Chapter 1 - THE CONFESSION SHE REFUSED TO GIVE
"You expect him to believe that?"
Bianca Romano's laughter echoed through the sitting room, but nobody joined her.
Luca Moretti stared at his fiancée.
Then he turned toward Emma Carter.
"Why can't you tell me?"
Emma slowly stood from the chair.
Her wrists were red. Her uniform was torn near the shoulder. And despite everything she'd just endured, her expression remained remarkably steady.
"Because someone will get hurt."
Luca felt something cold settle in his chest.
"Who?"
Emma glanced toward Bianca.
The movement lasted less than a second.
But Luca saw it.
"Emma," he said quietly, "look at me."
She did.
"If someone has threatened you, I need to know."
Bianca threw up her hands.
"This is ridiculous! She's manipulating you!"
Luca didn't even turn.
"Bianca, be silent."
His fiancée froze.
In three years together, Luca had never spoken to her that way.
Emma swallowed.
"Mr. Moretti, three nights ago, I was cleaning the upstairs library."
Luca nodded.
"Go on."
"I heard Miss Romano arguing with someone on the phone."
Bianca's face went pale.
"She's lying."
Emma continued.
"She said the Bennett acquisition had to happen before Friday."
Luca's expression hardened.
"Why?"
"Because someone was about to discover the missing money."
The room went completely silent.
Luca looked toward Bianca.
"What missing money?"
She forced a laugh.
"I have no idea what she's talking about."
Emma took a shaky breath.
"She mentioned forty-two million dollars."
Sophia Bell suddenly dropped her handbag.
The sharp sound made everyone jump.
Luca turned toward her.
"Forty-two million?"
Sophia stared at the floor.
Luca stepped closer.
"What do you know?"
She shook her head.
"Nothing."
"Then why are you trembling?"
Bianca moved between them.
"Enough! I refuse to be interrogated in my own home!"
Luca slowly turned.
"Your home?"
Bianca stopped.
The engagement had given her access to the estate.
Not ownership.
Not authority over its employees.
And certainly not permission to tie someone to a chair.
Luca looked toward his security chief, Vincent.
"Call the police. Preserve every camera recording. No one touches the sitting room until investigators document it."
Bianca gasped.
"You're calling the police on your fiancée?"
Luca looked at Emma's injured wrists.
"Yes."
The word struck the room like a gunshot.
Bianca stumbled backward.
"Luca, you're making a mistake."
He removed the engagement ring box from his jacket.
He had planned to surprise her with a new diamond setting that evening.
Instead, he placed the unopened box on the table.
"Our engagement is over."
Bianca stared.
"You can't be serious."
"I've never been more serious."
For the first time, she looked genuinely frightened.
Then Emma spoke.
"Mr. Moretti, there's something else."
Luca turned.
"What?"
Emma reached into the lining of her torn uniform.
She removed a small silver flash drive.
Bianca screamed.
"NO!"
Emma held it up.
"This is why she tied me to the chair."
Luca stared at the device.
"What is it?"
May you like
Emma's voice trembled.
"A recording of your fiancée admitting she plans to destroy you."
