Chapter 8 - THE WILL THAT NEVER EXISTED
Dominic returned to New York with Emily and Claire before midnight.
He did not tell Isabella about the photograph.
Instead, he sent Marcus to the meeting address while he entered his father's study and searched the old safe.
The original will was missing.
In its place lay a notarized document stating that Richard Moretti had transferred his remaining estate into a private trust controlled by Isabella.
Dominic examined the signature.
It looked authentic.
But the date was wrong.
The document had supposedly been signed two days after Richard's death.
He called the attorney who had handled his father's estate.
The attorney confirmed that a transfer had been filed years earlier, but the original paperwork had been challenged and withdrawn.
"Someone resurrected a rejected document," Dominic said.
"That's what it appears to be."
"Who filed it?"
The attorney hesitated.
"Charles Sterling's firm."
Dominic ended the call.
Across the hall, Emily sat with Claire while a doctor examined her healing arm. Claire had told her about the years spent living under different names, but she had not yet explained why she had never returned after Richard's death.
"I thought it would be safer if you grew up away from the Morettis," Claire said. "I was wrong to let you believe I was dead. But I couldn't see another way."
Emily looked down at her bracelet.
"Did you know my father had another son?"
"Yes. Richard told me about Dominic. He said he hoped you might meet one day."
"Did he know I existed?"
"He knew. He just didn't know where we were."
Emily glanced toward the study.
"Dominic is trying to make things right."
Claire nodded.
"He has his father's conscience. I hope he has more courage than Richard did."
At 11:30, Marcus reported that Isabella had arrived at the meeting address.
Dominic watched from a parked car across the street.
The building was an old private bank that had been closed to the public for years. A black sedan waited at the rear entrance.
Isabella entered alone.
Charles Sterling arrived five minutes later.
Dominic's jaw tightened.
Then a third person stepped out of the sedan.
Salvatore Greco.
His father's oldest adviser.
The man who had questioned Emily's right to inherit.
Dominic signaled Marcus.
"Record everything. No one moves until we know what they're discussing."
Through a gap in the curtains, they watched the three figures gather around a table.
Charles opened a leather folder.
Isabella signed a document.
Salvatore slid a small envelope toward her.
Dominic felt something cold settle in his chest.
His mother had been working with the people who wanted Emily removed.
Then the lights inside the building went out.
Marcus looked at his monitor.
"We've lost the cameras."
Dominic opened the car door.
"Stay here."
He crossed the street and entered through a side entrance. Inside, the building smelled of dust and damp stone. Voices echoed from the basement.
He descended the stairs and stopped outside a half-open door.
Charles was speaking.
"The girl has to be declared incapable of managing her inheritance. If she refuses, the family council will support a guardianship."
Salvatore replied, "And Dominic?"
"Once the engagement is formally dissolved, Vanessa will release the documents that prove he knew about the transfer."
Dominic's stomach tightened.
They intended to frame him as a participant.
Isabella's voice rose.
"I never agreed to have Emily harmed."
Charles gave a humorless laugh.
"You agreed to keep her out of the estate. You agreed to sign the transfer. Don't pretend your conscience has suddenly become inconvenient."
"I agreed because you threatened my son."
"And now you're going to keep your promise."
Dominic pushed open the door.
"That's enough."
All three turned.
Isabella looked devastated.
"Dominic."
Charles recovered first.
"This is a private meeting."
Dominic stepped toward the table.
"Then you won't mind explaining why my name is on a forged transfer."
Charles closed the folder.
"You should be careful with accusations."
"Careful is what I should have been when I let you into my family."
Salvatore rose.
"Dominic, listen to me. The Moretti organization is vulnerable. If Emily inherits part of the estate, rival factions will use her to challenge your authority."
"Then we protect her."
"That's not how this world works."
Dominic stared at him.
"Maybe that's the problem."
Charles reached inside his jacket.
Marcus appeared behind him, weapon drawn.
"Don't."
Charles froze.
Dominic took the folder and examined the documents.
At the bottom of the final page was a signature he recognized.
Not his father's.
Not his mother's.
His own.
It had been copied from a business contract he had signed months earlier.
Someone had used his identity to authorize the transfer.
Dominic looked at Isabella.
"Did you know they forged my signature?"
She shook her head, tears filling her eyes.
"No."
Charles tried to leave.
Marcus blocked the door.
Dominic picked up the small envelope Salvatore had given Isabella.
Inside was a photograph of Emily as a baby, beside a hospital bed.
On the back, someone had written:
THE FIRST HEIR WAS NEVER THE ONLY ONE.
Dominic stared at the words.
"What does this mean?"
Salvatore said nothing.
Isabella covered her mouth.
Charles smiled faintly.
"It means your father had another secret."
Dominic's eyes narrowed.
"Another child?"
Charles's smile widened.
May you like
"Ask your mother who was born in the hospital room next to Emily's."
---
