Chapter 8 - THE MAID'S LAST CONFESSION
Dominic returned to the mansion shortly before dawn.
Hannah was waiting in the library, sitting beside Margaret. Both women looked exhausted. Margaret had changed into clean clothes, but she still held herself like someone expecting to be dragged away at any moment.
Dominic placed the photograph on the table.
Hannah's face went white.
“Where did you get that?”
“Someone sent it to me.”
Margaret looked at the image and covered her mouth.
“Where is Isabella?” she whispered.
“That's what I'm trying to find out.”
Dominic turned to Hannah.
“What happened the night Elena died?”
She stared at him.
“I told you everything I knew.”
“Did you?”
“Dominic—”
“Your mother's name was written on the back of a mirror. Elena left you an inheritance. You found a note that led me to the truth about my daughter. And now someone is telling me your mother was involved in Elena's death.”
Hannah rose abruptly.
“My mother would never hurt Elena.”
“Then explain why someone thinks she did.”
Margaret stood.
“Dominic, leave her alone.”
He turned toward the older woman.
“I'm not accusing Hannah. I'm asking questions.”
“You're asking them like every other Moretti man.”
The words struck him.
Margaret continued, her voice shaking.
“You think the truth is something you can force out of people. But sometimes people stay silent because they know what happens when powerful men decide they deserve answers.”
Dominic looked at Hannah.
“Did you know Elena was pregnant?”
“No.”
“Did you know Adrian arranged for the baby to be transferred?”
“No.”
“Did you know your mother was present when Elena died?”
Hannah froze.
Margaret closed her eyes.
Dominic felt his stomach tighten.
“Hannah?”
She slowly sat down.
“My mother told me she was in the mansion that evening. She said she had gone to help Elena.”
“Help her with what?”
“She wouldn't tell me.”
“Did she say whether Adrian was there?”
Hannah nodded.
“She said she heard him arguing with Elena.”
Dominic's voice dropped.
“About the baby?”
“I don't know.”
“Why didn't you tell me?”
“Because my mother begged me not to. She said if the Morettis learned what she knew, I would become a target.”
Dominic looked at Margaret.
“What happened that night?”
Margaret's eyes filled.
“Elena called me at four o'clock. She said she had discovered someone had altered her medication records. She wanted me to bring the original documents to her bedroom.”
“Did you?”
“Yes.”
“What happened when you arrived?”
“Adrian was already there. He was angry. Elena told him she was going to expose the foundation transfers and the people behind them.”
Margaret swallowed.
“He told her she was making a mistake. He said the family would be destroyed if she went to the authorities.”
“And then?”
“They argued. I stayed near the doorway because Elena had asked me not to interfere.”
Margaret's hands trembled.
“Then I heard a crash.”
Dominic felt his pulse pounding.
“I ran into the hallway. Elena was at the top of the stairs. Adrian was beside her.”
“Was he pushing her?”
“I couldn't see clearly. He was holding her arm.”
Dominic closed his eyes.
Margaret continued.
“Elena shouted, 'You promised me.' Then Adrian said, 'I didn't know they would go this far.'”
The words echoed through the library.
“What happened next?”
“Someone came from the west corridor. I heard footsteps, then a second voice. Elena turned toward it. Adrian let go of her arm.”
Margaret began to cry.
“Elena fell.”
Dominic gripped the back of a chair.
“Who was the second person?”
“I never saw his face. He wore gloves. He grabbed me before I could reach her.”
“Why didn't you tell the police?”
“Because he threatened Hannah. He knew where she went to school. He said if I spoke, she would disappear.”
Hannah covered her mouth.
Dominic looked between them.
“Who arranged the baby transfer?”
“Adrian did,” Margaret whispered. “But he wasn't the one who ordered it.”
“Who was?”
Margaret shook her head.
“I never learned his identity.”
Dominic looked at Hannah.
“Is there anything else?”
She hesitated.
Then she reached into her pocket and placed a small silver pendant on the table.
“I found this inside Elena's poetry book.”
Dominic picked it up.
The pendant opened with a click.
Inside was a tiny photograph of a man standing beside Elena in a hospital corridor.
Dominic recognized the man immediately.
Dr. Paul Whitaker.
The medical examiner who had signed the report on Elena's death.
On the back of the photograph was a date.
October 17, 2021.
The day before Elena died.
Beneath it were four words:
HE KNOWS WHO FATHERED HER.
Dominic stared at Hannah.
“Her?”
“Isabella,” Hannah whispered.
Margaret looked horrified.
“No. Elena told me the baby was yours.”
Dominic's thoughts spun.
“Then why would Elena question the father?”
Margaret shook her head.
“I don't know.”
Dominic studied the photograph again.
There was something unusual about the way Elena stood beside Whitaker. Her hand rested on his forearm, and his head was inclined toward hers as though he were speaking privately.
It could have been nothing.
Or it could have been the secret Elena had been trying to protect.
His phone rang.
An unfamiliar number appeared on the screen.
Dominic answered.
“Moretti.”
A woman's voice spoke softly.
“My name is Sarah Bennett. I raised Isabella.”
Dominic stood.
“Where is she?”
“She was taken from my home yesterday.”
“By whom?”
“I don't know. But before they came, a man left a letter for me. He said you would eventually find the truth about Elena.”
“What truth?”
Sarah began to cry.
“Isabella is your daughter, Mr. Moretti. I know that.”
Dominic closed his eyes.
“But there is something you need to understand.”
“What?”
“Elena didn't die because she discovered the foundation theft.”
Sarah paused.
“She died because she discovered who the Chairman really was.”
Dominic gripped the phone.
“Tell me.”
May you like
Sarah whispered the words that changed everything.
“The Chairman isn't Michael Moretti. It's the man Elena believed was Isabella's biological father.”
