Chapter 8 - THE WOMAN WHO DISAPPEARED WITH DIAMONDS
Camilla returned to New York under the supervision of her attorney.
She had been staying in Switzerland.
The diamond bracelet was still in her possession.
But the investigators weren't interested in jewelry.
They wanted to know what she knew about Bellini and Aldo.
Camilla agreed to speak.
Her statement changed the investigation.
She admitted that Aldo had approached her months before my illness.
He told her I was planning to remove her from my life.
He showed her fabricated messages.
Claimed I was transferring assets to another woman.
Camilla believed him.
Or wanted to.
Then Aldo offered her money.
He asked her to help arrange meetings with Bellini.
He said the doctor was preparing a treatment that would keep me calm during a difficult business transition.
Camilla claimed she never knew the treatment was harmful.
Investigators would have to determine whether that was true.
When Rebecca told me, I felt nothing at first.
Then anger.
Then exhaustion.
“Did she ever love me?” I asked.
Rebecca looked at me.
“I can't answer that.”
I nodded.
The next day, Camilla requested to see me.
I refused.
Not because I wanted revenge.
Because I had nothing left to say.
Elena found me sitting beside the hospital window.
“You look tired,” she said.
I smiled faintly.
“I am.”
She placed a cup of tea on the table.
“Giulia made you another drawing.”
I looked up.
The drawing showed a house.
A garden.
A lion.
A little girl.
And a woman holding a yellow umbrella.
I smiled.
“Who's the woman?”
“Me,” Elena said.
I laughed.
“And the umbrella?”
She shrugged.
“Apparently, I'm supposed to keep everyone dry.”
I studied the drawing.
Then looked at Elena.
“You've done more for me than anyone in this house.”
She shook her head.
“I just did what was right.”
I swallowed.
“That hasn't been common in my life.”
She sat beside me.
For a moment, we watched the rain.
Then Elena said:
“Marco used to tell me that good people aren't the ones who never make mistakes.”
I looked at her.
“What did he say?”
“They're the ones who stop making excuses.”
I stared at the window.
The words settled somewhere deep.
That evening, I called Rebecca.
“I want to establish a compensation fund for the families harmed by the harbor operations.”
She was silent.
Then said:
“That's a serious commitment.”
“I know.”
“It won't erase your legal responsibilities.”
“I know.”
She paused.
“Why now?”
May you like
I looked at Giulia's drawing.
“Because someone should've done it years ago.”
