Chapter 7 - Michael Bellini's Last Choice

Vincent did not speak on the drive back.

Rebecca sat beside him.

Anna across.

No one tried to defend Michael.

That mattered.

At the hotel, Vincent finally opened his father's envelope.

The one Anna had given him on the ferry.

VINCENT.

He read alone at first.

Then called Anna in.

Rebecca waited outside.

Michael had written:

I HAVE SPENT MOST OF MY LIFE CALLING FEAR PROTECTION.

Vincent paused.

Then continued.

I LEFT BECAUSE I THOUGHT ENZO WOULD USE YOU.

I STAYED GONE BECAUSE I THOUGHT THOMAS'S DEBT WOULD DESTROY YOU.

I USED YOUR NAME BECAUSE I THOUGHT ANNA WOULD DIE WITHOUT TREATMENT.

EVERY TIME I WAS AFRAID, I MADE A DECISION FOR YOU.

Vincent's eyes filled.

Michael continued:

THAT WAS NOT FATHERHOOD.

IT WAS CONTROL WEARING LOVE'S CLOTHES.

Anna cried quietly.

Vincent kept reading.

WHEN I GOT SICK, I WAS OFFERED A TRANSPLANT.

I SAID NO.

NOT BECAUSE I WANTED TO DIE.

BECAUSE I WAS STILL AFRAID.

Vincent stopped.

His hands shook.

Anna whispered:

"He regretted it."

Vincent looked at her.

"After?"

"Every day."

He read the final part.

IF YOU EVER MEET ANNA, DO NOT PUNISH HER FOR MY CHOICES.

SHE WANTED TO GO BACK MANY TIMES.

I ASKED HER NOT TO.

SHE AGREED.

THAT PART IS HERS TO EXPLAIN.

Vincent looked at Anna.

She nodded.

No hiding.

Michael's letter continued:

IF REBECCA KNOWS ANY OF THIS, DO NOT MARRY HER UNTIL YOU KNOW WHAT SHE CHOSE HERSELF.

HER FATHER'S SINS ARE NOT HERS.

HER SILENCE, IF SHE CHOSE IT, IS.

Vincent closed his eyes.

Then the final line.

I LOVED YOU.

I ALSO FAILED YOU.

BOTH CAN BE TRUE.

Vincent folded the letter.

No speech.

No dramatic anger.

Just silence.

Anna asked:

"Do you hate him?"

Vincent shook his head.

"No."

"Do you forgive him?"

"No."

She nodded.

He looked at her.

"What about you?"

"What?"

"Do you forgive yourself?"

Anna laughed softly through tears.

"No."

Vincent leaned back.

"Good."

She looked surprised.

He continued:

"Then maybe we can stop asking for impossible things."

Anna stared.

Vincent said:

"I don't need you to be innocent."

Her eyes filled.

"I need you to stop disappearing."

Anna nodded.

"I can do that."

"Can you?"

"Yes."

"How do you know?"

"Because I'm tired."

Vincent almost smiled.

"That may be the first answer I believe immediately."

Later, Rebecca entered.

She stood near the door.

Vincent held up Michael's letter.

"He wrote about you."

Her face changed.

"What did he say?"

"That your father's sins aren't yours."

She cried.

Then Vincent continued:

"But your silence is."

Rebecca nodded.

"He's right."

Vincent looked at her.

"When did you first know Anna was alive?"

"Five months ago."

"True?"

"Yes."

"When did you first know something was wrong with the trust?"

"Two years ago."

"True?"

"Yes."

"When did you know my company shares were inside it?"

"Last year."

"True?"

"Yes."

"When did you decide to transfer them back?"

"Three months ago."

"Before or after you met Anna?"

"Before."

Vincent studied her.

"Why meet her?"

"To ask whether returning the shares would hurt you."

He laughed bitterly.

"Again."

Rebecca looked down.

"I know."

"You were deciding what truth I could survive."

"Yes."

She wiped her face.

"I thought I was different from my father."

Vincent said nothing.

Rebecca continued:

"I wasn't."

That honesty mattered too.

Vincent asked:

"Did you know Michael forged my signature?"

"No."

"Did you know Thomas used your trust as collateral?"

"No."

"Do you want to marry me?"

Rebecca looked at him.

"Yes."

"Why?"

She answered immediately.

"Because I love you."

He waited.

She continued:

"And because part of me is terrified that if we don't marry, then my father's secrets win."

Vincent nodded.

"That second reason is exactly why we cannot."

Her face broke.

He removed the engagement ring from her hand.

Slowly.

She let him.

"No wedding."

Rebecca closed her eyes.

"For now?"

Vincent looked at her.

"No."

She opened her eyes.

"The engagement is over."

Tears fell.

He continued:

"I don't know if we are."

Rebecca nodded.

Fair.

Vincent placed the ring in her palm.

"Keep it."

"Why?"

"Because it was yours."

He stood.

Rebecca whispered:

"What happens tomorrow?"

Vincent looked toward Anna's room.

"Breakfast with my mother."

May you like

[COMPLETED] “GET YOUR HANDS OFF MY DRESS! YOU’RE NOTHING BUT AN OLD SEAM...

[COMPLETED] At the Mafia Boss's Engagement Party, I Served His Hungry So...

[COMPLETED] The Mafia Boss’s Fiancée Tried to Dismiss His Father’s Loyal...

Then at Rebecca.

"And after that, I stop letting everyone schedule my life around secrets."