Chapter 1 - The Wedding Gift That Exposed a Dead Woman
"THE MAFIA BOSS'S FIANCÉE WAS FORCED TO OPEN THE WEDDING GIFT
The wedding gift arrived in the middle of Vanessa Rowan’s vows.
A massive black box, wrapped in white silk and tied with a silver ribbon, was carried into the Moretti mansion’s ballroom by two men in dark suits.
Every guest turned.
Vanessa stood beneath the crystal chandeliers in her expensive wedding gown, one hand gripping Luca Moretti’s arm.
“What is that?” she whispered.
The men placed the box beside the altar.
One of them handed Luca a small envelope.
Luca opened it.
Inside was a single sentence.
OPEN IT BEFORE YOU MARRY HER.
His expression changed.
“Who sent this?”
Neither man answered.
Vanessa immediately stepped backward.
“Don’t touch it.”
Luca looked at her.
“Why?”
“Because it could be dangerous.”
The guests began whispering.
Vanessa turned toward the security team.
“Get it out of here.”
Luca raised one hand.
“Nobody moves.”
His guards surrounded the box.
One checked the locks. Another examined the ribbon. After a moment, the head of security nodded.
“No explosives. No wires. Nothing suspicious.”
Luca looked at Vanessa.
“Then open it.”
She stared at him.
“I said it could be dangerous.”
“And I said open it.”
Vanessa’s lips trembled.
Emily, the maid standing beside the gift table, quietly stepped forward.
“I can help.”
Vanessa spun toward her.
“Stay away from it!”
Emily stopped.
Luca noticed the way Vanessa’s fingers had tightened around her bouquet.
“Why are you afraid of a wedding gift?”
“I’m not afraid.”
“Then open it.”
Vanessa looked around the ballroom.
Hundreds of guests were watching.
Her father stood near the front row, his face unusually pale.
She swallowed.
Then she reached for the silver ribbon.
Her fingers shook so badly that she couldn't untie it.
Emily stepped closer.
“Let me.”
Vanessa suddenly grabbed her arm.
“If you open that box, you will regret it.”
Emily looked at her.
Then she gently pulled free.
Luca’s voice dropped.
“Vanessa.”
She released Emily.
The maid untied the ribbon.
The lid opened.
Inside was an old wedding dress.
Yellowed lace.
A torn sleeve.
A long, dark stain near the waist.
And a small silver pin attached to the fabric.
Luca stopped moving.
He recognized the dress immediately.
It was almost identical to the one Elena had worn when he buried his first wife.
The same delicate lace.
The same torn sleeve.
The same small silver pin.
His hand slowly reached into the box.
He lifted the pin.
Three letters had been engraved on its back.
E.M.
Elena Moretti.
Luca’s dead wife.
Vanessa’s bouquet slipped from her fingers.
“No,” she whispered.
Luca turned toward her.
“What is this?”
Vanessa shook her head.
“I don’t know.”
Emily looked down at the dress.
“There’s something else.”
She carefully lifted the torn fabric.
A small photograph had been hidden beneath the lining.
Vanessa lunged for it.
“Give me that!”
Luca caught her wrist.
“Don't.”
Emily stepped away from them and held the photograph beneath the chandelier.
It showed a young woman standing in front of a mirror.
She was wearing the same wedding dress.
The same silver pin.
The same torn sleeve.
But the woman in the photograph wasn't Elena.
It was Vanessa.
Her hair was shorter.
Her face was younger.
And beneath the photograph, someone had written a date.
October 14.
The date was three days before Elena Moretti supposedly died.
Luca stared at the picture.
Then he slowly looked at his bride.
Vanessa’s eyes filled with tears.
“Luca, please.”
He didn't answer.
She reached for his hand.
“I can explain.”
Luca stepped closer.
The entire ballroom seemed to disappear around them.
He held up the photograph.
May you like
His voice was barely audible.
“Why were you wearing my dead wife's dress?”"
