismissed his driver, and sent someone to the Valenti archive annex.”

Luca stood.

“The red file.”

Dante nodded.

“He thinks it’s still there.”

Belini went pale.

“No.”

Luca looked at her.

“What?”

“My father never destroys evidence himself.”

Emma’s pulse accelerated.

“Then who does?”

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Belini stared at the door.

“The person he calls when he wants a problem to disappear.”