Chapter 4 - ELENA'S SECRET
Elena Moretti lived in a quiet apartment overlooking Lincoln Park. She had kept the name Moretti after the divorce, not because she wanted to remain connected to Luca, but because changing it would have meant changing the professional identity she had built as an attorney.
Luca had not spoken to her in almost four years.
Their marriage had ended without a public scandal. They had simply reached a point where trust had become impossible. Elena wanted a life outside the family's business. Luca could not promise that the danger surrounding him would ever disappear.
They had signed the papers, divided their property, and walked away.
At least, that was what Luca believed.
Daniel arranged a meeting at Elena's law office. Luca went with two security officers. I was not supposed to be there, but he asked me to accompany him because I had heard Vanessa's plan firsthand.
Elena opened the office door herself.
She was in her early thirties, elegant in a navy suit, with dark hair pulled into a neat bun. When she saw Luca, her expression became guarded.
“I wondered how long it would take you to call.”
Luca stepped inside.
“Someone is using photographs of us to make it look like we're having an affair.”
Elena gave a short, humorless laugh.
“I know.”
He stopped.
“You know?”
She walked to her desk and opened a drawer.
“For three months, someone has been sending me pictures of you. Restaurants. Hotels. Your office. Even the street outside my apartment.”
“Why didn't you tell me?”
“Because I assumed it was one of your enemies trying to provoke me.”
“Did you recognize the investigator?”
“William Mercer. He approached me two weeks ago and offered money for documents from our divorce.”
Luca's expression changed.
“What documents?”
Elena pulled out a thin file.
“The original settlement agreement.”
Luca frowned.
“We both have copies.”
“Not this one.”
She placed a page on the desk. It contained an additional clause, signed by both of them, concerning a property trust established by Luca's grandfather.
Luca read it twice.
“My grandfather's trust?”
Elena nodded.
“When we divorced, your grandfather's attorney asked me to hold the original amendment until the trust dispute was resolved. He believed someone in the family was trying to alter the beneficiary records.”
Luca looked at her.
“Why didn't you tell me?”
“Because he told me not to. He said the document would be safer outside the family.”
I watched Luca's expression grow darker.
“Who was trying to alter it?”
Elena hesitated.
“Your cousin, Anthony. But I never proved it.”
“Anthony has been dead for two years.”
“His estate still has a claim.”
Luca sat down.
The engagement suddenly seemed much less like a romance and much more like a carefully constructed business transaction.
“Why does Vanessa want the original?”
Elena looked at me.
“Because if the amendment is genuine, it changes who controls the trust.”
Luca leaned forward.
“Who benefits?”
Elena gave him a long look.
“Your future wife.”
Silence filled the office.
I thought of Vanessa's red dress, her diamonds, and the way she had smiled while lying about my injury.
Luca stood.
“Then she isn't marrying me for love.”
May you like
Elena's expression softened, but only slightly.
“Luca, I don't think she ever intended to marry you for love.”
