Chapter 3 - The Woman Who Knew Too Much
Vanessa was taken to the mansion's library.
Dominic stood before her with the photograph in his hand.
“Where were you eighteen months ago?”
She wiped her cheeks.
“You know where I was.”
“No. I know where you told me you were.”
He placed the photograph on the table.
Vanessa stared at it.
For several seconds, she looked as if she might faint.
Then she began to shake her head.
“That isn't what you think.”
“You were at the clinic six days after Isabella disappeared. You told me you were in New York.”
“I was helping her.”
Dominic felt the room tilt.
“Helping her do what?”
Vanessa pressed her palms against her face.
“She was terrified. She believed Marco was going to kill her. She called me because she knew I could get her out of the city without attracting attention.”
“You helped my wife escape?”
“Yes.”
“Then why did you tell me she was dead?”
Vanessa looked up, and her expression changed.
The tears remained, but something harder appeared beneath them.
“Because she wouldn't come back.”
Dominic stared at her.
“What?”
“I begged her to return. I told her you would forgive her for whatever she'd discovered. But she refused. She said you were too deeply involved in the family business to see the truth.”
“She was my wife.”
“And she believed your loyalty to Marco mattered more than your loyalty to her.”
Dominic recoiled as if Vanessa had struck him.
“That isn't true.”
“Isn't it? How many times did she ask you to investigate Marco? How many times did you tell her he was the only man you trusted?”
He remembered the arguments.
Isabella had warned him that Marco was moving money. She had told him that someone was accessing the family records. Dominic had dismissed her concerns as stress.
He had even accused her of being jealous of the time he spent with Marco.
Vanessa watched his expression.
“She came to me because she had no one else.”
“Then why didn't you tell me she was alive?”
“Because she made me promise not to.”
Dominic's eyes narrowed.
“You expect me to believe that?”
Vanessa's voice broke.
“I know what it sounds like. But she said if you knew where she was, you'd come for her. Marco would follow you. He would find her, and this time, she might not survive.”
Dominic looked at the photograph again.
“Where is she?”
“I don't know.”
“Vanessa.”
“I swear to you, Dominic. I haven't seen her in more than a year.”
“Then why did you want the dress burned?”
Vanessa fell silent.
He waited.
Finally, she whispered, “Because I thought she had left something inside it.”
“What?”
“The proof that could destroy my family.”
Dominic's jaw tightened.
“So you knew about the documents.”
“I knew she had copies of some financial records. I didn't know about the key.”
“Did you steal the money?”
Vanessa looked away.
“My brother, Charles, arranged the transfers. He told me they were temporary loans. He said the money would be returned before anyone noticed.”
“And you believed him?”
“At first.”
“And later?”
She began to cry again.
“Later, I realized he was using me. He made me sign documents. He told me that if I cooperated, my family would be safe. If I refused, he'd expose everything I'd done.”
Dominic's voice was dangerously quiet.
“You helped them steal from me.”
“Yes.”
“You lied about my wife.”
“Yes.”
“You allowed me to believe she was dead.”
Vanessa couldn't answer.
Dominic turned away.
He wanted to hate her. It would have been easier if she had been nothing more than a calculating liar.
But the fear in her eyes was real.
And if she was telling the truth about Marco, Isabella had been right to run.
“Where is Charles now?” Dominic asked.
“Chicago. He has an office there.”
“Call him.”
Vanessa looked up.
“He won't answer.”
“Then send him a message.”
“What should I say?”
Dominic leaned over the table.
“Tell him you found Isabella's letter. Tell him the original documents are in my possession. Tell him you need his help before I discover everything.”
Vanessa stared at him.
“And if he knows I'm lying?”
“Then we'll learn how far he's willing to go to protect himself.”
She took out her phone.
Her fingers trembled as she typed.
Charles replied within seconds.
Destroy the letter. Get the key. If Moretti has heard the recording, we have a serious problem.
Dominic read the message twice.
Then another message appeared.
And make sure the maid never speaks to anyone again.
Dominic slowly raised his eyes toward Emma.
Vanessa's face had gone white.
“He knows about you,” Dominic said.
Emma stepped backward.
Outside the library, a guard shouted.
A gunshot rang through the mansion.
May you like
The lights went out.
And somewhere in the darkness, a man began screaming.
