Chapter 9 - THE WOMAN WHO WANTED THE THRONE
Vanessa Bellamy had spent her entire life preparing to become important.
Her father taught her that affection was useful.
Marriage was strategy.
And weakness was expensive.
When Lucas Ravalini became a widower, Richard saw an opportunity.
A marriage between Lucas and Vanessa would give the Bellamy family influence over Ravalini Holdings.
It would also place Vanessa inside the household where Sofia had once discovered the records.
Vanessa knew enough to be dangerous.
Not everything.
But enough.
One afternoon, she arrived at the penthouse unannounced.
Lucas met her in the foyer.
“Vanessa.”
She smiled.
“Lucas.”
“You weren't invited.”
Her smile faded.
“I thought we could talk.”
“About what?”
“Your son.”
Lucas's expression hardened.
“What about him?”
Vanessa sighed.
“He's becoming attached to that nanny.”
Lucas said nothing.
She continued.
“It's unhealthy.”
Lucas looked at her.
“Is it?”
“He needs a proper mother figure.”
“He has people who love him.”
Vanessa smiled tightly.
“Lucas, be reasonable.”
He stepped closer.
“Did your father send you?”
Her face changed.
“What?”
“Richard Bellamy.”
Vanessa looked away.
Lucas continued.
“Did he tell you to marry me?”
She laughed nervously.
“Don't be absurd.”
Lucas stared.
“Did he?”
Vanessa's expression hardened.
“You think you're so clever.”
Lucas said nothing.
She stepped closer.
“My father has protected your family's interests for decades.”
Lucas looked at her.
“Protected them from what?”
Vanessa smiled without warmth.
“From the consequences of your father's mistakes.”
Lucas felt cold.
“What do you know?”
Vanessa leaned closer.
“Enough to know that Hannah Cooper should never have been allowed inside this house.”
Lucas's jaw tightened.
“Leave.”
Vanessa stared.
“You'll regret this.”
Lucas opened the door.
“Goodbye, Vanessa.”
That evening, Hannah found Lucas standing beside Sofia's photograph.
He looked exhausted.
She approached quietly.
“Are you okay?”
He shook his head.
“No.”
Hannah stood beside him.
Lucas looked at the photograph.
“I thought I knew my family.”
She said nothing.
He continued.
“I thought I knew why Sofia died.”
Hannah's eyes filled.
Lucas looked at her.
“And now I'm afraid everything I believed was wrong.”
Hannah took his hand.
For a moment, he simply held it.
Then whispered:
“I don't know how to protect Matteo from this.”
Hannah looked at him.
“By telling him the truth in ways he can understand.”
May you like
Lucas nodded.
“And by making sure he never has to carry the secrets adults created.”
