Chapter 2 - A MOTHER’S FINAL WARNING NEVER DIES
Luca read the sentence again.
His breathing slowed.
The silence in the library felt heavy. Thick.
Luca, before you marry Vanessa, you need to know why Mom asked me not to trust her.
He looked up at me.
His dark eyes were unreadable, but the muscle in his jaw clenched.
“My mother passed away three years ago,” he said quietly. “Teresa left two days later. Vanessa told me they had a terrible argument over a family heirloom.”
He looked down at the letter.
“My mother’s silver rosary.”
My arm throbbed where the stitches pulled against my skin.
“I remember the rosary, sir,” I said softly. “Mrs. Carter used to polish the silver box it was kept in.”
Luca’s gaze locked onto mine.
“Used to?”
“The box has been empty for months.”
Luca stood up.
He didn’t yell. He didn’t throw anything.
He just walked over to the heavy oak desk, his movements dangerously calm.
“Vanessa told me she put the rosary in the estate vault for safekeeping.”
He picked up a small brass key from his top drawer.
“Rebecca.”
“Yes, Mr. Moretti?”
“Go to Vanessa’s dressing room. Look in the velvet travel case she brought back from New York yesterday.”
My heart hammered against my ribs.
“Sir, if she catches me—”
“She won’t. She’s drinking her tea in the east wing. She never leaves the sitting room before eleven.”
He handed me the key.
“I need to know what’s inside.”
I didn’t argue.
I needed this job. I needed the money for my six-year-old son, Leo.
I took the key and hurried up the back staircase.
The estate was quiet. The guests had moved to the garden patio.
I slipped into Vanessa’s bedroom. It smelled of heavy perfume and expensive wine.
The velvet travel case sat on her vanity.
My hands shook as I slid the brass key into the lock.
It clicked.
I opened the lid.
There was no silver rosary inside.
There was no jewelry at all.
Instead, sitting at the bottom of the case, were three items.
A bottle of prescription pills with the label scratched off.
A stack of unpaid bank notices addressed to Vanessa’s father.
And a small, yellow slip of paper.
I picked it up.
It was a pawn shop receipt.
But it wasn’t for the rosary.
I stared at the description on the receipt, my blood running cold.
Item: Men’s gold pocket watch, inscribed ‘To my son, Luca. Make us proud.’
The date on the ticket was yesterday.
The door behind me clicked open.
May you like
“What do you think you’re doing?” Vanessa asked.
TITLE: THE SCENT OF EXPENSIVE LIES AND CHEAP BETRAYAL
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