THE BRACELET THAT HID A SEVENTEEN-YEAR-OLD LIE

(Six Months Later)

The dining room of the Moretti estate had been completely restored.

The new chandelier sparkled brilliantly above the long, polished oak table. There were no fake doctors, no manipulative fiancées, and no hidden agendas.

Tonight, there were only thirty guests. And every single one of them was loyal.

I stood near the head of the table. But I wasn't wearing a black uniform, and I wasn't holding a tray.

I was wearing a stunning, floor-length emerald green gown. The color perfectly matched the heavy bracelet resting on my right wrist—Elena’s bracelet, gifted to me that very morning.

I raised my crystal glass of champagne.

“To family,” I said, my voice carrying easily across the room.

“To family!” the table echoed.

At the head of the table, Antonio Moretti sat tall and proud. His hearing aids were perfectly tuned, his eyes sharp, his presence commanding. He raised his glass to me, a silent gesture of absolute respect.

To my left, my mother sat beside Elena. They were laughing together, sharing a story. My mother looked radiant. Her new restaurant, The Blue Coat, was opening next week, fully funded by the Moretti foundation.

And standing directly beside me was Luca.

He placed a warm, heavy hand on the small of my back.

He leaned in, his lips brushing my ear.

“You look beautiful tonight, boss,” Luca whispered.

I smiled, turning my head to look at him. “I thought you were the boss.”

“We’re a partnership,” Luca grinned. “But you definitely scare the staff more than I do.”

I laughed, leaning my head against his shoulder.

I looked around the room. The warmth, the laughter, the absolute safety of it all.

Seventeen years ago, my mother hid two million dollars to save this family. For nine months, I scrubbed their floors just to pay her rent.

Now, I was standing at the head of their table. Not as a servant. Not as a pawn.

As a Moretti.

“Emma,” Antonio called out from the head of the table.

“Yes, Antonio?” I asked.

The old man smiled, his dark eyes twinkling with mischief.

“Check beneath the table for me, would you?” he asked. “I think I dropped my napkin.”

The entire table erupted into laughter.

I laughed so hard I had to lean against Luca to keep my balance. Luca wrapped both arms around my waist, pulling me tight against his chest, kissing the top of my head.