Chapter 4 - THE AUNT WHO KNEW TOO MUCH
Bianca Moretti arrived at breakfast wearing a cream silk blouse, pearl earrings, and the expression of a woman who had never been asked a question she couldn't avoid.
She was sixty-two.
Beautiful.
Elegant.
And feared by nearly everyone in the Moretti family.
When I entered the dining room, she smiled.
"Good morning, darling."
I didn't smile back.
"Where were you the night my mother died?"
Her coffee cup stopped halfway to her lips.
Luca stood beside me.
Bianca looked between us.
"What an unusual question."
"Saint Agnes Hospital," I said.
Her expression changed.
Only slightly.
But enough.
"I worked there many years ago."
"Were you there eleven years ago?"
"Sometimes."
I placed the photograph on the table.
She went still.
"Where did you get that?"
"Outside my bedroom."
Bianca looked toward Luca.
He said nothing.
For the first time, her perfect composure cracked.
"Ellie, there are things you don't understand."
I felt anger rise.
"Then explain them."
She looked down.
For several seconds, nobody spoke.
Then she whispered, "Your mother wasn't supposed to survive."
The room seemed to tilt.
"What?"
Bianca closed her eyes.
"The car accident was staged."
My heart hammered.
"By whom?"
She looked toward the doorway.
Then lowered her voice.
"Your father."
I stepped backward.
"No."
Bianca's eyes filled with tears.
"Your mother discovered something about Bennett Maritime."
I shook my head.
"My father loved her."
"Perhaps he did."
Her voice broke.
"But he loved control more."
Luca moved closer to me.
He didn't touch me.
He simply stood nearby.
For once, I was grateful for the space.
"Is my mother alive?" I asked.
Bianca hesitated.
"I don't know."
"Don't lie."
"I'm not."
She swallowed.
"I helped transfer her from Saint Agnes to a private rehabilitation facility. After that, your father cut off my access."
I stared.
"For eleven years?"
Bianca nodded.
Tears spilled down her cheeks.
"I tried to find her."
My chest tightened.
"Then why didn't you tell me?"
"Because your father threatened to expose my involvement and harm the people helping her."
I laughed bitterly.
"Everyone keeps saying they were protecting me."
Bianca lowered her head.
"I know."
I looked toward Luca.
He was watching me with concern.
Not pity.
Concern.
Then Bianca reached inside her handbag.
She removed a small brass key.
"I kept this."
I stared.
"What does it open?"
"A safety-deposit box."
"Whose?"
"Your mother's."
My hands trembled as I accepted it.
Bianca continued.
"She gave it to me the night she disappeared."
I looked down at the key.
A tiny number was engraved along the side.
Then Bianca whispered something that made the room go silent.
"Ellie, your mother left a message for you."
My breath caught.
"What message?"
May you like
Bianca's voice broke.
"She said if you ever married a Moretti, you needed to know why."
