Chapter 11 - THE TRAITOR AT THE DINNER TABLE
The betrayal had been sitting at Teresa Bellandi's dinner table for twenty years.
His name was Arthur Whitcomb.
Family accountant.
Trusted adviser.
A man who remembered birthdays, sent flowers when staff members lost relatives, and never raised his voice.
He had also helped Vincent Caruso steal millions from the Bellandis.
Roman discovered the truth when Vanessa finally agreed to speak.
They met in the federal investigator's office, with an attorney present.
Vanessa looked nothing like the elegant woman who had humiliated Norah.
Her hair was unbrushed.
Her hands shook.
There was a bruise on her wrist.
Norah sat across from her.
For a long moment, Vanessa couldn't look up.
“I'm sorry,” she whispered.
Norah didn't answer immediately.
The memory of fifty watching guests was still painfully clear.
“You hurt me because you thought I couldn't fight back,” Norah said.
Vanessa nodded.
“Yes.”
“And you enjoyed it.”
Vanessa's eyes filled.
“Yes.”
The honesty surprised them both.
Norah folded her hands.
“Then don't expect forgiveness because you're afraid now.”
Vanessa swallowed.
“I don't.”
Roman stepped forward.
“Tell us about Arthur.”
Vanessa explained that her parents had worked with Whitcomb for decades.
He had controlled confidential Bellandi accounts, redirected Teresa's ransom payments, and helped conceal the old kidnapping records.
When Norah applied for a housekeeping position, Arthur approved her application personally.
Roman stared.
“Why?”
“Because he recognized her name.”
Norah felt cold.
Vanessa continued.
“He wanted her close enough to watch.”
“Then why did you attack me?”
Vanessa looked at Norah.
“Arthur told me you were sleeping with Roman.”
Roman's expression sharpened.
“That was a lie.”
“I know.”
Vanessa began to cry.
“He wanted me to humiliate her. Make her quit. He said if she stayed, everyone would lose everything.”
Norah remembered the moment Vanessa ripped her uniform.
The scar.
Teresa's reaction.
Arthur had been standing near the staircase.
Watching.
Waiting.
Then Vanessa revealed the worst part.
“Arthur planned to kill Teresa after the wedding.”
Roman went still.
“Why?”
“Because the marriage would transfer voting control of three holding companies into a new family trust.”
Roman's attorney had reviewed those documents weeks earlier.
Now he understood why Whitcomb had insisted they be signed immediately.
Vanessa looked at him.
“But Arthur made one mistake.”
“What mistake?”
“He didn't know your mother had already changed her will.”
Roman frowned.
“She did?”
Vanessa nodded.
“And when he discovered who the new beneficiary was, he ordered Norah killed.”
Norah's heart pounded.
“Who did Teresa name?”
May you like
Vanessa looked directly at her.
“You.”
