Chapter 8 - THE UNCLE WHO OWNED THE SECRETS
Vittorio Moretti had helped raise Alessandro after his father died.
He taught him how to negotiate.
How to recognize dishonesty.
How to protect family interests.
And how to make powerful men fear disappointing him.
For years, Alessandro considered Vittorio a second father.
He ignored warnings about questionable financial arrangements because he believed his uncle would never betray the family.
Now the records from Margaret Carter, Lucia Moretti, and Helen Reeves suggested otherwise.
Vittorio's companies appeared repeatedly in transactions connected to the suspected fraud.
Daniel Bellamy managed several intermediary accounts.
Payments moved through consulting firms with little evidence of real services.
And Ryan Mercer received unexplained transfers after Margaret's death.
Alessandro requested an independent forensic review and provided relevant records to investigators.
Vittorio was furious.
He arrived at the mansion on a stormy afternoon.
His silver hair was immaculate.
His expression was not.
"Have you lost your mind?"
Alessandro stood beside the fireplace.
"Good afternoon, Uncle."
"Don't play games."
Vittorio slammed a folder onto the table.
"You're allowing outsiders to examine family business."
"Yes."
"Do you understand what that could cost us?"
Alessandro looked at him.
"Perhaps you should tell me."
Vittorio's face reddened.
"You've become weak."
Alessandro remained silent.
"All because of a housemaid?"
His expression changed.
"Don't involve Elena."
Vittorio laughed bitterly.
"She's filling your head with stories about her mother."
"Her mother left records."
"Records can be misunderstood."
"Then let qualified investigators examine them."
Vittorio stared.
For a moment, his polished manner disappeared.
"You'd turn against your own blood?"
Alessandro took a breath.
"I'd rather learn the truth."
Vittorio leaned forward.
"Your father would be ashamed."
The words struck hard.
Alessandro looked away.
For years, he'd measured himself against the expectations of dead men.
His father.
His grandfather.
The family founders whose portraits filled the mansion.
Then he thought of Lucia.
His sister, who'd died believing nobody would listen.
He looked back at Vittorio.
"My sister tried to tell me something."
The older man's expression changed.
Alessandro noticed.
"What did she know?"
Vittorio looked toward the window.
"Lucia was emotional."
His jaw tightened.
"She was intelligent."
"She misunderstood business."
"Then explain the records."
Silence.
Alessandro stepped closer.
"Explain Bellamy."
Vittorio's eyes narrowed.
"You're making a mistake."
"Perhaps."
He took a breath.
"But I won't make the same mistake of refusing to listen simply because the truth is uncomfortable."
Vittorio picked up his coat.
For a moment, he looked genuinely old.
Then he said quietly, "You don't know everything your father did to build this empire."
Alessandro's expression hardened.
"Then maybe it's time I learned."
Vittorio left.
Afterward, Marco entered.
"How bad?"
Alessandro sat down.
"Worse than I hoped."
Marco nodded.
"There's something else."
"What?"
"We found another payment to Ryan Mercer."
Alessandro looked up.
"When?"
"Two days before he appeared at the estate."
His jaw tightened.
"From Bellamy?"
"Yes."
"How much?"
"Twenty thousand dollars."
Alessandro went still.
Ryan had demanded ten thousand from Elena.
But Bellamy had paid him twice that amount.
For what?
To recover records?
To frighten her?
To make sure she stayed quiet?
Alessandro looked toward Lucia's photograph.
Then asked Marco to send the records to the investigators.
The betrayal was becoming clearer.
But he knew something else.
Whatever happened next, Elena needed the freedom to decide how much she wanted to be involved.
May you like
He would not make her another piece on a board controlled by powerful men.
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