Chapter 9 - THE GRANDFATHER WHO REFUSED TO STAY DEAD
Salvatore Moretti had been alive for four years.
Hidden.
Watching.
Controlling money through intermediaries.
And manipulating his son from a distance.
Vincent stared at the evidence.
I had never seen him look so betrayed.
“He let me bury him.”
Teresa turned away.
Her face broke.
“He told me he was dying.”
Vincent looked at her.
“You knew?”
“No.”
Her voice shook.
“I watched him disappear in that hospital bed.”
Apparently, even Teresa had been deceived.
Daniel Rossi agreed to provide information after investigators located him.
He explained that Salvatore had staged his death after learning federal authorities were examining Moretti financial networks.
He continued controlling legitimate and illegal assets through shell companies.
Then Sophia approached him.
Not the other way around.
She wanted access to the family.
Revenge against Vincent.
Money.
And eventually, the trust.
Daniel claimed Salvatore helped her.
Vincent’s hands curled into fists.
“My father helped my mistress steal my wife’s embryo?”
Daniel looked ashamed.
“Yes.”
I closed my eyes.
The words sounded impossible.
But the records supported the scheme.
Then came the part that mattered most.
Salvatore had learned that Vincent’s legitimate family trust contained a provision triggered by the birth of his first legally recognized child.
Control of several hotels, shipping interests, and charitable foundations would eventually move into protected accounts for that child.
If Vincent remained married to me, I also held governance rights.
Sophia wanted both.
My identity.
My marriage.
My child’s place in the trust.
I felt sick.
“So she planned to replace me.”
Daniel nodded.
“That appears to have been part of it.”
Caroline took my hand.
Then Vincent asked:
“Where’s my father?”
Daniel hesitated.
“Canada.”
Detective Bennett immediately stopped him.
The investigation would proceed through proper authorities.
Vincent nodded.
No threats.
No private orders.
That change didn’t erase what he had done to me.
But I noticed it.
Then Daniel looked toward me.
“Claire, there’s something else.”
I stared.
“What?”
“Salvatore knew about your strawberry allergy.”
My stomach tightened.
“How?”
“He kept files on everyone close to Vincent.”
Caroline’s grip hardened around my hand.
Then Daniel continued.
“He also knew Vincent’s temper.”
I stopped breathing.
“What are you saying?”
“Sophia was told not to poison you.”
The room went silent.
“She was told to provoke Vincent.”
My hands began shaking.
“To make him hurt me himself.”
Daniel nodded.
I looked toward Vincent.
His face turned gray.
The truth was worse than a planned poisoning.
Salvatore had known exactly what kind of man his son could become when angry.
And he had trusted Vincent to destroy his own marriage.
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Then Daniel whispered:
“Salvatore said the easiest way to control Vincent Moretti was to make sure Claire stopped loving him.”
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