Chapter 6 - THE WOMAN WHO RETURNED FROM THE DEAD
Cassandra Vale had supposedly died in a boating accident twelve years earlier.
At the time, she was married to a wealthy financier named Edward Vale.
Her death had been widely reported.
Vivien rarely spoke about her mother.
When she did, her voice became soft and mournful.
I'd believed every word.
Now I stared at Gabriel's note.
Cassandra never died.
I called an independent investigator named Daniel Mercer.
He had no ties to the Duca family.
I asked him to review Cassandra's death, Vivien's finances, and the Voss connection.
He agreed.
Then I made a decision.
I would no longer rely solely on Rocco.
Not because I knew he was guilty.
But because I no longer knew who I could trust.
That evening, Vivien found me in the garden.
She wore a white dress and carried two glasses of wine.
“Darling.”
I turned.
She smiled.
“You've been distant.”
“Busy.”
She handed me a glass.
“I miss you.”
I looked at her.
For eighteen months, I'd believed she was the woman who could help me escape the loneliness of my life.
Now I wondered whether she'd ever loved me.
She stepped closer.
“Your mother still refuses to discuss the wedding.”
I shrugged.
“She'll come around.”
Vivien's smile tightened.
“She doesn't like me.”
“My mother doesn't like many people.”
Vivien laughed softly.
Then asked:
“Has Elena spoken to you?”
My heart stopped.
I kept my expression calm.
“About what?”
Vivien studied me.
“Nothing important.”
I smiled.
“Then why ask?”
She looked away.
“I worry about the staff.”
I almost laughed.
Instead, I took a slow sip of wine.
Later that night, Daniel Mercer called.
His voice was tense.
“Mr. Duca, I found something.”
I closed my study door.
“What?”
“Cassandra Vale's death certificate was issued without a recovered body.”
I stared.
“And?”
“Her estate was transferred to a trust controlled by her daughter.”
“Vivien?”
“Yes.”
I swallowed.
“Where is Cassandra now?”
Daniel hesitated.
“We found a woman matching her description living in Switzerland.”
My heart pounded.
“Under what name?”
He paused.
Then said:
“Margaret Bellini.”
I went still.
Bellini.
Our enemies.
Vivien's mother was living under the name of the family that had supposedly murdered my brother.
Daniel continued.
“And there's something else.”
“What?”
“Cassandra has been receiving money from a trust funded by Duca shipping revenues.”
My blood ran cold.
“Who authorized the transfers?”
May you like
Daniel swallowed.
“Your late father.”
