Chapter 9 - The Truth That Could Destroy Them BothEmily listened to Vittorio Bellini's recorded voice three times before speaking.
The audio was old.
Distorted.
But unmistakable.
Laura Bennett wasn't taken. She asked me to help her disappear.
Aleandro stood beside the kitchen window.
Hannah and Margaret sat across from Emily.
No one knew what to say.
Finally, Emily whispered, “Why would my mother abandon me?”
Margaret shook her head.
“She wouldn't.”
“But if this is real—”
“We don't know whether the recording is complete,” Aleandro said. “Or whether it's been edited.”
Emily looked at him.
“Then we find the original.”
He nodded.
Together, they submitted the recording to an independent forensic audio specialist and provided a copy to investigators.
The preliminary examination revealed two abrupt changes in background noise.
Possible edits.
But the sentence about Laura arranging her disappearance appeared intact.
Emily felt as though every answer had opened another wound.
Later that evening, a woman called Margaret.
No introduction.
Only a request.
“Tell Emily to meet me at St. Agnes Chapel tomorrow at noon.”
Margaret gripped the phone.
“Laura?”
The woman began crying.
“Please.”
Then the call ended.
Emily insisted on going.
Aleandro objected at first.
“You're still recovering from contractions.”
“My doctor cleared me for limited activity. I'll speak with her before I decide.”
“Emily—”
She raised her hand.
“Don't start making decisions for me again.”
Aleandro stopped.
Then nodded.
“You're right.”
After consulting Dr. Lane, Emily agreed to a brief visit with a safe exit plan. Investigators were notified, and Margaret arranged for the meeting to take place under discreet police observation.
The next afternoon, Emily entered St. Agnes Chapel with Margaret beside her.
Aleandro remained outside.
Not because he didn't want to protect her.
Because she had asked him to let her face this moment herself.
The chapel smelled of old wood and candle wax.
Sunlight filtered through stained-glass windows.
A woman sat in the third pew.
Silver threaded through her dark hair.
Her shoulders were thin.
Her hands trembled.
Emily stopped.
The woman turned.
And Emily felt the world disappear.
“Mom?”
Laura Bennett stood slowly.
For six years, Emily had imagined this moment in dreams.
In some, her mother embraced her.
In others, she vanished before Emily could reach her.
Now she stood only a few feet away.
Alive.
Older.
Crying.
“Emily.”
Emily backed away.
“No.”
Laura stopped.
“I know.”
“No, you don't.”
Her voice broke.
“I buried you.”
Laura covered her mouth.
“I know.”
“I stood beside your grave.”
“I know, sweetheart.”
“Don't call me that.”
Laura flinched.
Emily pressed a hand over her stomach.
“Where were you?”
Laura's eyes filled.
“In hiding.”
“For six years?”
“Yes.”
“You let me believe you were dead?”
Laura nodded.
Emily began shaking.
“Why?”
Laura looked toward Margaret.
“Because the people who controlled Northbridge threatened to kill Emily if I came forward.”
Emily stared.
“Who?”
Laura's voice dropped.
“Isabella.”
Aleandro's sister.
Again.
Emily closed her eyes.
Laura continued.
“I discovered that the trust was being drained. I collected evidence. Isabella found out.”
“Why didn't you go to the police?”
“I tried. One investigator was killed. Another was compromised. Then someone attacked my car.”
Emily swallowed.
“The accident?”
Laura nodded.
“I survived. Vittorio helped hide me.”
Emily stared.
“Aleandro's father?”
“He was trying to make amends for what he'd done.”
Laura wiped her cheeks.
“He knew Isabella had become dangerous.”
“Then why didn't he stop her?”
“He died before he could.”
Emily shook her head.
“That's not enough. None of this explains why you stayed away for six years.”
Laura lowered her gaze.
“Because I made a terrible choice.”
Emily waited.
“I believed staying hidden would keep you safe.”
“And you never checked whether I was happy?”
“I did.”
Emily's expression hardened.
“What?”
Laura looked ashamed.
“I received reports.”
“Reports?”
“About your education. Your work. Your marriage.”
Emily stared.
“You watched my life from a distance?”
Laura nodded.
“And you didn't come?”
“I was afraid.”
Emily stepped back.
“You were afraid?”
Tears spilled down her cheeks.
“I was alone.”
Laura reached for her.
Emily moved away.
“No.”
Silence filled the chapel.
Then Emily asked one final question.
“Did you know Aleandro before I married him?”
Laura's face changed.
Emily saw it immediately.
“Mom?”
Laura whispered, “Yes.”
“How?”
Laura sat down heavily.
“Your marriage was never supposed to happen.”
Emily felt cold.
“What does that mean?”
Laura looked toward the chapel doors.
“Isabella arranged for you to meet Aleandro because she believed marriage would give the Bellini family control over your interest in the trust.”
Emily stared.
“But Aleandro fell in love with you,” Laura continued. “And when he began questioning the money, Isabella needed to destroy the marriage.”
Emily's breathing quickened.
Laura reached into her purse and removed a small flash drive.
“This contains the original records.”
Emily took it.
“Everything?”
“Everything I could preserve.”
Outside, a car engine roared.
A police officer shouted.
Then a gunshot cracked through the air.
Emily ducked instinctively.
Margaret grabbed her arm.
Laura moved toward the chapel doors.
“Stay down!”
Aleandro burst inside seconds later.
“Emily!”
He crossed the aisle and dropped beside her.
“Are you hurt?”
She shook her head.
“What happened?”
“Someone fired at the police vehicle outside. The officers are pursuing the car.”
Laura stood frozen.
Aleandro looked up.
Their eyes met.
For a long moment, neither spoke.
Then Laura whispered something that made him go still.
“You look exactly like your father.”
Aleandro's jaw tightened.
“And you know what he did.”
Laura nodded.
“Yes.”
She looked at Emily.
Then back at Aleandro.
“But there's one thing neither of you knows.”
Emily gripped his hand.
May you like
Laura's voice trembled.
“Vittorio Bellini wasn't your father's only secret.”
