I watched him.
For the first time, I understood how easily an empire could hide things from the person whose name stood above the door.
Later that evening, we returned to Chicago.
Luca insisted I take the rest of the week off with full pay.
I refused at first.
Then he reminded me that Lily needed me.
He also arranged a consultation with a pediatric orthopedic specialist and instructed his office to handle the financial guarantee directly, without waiting for the disputed charity funds.
By the following morning, the hospital confirmed that Lily’s surgery was scheduled.
I sat on our kitchen floor and cried.
Lily crawled into my lap.
“Mommy, are those happy tears?”
I held her close.
“Yes, baby.”
“Then why do they look sad?”
I kissed her hair.
“Sometimes happy takes a while to reach your face.”
She thought about that.
Then wiped my cheeks with her sleeve.
At the mansion, the investigation uncovered another problem.
Someone had used Luca’s executive credentials to approve payments over several years.
Some were legitimate operating expenses.
Others were not.
Daniel traced many of the approvals to a financial administrator named Elaine Mercer.
She’d worked for the Moretti organization for twenty-three years.
Luca trusted her.
She’d been present when his father died.
She knew the family.
When she was brought into the conference room, she looked neither frightened nor surprised.
“Elaine,” Luca said, “I need you to explain these transactions.”
She studied the papers.
Then removed her glasses.
“I wondered when somebody would finally ask.”
Luca frowned.
“You knew?”
“I knew things weren’t right.”
“Then why didn’t you tell me?”
Elaine looked toward Matteo.
“Because the last person who questioned those accounts lost his family.”
Matteo said nothing.
Luca leaned forward.
“Who authorized the transfers?”
Elaine folded her hands.
“Some came from Richard Bellini’s office. Some were processed through your father’s old business arrangements.”
“And mine?”
She looked exhausted.
“Your office approved them electronically.”
“I never saw them.”
“I know.”
Luca stared.
“How?”
“Because Vanessa asked me to route certain correspondence away from you.”
Silence filled the room.
Elaine continued.
“She said you were overwhelmed. She said Richard was helping you keep the charitable divisions organized.”
Luca looked sick.
“And you believed her?”
“At first.”
“What changed?”
Elaine swallowed.
“Last year, one scholarship recipient came here asking why her tuition hadn’t been paid.”
“Who?”
“A young woman named Rebecca Harris.”
I recognized the name immediately.
Evelyn had written a letter to the Harris family.
Elaine continued.
“I asked Richard. He told me the student was no longer eligible.”
“Was she?”
“Yes.”
“Then why didn’t you investigate?”
Elaine’s eyes filled.
“Because Richard showed me documents indicating that my pension account had been used to guarantee a company loan. He said if the matter became public, I’d lose everything.”
Luca stared at her.
“You could have come to me.”
She gave him a sad smile.
“Mr. Moretti, you hadn’t attended a charity board meeting in four years.”
He had no answer.
That evening, Luca visited his mother.
Evelyn was sitting beside the hospital window.
Her injured arm rested in a sling.
He brought her favorite tea.
She smiled faintly.
“You remembered.”
Luca sat beside her.
“Sarah told me how you like it.”
Evelyn looked at him.
“She’s a good girl.”
“I know.”
He hesitated.
“Mom, did Dad authorize payments to Richard?”
Evelyn’s expression changed.
“Some.”
“Why?”
“Richard promised he could expand the fund.”
“Did Dad know money was disappearing?”
She looked toward the window.
“Your father realized too late that he’d trusted the wrong arrangement.”
Luca leaned closer.
“Did he know Richard was stealing?”
“I don’t think he knew the full truth.”
“Then why didn’t he stop him?”
Evelyn’s voice broke.
« Parce qu’il craignait ce qui arriverait aux personnes à qui l’on avait déjà promis de l’aide. »
Luca lui prit la main.
« J’ai besoin que tu me dises tout. »
Evelyn secoua la tête.
« Pas avant que Matteo ne soit là. »
Luca resta immobile.
“Maman-“
« Mes deux garçons. »
Il détourna le regard.
Après un long moment, il hocha la tête.
“D’accord.”
Ce soir-là, je suis retourné au manoir pour récupérer quelques affaires personnelles.
La maison était calme.
En passant devant le salon d’Evelyn, j’ai remarqué un petit dessin encadré sur la cheminée.
Lily l’avait fait des mois plus tôt.
Une maison.
Trois fleurs.
Un soleil jaune.
Au verso, Evelyn avait écrit :
Sarah et Lily méritent un foyer où personne ne pourra les rabaisser.
J’ai serré le dessin contre moi.
Puis j’ai remarqué quelque chose sous le cadre.
Une page pliée.
Cela faisait partie d’un ancien inventaire de biens ménagers.
Evelyn avait entouré un élément à l’encre rouge.
ANTONIO MORETTI — ROSAIRE PERSONNEL — BUREAU D’ÉTUDE.
À côté, elle avait écrit :
