Chapter 5 - THE WOMAN WHO KNEW TOO MUCH
Emma Carter had worked for the Moretti family for six months.
During that time, she'd learned one important rule.
Never become the center of attention.
Rich families had complicated problems.
Dangerous problems.
Problems employees were expected to notice without discussing.
But after Bianca tied her to a chair, Emma understood that silence wasn't protection.
It was permission.
She sat in a small guest room while a nurse examined the marks on her wrists.
Luca had insisted she receive medical care.
Emma had agreed.
Not because he ordered her to.
Because she was tired of pretending injuries didn't matter.
When the nurse finished, Emma reached for her phone.
Seventeen missed calls.
All from an unknown number.
Her stomach tightened.
Then a message arrived.
You should have kept quiet.
Emma stared.
Another message followed.
Your brother is going to pay for what you did.
Her hands went cold.
Her younger brother, Noah, was seventeen.
He lived with their grandmother in New Haven.
Emma worked double shifts to help pay for his school expenses and their grandmother's medical bills.
She immediately called him.
No answer.
She called again.
Nothing.
Panic rushed through her.
She hurried toward Luca's study.
"Mr. Moretti!"
He looked up.
"Emma?"
She held out her phone.
"Someone threatened my brother."
His expression changed.
"Where is he?"
"New Haven."
Luca contacted the detective already handling the assault and financial investigation.
Within minutes, officers were asked to conduct a welfare check.
Emma paced beside the fireplace.
Her breathing became shallow.
"This is my fault."
Luca looked at her.
"No."
"If I hadn't taken the recording—"
"Emma."
She stopped.
"The people threatening your family are responsible for their own actions."
Her eyes filled.
"You don't understand."
He studied her.
"Then tell me."
She looked down.
"Noah has a heart condition. He needs medication every day."
Luca felt his stomach tighten.
"Does he have it?"
"Yes. But he gets frightened easily. Stress makes everything worse."
The phone rang.
Emma grabbed it.
"Hello?"
A police officer confirmed that Noah was safe at home with their grandmother.
Emma nearly collapsed with relief.
Luca caught the back of a chair and moved it behind her.
She sat down.
"Thank you."
He nodded.
But then the officer asked a question.
"Ms. Carter, do you know someone named Sophia Bell?"
Emma froze.
"Why?"
"Your brother says a woman by that name visited him yesterday."
Luca went still.
Emma stared at him.
"What?"
The officer continued.
"She told him she was arranging a scholarship."
Emma's blood ran cold.
"Scholarship?"
"Yes. She asked him to sign documents."
Luca leaned closer.
"What documents?"
Emma swallowed.
Then the officer said something that made the room fall silent.
"According to your brother, the paperwork was for a medical treatment program."
Emma looked at Luca.
Her voice trembled.
"The same clinic?"
Luca nodded grimly.
May you like
The conspiracy wasn't limited to Adrian.
Someone had begun targeting Emma's family too.
