Chapter 9 - Elena Moretti's Last Letter to Her Son

Luca opened the letter alone.

Then later let me read it.

Not because I asked.

Because he said someone outside the family should know what the truth sounded like without inheritance attached to it.

Elena wrote:

LUCIANO,

IF MARGARET GIVES YOU THIS, THEN TOO MANY PEOPLE HAVE ALREADY EXPLAINED ME.

Luca smiled sadly at that line.

Then continued.

SO I WILL EXPLAIN MYSELF.

I LOVED YOUR FATHER.

I ALSO PLANNED TO LEAVE HIM.

BOTH ARE TRUE.

I LOVED OUR FAMILY.

I ALSO REFUSED TO LET "FAMILY" BECOME A WORD MEN USED TO EXCUSE WHAT THEY STOLE.

Luca stopped reading.

Then went on.

MARCO TOOK MONEY FROM EMPLOYEES TO EXPOSE VITTORIO.

ANTONIO HID RECORDS TO PROTECT FRANCESCA.

FRANCESCA CARRIED MEDICINE SHE DID NOT UNDERSTAND.

DR. CRANE TOOK MONEY.

VITTORIO BUILT THE PLAN.

EVERY PERSON WILL TELL YOU WHY THEIR PART WAS DIFFERENT.

DO NOT WASTE YOUR LIFE DECIDING WHOSE FEAR WAS MOST NOBLE.

Luca looked at the ledger copy beside him.

Elena continued:

LOOK AT WHAT THEY CHOSE.

THEN CHOOSE DIFFERENTLY.

His eyes filled.

The final lines were smaller.

IF YOU MARRY ONE DAY, DO NOT MARRY A WOMAN BECAUSE SHE MAKES YOUR LIFE EASIER.

MARRY HER ONLY IF THE TRUTH CAN STAY IN THE ROOM WITH YOU BOTH.

AND IF SHE HIDES THIS LETTER FROM YOU—

Luca laughed through tears.

Of course his mother had anticipated that too.

The letter continued:

DO NOT HATE HER FOR BEING AFRAID.

BUT DO NOT PRETEND FEAR IS HONESTY.

LOVE HER ONLY AFTER SHE STOPS ASKING SECRETS TO DO HER LOVING FOR HER.

Luca folded the letter.

Vanessa was waiting in the mansion library that evening.

No red gown.

No ring.

She had removed it herself.

Placed it on the table.

Luca entered.

She stood.

"Did you read it?"

"Yes."

Her eyes filled.

"What did she say about me?"

"Nothing."

Vanessa looked surprised.

Luca continued:

"She died before knowing you."

"Then?"

"She wrote about whoever I chose."

Vanessa looked down.

Luca sat.

"Why did you really try to destroy the envelope?"

She did not hide this time.

"Because I read it."

"All of it?"

"No."

"How much?"

"The first page."

"Enough to see Bellini."

"Yes."

"Enough to see your father."

"Yes."

"And the warning not to sign."

"Yes."

Luca nodded.

"Why hide Margaret?"

"I thought if dinner ended first, Dad could explain."

"To me?"

"No."

Vanessa closed her eyes.

"To me."

Luca stared.

She continued:

"I was still hoping there was a version where my family had not done what the letter suggested."

"So you locked the truth upstairs."

"Yes."

"And offered twenty thousand dollars."

"Yes."

"From your money?"

"Yes."

"Not Dad's."

"No."

She looked at him.

"That was mine."

No blame shifted.

That mattered.

Luca looked at the ring.

"Do you want to marry me?"

Vanessa cried.

"Yes."

"Tonight?"

"No."

That surprised him.

She continued:

"Not after this."

"Why?"

"Because I don't know whether you can trust me."

Luca said:

"I can't."

She nodded.

"Then we don't marry."

Silence.

He looked at her.

"That simple?"

"No."

She cried.

"It hurts."

"But yes."

Luca picked up the ring.

Then placed it in her hand.

"The engagement is over."

Vanessa closed her fingers around it.

"I understand."

He continued:

"That does not mean you are your father."

"I know."

"It does mean you are responsible for what you chose."

"I know."

She looked at him.

"What happens to us?"

Luca thought about Elena's letter.

Truth in the room.

Then answered:

"I don't know."

Vanessa nodded.

For once, she did not ask him to decide faster.

Antonio entered the library doorway.

He looked at his daughter.

Then Luca.

"I am going to prosecutors tomorrow."

Vanessa stared.

"Voluntarily?"

"Yes."

"Why?"

Antonio looked at Elena's veil.

"Because Francesca spent eight years dead while I kept trying to protect her reputation."

He swallowed.

"I am tired of protecting ghosts from facts."

Luca nodded once.

Not forgiveness.

Recognition.

Then Dominic came in.

"Vittorio made a statement."

Luca frowned.

"What did he say?"

"That the Bellini partnership was only one part."

"Of what?"

Dominic handed him a list.

Seven companies.

Three charities.

Two port unions.

Luca stared.

All connected to South Harbor.

The conspiracy was bigger than one family.

Vanessa whispered:

"What are you going to do?"

Luca looked at his mother's letter.

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Then answered:

"Open everything."