Chapter 9 - THE NIGHT LUCA CANCELLED HIS WEDDING
Z
The wedding was supposed to take place on Saturday afternoon.
Three hundred guests.
A cathedral filled with white roses.
A reception at a luxury hotel overlooking Lake Michigan.
Vanessa had spent eleven months planning it.
By Friday evening, the arrangements were collapsing.
Luca canceled the ceremony.
Not quietly.
Not through a private message.
He instructed his attorney to notify the venue, the officiant, and the invited guests that the wedding would not proceed.
He didn't publicly accuse Vanessa of crimes.
Rebecca insisted on that.
“The investigation is ongoing,” she reminded him. “We don't want to compromise evidence or make claims we can't substantiate.”
Luca nodded.
But his expression was hard.
At seven thirty, Vanessa called.
From an unknown number.
Luca answered with Rebecca present.
“Luca, darling.”
Her voice sounded almost cheerful.
“Where are you?”
“Where are you, Vanessa?”
She laughed.
“That's not a very romantic greeting.”
“The wedding is canceled.”
Silence.
Then:
“You can't do that.”
“I have.”
Her voice sharpened.
“Do you understand what you're risking?”
“Yes.”
“No, you don't.”
Luca looked at Rebecca.
She nodded for him to continue listening.
Vanessa spoke again.
“I have photographs.”
“I know.”
“I have witnesses.”
“We've seen the documents.”
A pause.
Then Vanessa laughed.
“You think that matters?”
Luca didn't answer.
She continued.
“By Sunday morning, every newspaper in Chicago will know what kind of man you are.”
Rebecca leaned forward.
“Vanessa, this is Rebecca Shaw. Any legal claims should be directed through counsel.”
Vanessa went silent.
Then her voice changed.
“Where's Anna?”
My stomach dropped.
Luca looked at me.
I shook my head.
He answered calmly.
“She's safe.”
Vanessa laughed.
“That's temporary.”
The call ended.
For several seconds, nobody spoke.
Then Rebecca said:
“We're preserving that recording and notifying investigators.”
Luca looked toward me.
“Anna, I want you away from the mansion until this is resolved.”
I stared.
“Am I being fired?”
“No.”
“Then why?”
“Because Vanessa knows where you work.”
I looked down.
He continued.
“You'll receive your pay and medical leave. You can decide later whether you want to return.”
I swallowed.
“Thank you.”
He hesitated.
“Anna, I need to tell you something.”
I looked up.
“I thought Vanessa loved me.”
His voice was quiet.
“I thought she was difficult because she was under pressure. I ignored things I should have questioned.”
I didn't know what to say.
He looked at my sling.
“I won't pretend that makes me innocent of failing to notice.”
For the first time, I saw something beneath Luca Moretti's reputation.
Not weakness.
Regret.
May you like
And perhaps the beginning of change.
---
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