Chapter 5 - Isabella’s First Lie

Alessandro returned to the estate.

The engagement dinner was over.

Guests had been asked to leave.

Only family remained.

Isabella stood near the fireplace.

Richard beside her.

Victor sat across the room.

Security guarded the doors.

Alessandro entered with Elena.

Isabella saw her.

Her face collapsed.

“Elena.”

Alessandro stopped.

Not Mother.

Not Mrs. Vescari.

Elena.

Familiar.

Too familiar.

He looked at Isabella.

“You knew her three years ago.”

Isabella began crying.

“Yes.”

Richard closed his eyes.

Alessandro held up the investigator’s report.

“You told me five months.”

“I lied.”

“Why?”

“Because three years sounded unforgivable.”

Alessandro laughed once.

“And five months sounded better?”

“No.”

She swallowed.

“I panicked.”

“When did you first meet her?”

“In Montreal.”

“Why were you there?”

“My father sent me.”

Alessandro looked at Richard.

Richard said nothing.

“Why send her?”

Richard answered:

“To convince Elena not to return.”

Alessandro’s voice dropped.

“You used your daughter.”

“Yes.”

Isabella stared at him.

“You said I was protecting Alessandro.”

Richard looked ashamed.

“I believed that.”

“No.”

She shook her head.

“You needed me to believe it.”

Silence.

Alessandro looked at Isabella.

“What did my mother tell you?”

“She told me about Victor.”

“About the fire?”

“Yes.”

“About your father?”

“Yes.”

“And you still agreed to marry me without telling me.”

Isabella’s eyes filled.

“I loved you.”

Alessandro’s expression did not change.

“That did not answer the question.”

She looked down.

“I thought if I told you, you would go after Victor.”

“I would have.”

“And my father.”

“Yes.”

“And everything would collapse.”

Alessandro stared.

“So you protected the structure.”

“I was afraid.”

“Of losing me?”

“Of losing everyone.”

Elena spoke quietly.

“And so you let him keep mourning me.”

Isabella looked at her.

“I’m sorry.”

Elena nodded.

“I know.”

Then:

“But sorry does not give back years.”

Alessandro turned toward Victor.

The elderly man had been silent too long.

“Your turn.”

Victor smiled faintly.

“I have nothing to say.”

Howard stepped forward.

“We have the key.”

Victor looked at him.

“You have an old piece of brass.”

“With your fingerprint.”

Victor shrugged.

“From sixteen years ago.”

Alessandro stared.

“Room 614.”

Victor said nothing.

Alessandro continued.

“My mother saw you outside the room.”

Still nothing.

“Richard saw you too.”

Victor looked at Richard.

Richard lowered his eyes.

Victor laughed.

“Wonderful.”

He stood.

“One coward finally speaks.”

Richard’s face hardened.

Victor looked at Alessandro.

“Your father was stealing from me.”

Elena stepped forward.

“No.”

Victor smiled.

“You still believe him.”

Alessandro’s voice became cold.

“What did he steal?”

Victor answered:

“My future.”

Silence.

“He was going to remove me from the company.”

“For stealing money.”

“For taking what I had earned.”

Alessandro stared.

“So you burned the hotel.”

Victor looked at him.

“I burned evidence.”

“No.”

Elena shook her head.

“You tried to burn Antonio.”

Victor’s smile disappeared.

Alessandro saw it.

“His name was not on the threat by accident.”

Victor looked toward the door.

Security moved closer.

Then he said:

“You still don’t understand why Richard helped me.”

Alessandro turned.

Richard had gone pale.

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Victor smiled.

“Ask him who really owned the offshore accounts.”