Chapter 5 - WHAT VANESSA WANTED
Vanessa's attorney arranged a meeting two days later.
She agreed to return the remaining money and provide access to her communications with Shaw. She also agreed to explain why she had withheld my leave request and the hospital transportation.
Luca insisted I be present.
We met in the estate's small conference room.
Vanessa sat across from us, dressed in a cream suit. Without the diamonds and the elaborate gown, she looked like someone I might have passed in a hotel lobby without noticing.
She looked at me first.
“I am sorry about your mother.”
I said nothing.
“I know that doesn't mean much.”
“No,” I replied. “It doesn't.”
She looked down.
“I found out about the trust three weeks ago. My father had heard rumors that Giovanni had left something for a child outside the family.”
Luca's jaw tightened.
“You knew about Grace before you hired Shaw?”
“I suspected.”
“And you didn't tell me.”
“I was afraid.”
“Of losing the wedding?”
“Of losing everything.”
She admitted that she had planned to marry Luca, then persuade him to consolidate the family's assets under a new holding structure. If the trust beneficiary appeared before the marriage, the voting shares could complicate that plan.
She had wanted the trust settled quietly.
“And my mother?” I asked.
Vanessa looked at me.
“I knew Luca had arranged treatment money. I didn't think your mother would die so quickly.”
“You knew I wanted to go to her.”
“Yes.”
“You told me Luca refused.”
Vanessa's eyes filled.
“I thought if you left, you might speak to him. I didn't want him asking questions before I understood what the trust meant.”
“You made me miss her last hours.”
“I know.”
I looked at her for a long time.
“My mother waited for me.”
Vanessa began crying.
“I didn't understand how serious it was.”
“You understood enough to take the money.”
She had no answer.
Luca stood.
“The wedding is canceled. The engagement is over. The trust will be handled by independent counsel, and Grace will decide what she wants without pressure from either of us.”
Vanessa looked at him.
“Can we not at least try to fix this?”
“No.”
“I loved you.”
“You loved the future you thought you could control.”
She flinched.
He turned toward the door.
“Daniel will arrange for your belongings to be collected. You will be given safe transportation. No one will mistreat you.”
Vanessa looked at me one last time.
“I never wanted your mother to die.”
I stood.
May you like
“But you were willing to let her suffer.”
Then I left.
