Chapter 7 - THE LAST DEAL
Victoria's eyes were cold.
“You should have left Chicago.”
Elizabeth stared at her.
“You killed my father.”
Victoria smiled.
“Your father killed himself the moment he decided to betray the people who protected him.”
“You destroyed my family.”
“No.”
Victoria's gaze shifted toward Alessandro.
“Your family destroyed itself.”
She revealed the real secret.
Matteo had planned to expose her years ago.
But Victoria discovered that Alessandro's older brother, Michael, was involved in laundering money through several Vitali companies.
Michael had died in a suspicious boating accident.
Everyone had assumed it was an accident.
It wasn't.
Victoria had arranged it.
Alessandro's face became stone.
“You killed my brother.”
“Yes.”
“Why?”
“Because he found the ledger.”
The gun trembled slightly.
Elizabeth noticed.
Victoria was afraid.
That was the first weakness she had shown.
Marcus and police entered through the back door.
Victoria tried to run.
Alessandro stopped her.
She fired.
The bullet missed him.
Elizabeth screamed.
Police tackled Victoria.
For years, the Vitali family had lived beneath layers of secrets.
Now everything was coming apart.
Victoria was arrested.
The evidence was turned over.
The Hart case was reopened.
But Elizabeth's mother was still missing.
Three weeks passed.
Then one afternoon, a package arrived.
Inside was a hospital bracelet.
And a note.
Your mother is safe.
Elizabeth cried with relief.
Alessandro held her.
“I thought we'd lost her.”
“We haven't.”
Then she looked at him.
“Why did you stay?”
He smiled faintly.
“Because I love you.”
She stared at him.
The words she had feared hearing became the words she wanted most.
“I love you too.”
He kissed her forehead.
Then her stomach tightened.
She gasped.
Alessandro froze.
“What?”
She laughed through tears.
“The baby.”
He looked terrified.
“Is something wrong?”
“No.”
Another movement.
“He kicked.”
Alessandro placed his hand against her stomach.
A tiny kick touched his palm.
His eyes filled.
“I felt him.”
Elizabeth smiled.
“You're going to be a good father.”
He looked at her.
“I intend to be.”
But neither of them knew that Victoria had left one final secret behind.
A secret buried inside the Hart ledger.
May you like
A name.
A name that belonged to someone neither of them had suspected.
