Chapter 8 - THE FORGED SIGNATURE AND THE BRACELET
The police captain hesitated. He looked at Vanessa.
“Ma'am, step into the light,” the captain ordered.
Vanessa crossed her arms tightly. “This is absurd. I will not be interrogated on the street because of a delusional maid.”
“If you have nothing to hide, show him,” Luca demanded, his voice echoing in the cold night.
The captain stepped closer to Vanessa. “Show me the bracelet, Ms. Bellini.”
Vanessa sneered, but she slowly extended her wrist.
The silver charms clinked together.
The captain shined his flashlight on the jewelry.
There, hanging between a silver star and a diamond crescent, was a square charm.
Engraved on it were the letters E.H.
“Judge Edward Harrison,” the captain muttered. He looked at the guardianship papers in his hand, then back at Vanessa. “Why do you have the judge's initials on your jewelry?”
Vanessa scoffed. “It’s a coincidence. Edward is an old family friend.”
“It’s not a coincidence,” a new voice rang out.
Everyone turned.
Stepping out of a taxi at the end of the alley was Arthur Greene.
The 76-year-old pianist walked slowly toward the police line, leaning heavily on his silver-tipped cane.
He wasn't wearing his tuxedo anymore, but an old trench coat.
In his hand, he held a small, black metal lockbox.
“Mr. Greene?” Luca asked, stunned.
“I went back to the mansion after you left,” Arthur said, his breath pluming in the cold air. “I went into Vanessa’s private suite. Because I remembered Catherine Bellini had a safety deposit box she kept hidden.”
Vanessa lost all her color. “Don't you dare give that to them.”
Arthur handed the black box to the police captain.
“Open it,” Arthur said.
The captain used his pocket knife to pry the small lock open.
Inside were stacks of handwritten letters and bank statements.
“Those are bank transfers,” Arthur explained, pointing a shaking finger at Vanessa. “Millions of dollars wired to offshore accounts. Blackmail money. Paid to Judge Edward Harrison to declare Luca’s nephew dead, and to forge guardianship papers to keep the boy hidden.”
The captain pulled out one specific letter.
It was on Bellini family stationery.
“This is a confession,” the captain read aloud, his eyes widening. “Written by Catherine Bellini. Detailing how she paid a mechanic to cut the brakes on Lucia Moretti's car in 1991.”
The alley went dead silent.
Luca stared at Vanessa.
The woman he almost married. The daughter of the woman who murdered his mother.
“You knew,” Luca whispered, the betrayal completely shattering his voice. “You knew everything.”
Vanessa backed away, her facade completely destroyed.
“I deserved the empire!” she screamed, her face twisting in pure rage. “My mother deserved your father! You Morettis stole everything from us! We just took it back!”
She lunged toward Leo, her nails extended like claws.
I didn't think. I just reacted.
I grabbed Vanessa by the shoulders and threw her backward. She stumbled in her high heels and crashed hard onto the wet pavement.
“Don't you ever touch him,” I growled.
The captain signaled his men.
“Vanessa Bellini, you are under arrest for fraud, kidnapping, and conspiracy.”
Handcuffs clicked loudly.
Vanessa screamed and cursed as they dragged her into the back of a police cruiser.
The lights flashed, and the cars drove away, leaving us in the quiet alley.
Luca knelt down, wrapping Leo in his coat.
May you like
He looked up at me.
“Emma,” he said softly. “You saved my family.”
