Chapter 9 - The Engagement Was Not the Contract

Back at the mansion, Nico put two documents on the library table.

The original merger agreement.

And the later version.

Alessandra stood across from him.

Vincent sat nearby.

Simon remained by the window.

I brought coffee.

Nobody drank it.

Nico pointed to the first agreement.

“My father wanted the companies tied together.”

Vincent nodded.

“Yes.”

“No marriage condition.”

“No.”

Nico pointed to the second.

“You added one.”

“Yes.”

“Why Alessandra?”

Vincent looked at his daughter.

“Because I trusted her.”

Alessandra laughed bitterly.

“You trusted me enough to use me.”

“Yes.”

“Did you ever tell Nico’s father?”

“Eventually.”

“That is why he changed the will.”

“Yes.”

Nico looked at Alessandra.

“When did you learn this document existed?”

“Last year.”

“Before or after I proposed?”

“After.”

He studied her.

“You found out our fathers had planned a corporate merger.”

“Yes.”

“And your father had tried to turn our relationship into part of it.”

“Yes.”

“Why didn’t you tell me?”

She answered immediately.

“Because I was afraid you would leave.”

Nico said nothing.

She continued.

“That is not an excuse.”

“No.”

“I told myself the engagement was real because the feelings were real.”

“And were they?”

“Yes.”

“How do I know?”

“You don’t.”

Same answer as before.

Nico looked at the engagement ring on her hand.

Then at the contract.

Alessandra slowly removed the ring.

Vincent looked down.

She placed it on the table.

Nico’s face changed.

“What are you doing?”

“What your father asked.”

“He asked you to leave me?”

“No.”

She shook her head.

“He asked me not to let the families make you choose me through debt.”

Nico looked at the ring.

“So?”

“So I am ending the engagement.”

Vincent whispered:

“Alessandra.”

She ignored him.

Nico stared.

“You want to leave?”

“No.”

“Then why?”

“Because I want to know if you choose me without this.”

Silence.

Simon looked away.

Nico picked up the ring.

Alessandra’s eyes filled.

He held it for a moment.

Then put it in his pocket.

“You are not getting it back tonight.”

She almost laughed through tears.

“Fair.”

Vincent stood.

“Nico, the merger—”

Nico turned.

“There is no merger.”

Vincent froze.

“The companies—”

“Will remain separate.”

“That could cost both sides millions.”

“Yes.”

Vincent stared.

Nico continued.

“My father hid for seven years because men like you kept deciding that money justified what happened to people.”

Vincent sat back down.

Nico looked at Simon.

“And you.”

Simon nodded.

“I know.”

“You were removed as executor.”

“Yes.”

“You will turn over every file.”

“I already prepared them.”

“Good.”

Nico looked at Vincent.

“You will repay the eight million.”

Vincent nodded.

“With interest.”

He closed his eyes.

“Yes.”

“To whom?”

Vincent frowned.

Nico answered.

“Not me.”

He placed his father’s letter on the table.

“My father used Bell properties and Bell staff for years.”

“Yes.”

“The money goes into a fund for employees and families who were affected by Marcello’s routes and shell companies.”

Vincent stared.

“That could be more than eight million.”

“Then sell something expensive.”

Alessandra laughed once.

She tried not to.

Nico noticed.

For the first time in two days, his face softened.

Then Simon handed him another envelope.

“What now?”

Nico asked.

“Your father’s death certificate.”

Nico frowned.

“I’ve seen it.”

“This is the corrected filing.”

Nico opened it.

Name:

Giovanni Romano.

Actual date of death:

April 8, 2021.

Place:

Belluno.

Cause:

Pending investigation.

Nico stared.

For eleven years, his father had been officially dead on the wrong date.

Now even the paper admitted the lie.

Simon said:

“The court approved the amendment this afternoon.”

Nico looked at the date.

Then at the old framed photograph on the desk.

“What happens to the first grave?”

Vincent answered quietly.

“It is empty.”

Nico looked at him.

“What?”

Simon closed his eyes.

Nico’s voice hardened.

“Where is my father buried?”

Vincent whispered:

“Belluno.”

“Where?”

Vincent stood.

“I will show you.”

They drove to a small cemetery outside the town.

One plain stone.

No Romano name.

Only:

G.A.

1959–2021.

Nico stared.

“That is him.”

Vincent nodded.

“Your father chose the initials.”

“Why?”

“He said if Marcello found a Romano grave, he would find the house.”

Nico knelt.

He touched the stone.

No speech.

No anger.

Just silence.

Alessandra stood behind him.

After several minutes, Nico said:

“My whole life, I visited an empty grave.”

Nobody answered.

He continued.

“And he was here.”

Alessandra whispered:

“Yes.”

Nico stood.

Then looked at Vincent.

“You kept him alive.”

“Yes.”

“You kept him from me.”

“Yes.”

“You moved his body.”

“Yes.”

Vincent’s eyes filled.

“I do not expect forgiveness.”

“Good.”

Nico looked at Simon.

“You gave me the will.”

“Yes.”

“Five years late.”

“Yes.”

“I do not forgive you either.”

Simon nodded.

Nico looked at Alessandra.

She waited.

He took the ring from his pocket.

Her breath caught.

He did not give it to her.

Instead, he placed it on the grave.

She stared.

Nico said:

“That engagement belonged to all of them.”

Her eyes filled.

“And us?”

He looked at her.

“If there is an us after this, it starts without a contract.”

She nodded.

Then he looked at his father’s stone.

“Tomorrow.”

Alessandra asked:

“What happens tomorrow?”

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Nico looked at her.

“We meet for the first time.”