Chapter 4 - The Woman Who Entered the Family Twice
The name belonged to Thomas Sterling, a financial adviser who had worked with the Romano family before Richard's death.
Sebastian remembered him only vaguely: a quiet man who wore expensive suits and spoke as though every conversation were a negotiation.
According to the ledger, Thomas had arranged several transfers involving companies that no longer existed.
The amounts were substantial.
The destinations were concealed behind layers of corporate ownership.
Sebastian called his attorney.
“I need every surviving record connected to Thomas Sterling, Richard Romano, and Dr. Whitmore.”
“How far back?”
“Eleven years.”
A pause.
“Sebastian, if this involves the old investigation—”
“It does.”
“Then you should know that some of those files were sealed.”
“Find a way to review them legally.”
He ended the call and continued searching.
At the bottom of a cabinet, he discovered a thin folder labeled Private Correspondence.
Inside were letters between his father and Richard.
The earliest described a disagreement over the company's future. The later letters became increasingly hostile.
Richard believed Antonio had concealed assets.
Antonio accused Richard of using company funds to finance private ventures.
Then came a letter dated three days before Richard's fatal car accident.
Antonio,
If you refuse to open the accounts, I will take this matter to the board. The family cannot continue pretending the money never existed.
Sebastian read it twice.
Richard had died before the dispute was resolved.
The official report listed the accident as a loss of control on a wet road.
But the final letter suggested that the conflict had been more serious than Sebastian had ever been told.
He took photographs of every page and returned to the mansion.
Antonio was sitting beside a window when Sebastian entered his room.
“Dad, I found something.”
His father looked up.
“Richard?”
Sebastian sat beside him.
“You knew about the missing money.”
Antonio closed his eyes.
“I suspected it.”
“Why didn't you tell me?”
“Because I didn't have proof. And because your uncle's death left too many unanswered questions.”
Sebastian placed the photograph on the table.
“Thomas Sterling worked with him.”
Antonio's expression changed.
“Thomas?”
“And Vanessa's father.”
For a long moment, the old man said nothing.
Then he reached for Sebastian's hand.
“Son, you must understand something. Vanessa didn't enter this family because she loved you.”
Sebastian's jaw tightened.
“Then why?”
Antonio looked toward the window.
“Her father believed I had stolen money from Richard. He spent years trying to recover it.”
“Did you?”
“No.”
The answer came without hesitation.
“Then who did?”
Antonio shook his head.
“I never found out.”
Sebastian stared at the photograph.
“Vanessa knew about the old trust before she came here.”
Antonio nodded.
“She asked me questions about it during her first visit.”
“Why didn't you warn me?”
“I did.”
Sebastian froze.
“When?”
“After your engagement announcement. I told you I didn't trust her.”
Sebastian remembered the conversation.
He had dismissed his father's concerns as another argument about his personal life.
He'd told Antonio that Vanessa was different.
That he should give her a chance.
That not every person who entered the Romano family wanted something.
Sebastian looked away.
“I didn't listen.”
Antonio squeezed his hand.
“You wanted to believe someone loved you for yourself. There's no shame in that.”
Sebastian swallowed.
“Did you know Marcus was involved?”
Antonio hesitated.
“I knew he had been meeting Vanessa privately. I didn't know how far it went.”
“Why didn't you tell me?”
“Because I hoped he would come to me before things became worse.”
The room fell silent.
Then Antonio added, “Your brother has always wanted to prove he deserves his place in this family. Someone used that weakness.”
Sebastian stood.
“Then I'll find out who.”
As he turned toward the door, Antonio called his name.
“Sebastian?”
He looked back.
“Don't confuse justice with revenge.”
Sebastian's expression hardened.
“I won't.”
But as he left the room, his phone rang.
His attorney had found something.
A bank account connected to Thomas Sterling.
It had remained active long after Thomas's death.
And its most recent transaction had occurred only four days earlier.
The account had transferred nearly two million dollars to a company registered under a different name.
The beneficiary was listed as an independent trust administrator.
Sebastian opened the attached document.
The administrator's signature was familiar.
He had seen it on the forged medical authorization.
He had seen it on the care records.
And he had seen it on the document that could take away his father's independence.
May you like
Daniel Mercer.
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