Chapter 8 - THE GIRL WHO WAS SUPPOSED TO INHERIT EVERYTHING
Marcus Falcone had known Anthony Bellini for fifteen years.
He'd attended Anthony's daughter's birthday parties.
Paid for her private schooling.
Even arranged an internship for her at one of the family's legitimate businesses.
Her name was Vanessa Bellini.
Twenty-four years old.
Beautiful.
Ambitious.
And, according to Elena, a potential beneficiary of the Falcone family trust.
Marcus stared at the documents investigators recovered.
"Why would my father name Vanessa?"
Detective Morris examined the trust.
"The original beneficiary designation appears to have been altered."
Marcus's eyes narrowed.
"Altered?"
"Yes."
She pointed toward a section of the document.
"The original trust designated the descendants of Antonio Falcone."
Marcus nodded.
"My father."
"The newer documents attempted to redirect certain assets through a company controlled by Anthony Bellini."
Marcus felt cold.
"So Vanessa wasn't a legitimate beneficiary?"
"That appears to be the case. The validity of the amendments will require legal review."
Marcus leaned back.
For years, he'd believed Anthony's loyalty was genuine.
Now he understood Anthony had been positioning his family to profit from the Falcone estate.
And Isabella had been part of the plan.
Then Detective Morris showed him another document.
It contained a proposed adoption arrangement.
Vanessa Bellini was listed as a future guardian.
Isabella Cross appeared as a supporting witness.
Marcus stared.
"They were going to take my sons."
The detective nodded.
"That's one of the allegations under investigation."
Marcus covered his face.
The babies.
The hospital.
The trash bin.
Everything had been designed around money.
Two innocent children had been treated like obstacles.
He looked toward the nursery.
Matteo lay sleeping.
Gabriel rested nearby.
Both safe.
Both completely unaware of how close they'd come to disappearing.
Marcus's eyes filled with tears.
That afternoon, Lucia visited the hospital with Marisol.
She brought two small stuffed bears.
One blue.
One yellow.
"Which one is Matteo?" she asked.
Marcus smiled.
"The one on the left."
Lucia placed the blue bear beside the bassinet.
"And Gabriel?"
"The one on the right."
She placed the yellow bear nearby.
Then stepped back.
"They look the same."
Marcus laughed softly.
"They're twins."
Lucia frowned thoughtfully.
"But they don't sound the same."
Marcus smiled.
"How can you tell?"
"Matteo cries like this."
She made a loud squeaking sound.
Marcus laughed.
"And Gabriel?"
Lucia made a softer noise.
Marisol covered her mouth, trying not to laugh.
For a moment, the hospital room felt warm.
Normal.
Safe.
Then Lucia noticed something.
She pointed toward Gabriel's blanket.
"Sir?"
Marcus looked down.
"What is it?"
"That's not his blanket."
Marcus frowned.
"What?"
Lucia pointed toward a small embroidered symbol near the edge.
A silver crown.
"It's the same blanket I saw the lady carrying in the kitchen."
Marcus went still.
"Are you sure?"
Lucia nodded.
"But there was something inside it."
His heart tightened.
"What?"
"A paper."
Marcus looked toward Marisol.
Then carefully examined the blanket with hospital staff.
A small hidden pocket had been sewn into the lining.
Inside was a folded document.
An old photograph.
And a handwritten message.
Marcus unfolded the paper.
His father's handwriting appeared across the page.
If my grandsons are ever threatened, look into the death of their grandmother.
Marcus froze.
His mother had died twenty-five years earlier.
The official cause was a sudden illness.
May you like
But beneath the message was one final sentence.
"Anthony Bellini knows who poisoned her."
