Chapter 12 - THE INHERITANCE NOBODY EXPECTED
Alessia stared at the trust agreement.
Her name appeared clearly on the first page.
ALESSIA ROMANO.
Beneficiary.
She looked at Dante.
"This has to be a mistake."
Rebecca examined the document.
"It's genuine enough to warrant investigation. We need to confirm its legal status."
Alessia shook her head.
"Why would your parents leave me anything?"
Bianca Moretti sat beside the fireplace.
Her health had improved enough for her to leave the Wisconsin facility and stay in a secure residence near the mansion.
She looked at Alessia with gentle eyes.
"Because your mother saved our family."
Alessia swallowed.
"How?"
Bianca took her hand.
"Years ago, when Lorenzo began stealing from the company, Rosa discovered the financial records."
"Mom?"
Bianca nodded.
"She worked as our household accountant before you were born."
Alessia stared.
"I thought she was a housekeeper."
"She was much more than that."
Bianca smiled sadly.
"Rosa helped Salvatore identify the missing funds. When Franco discovered what she knew, he threatened her."
Alessia felt tears rising.
"Then why did she stay?"
"Because she believed the truth mattered."
Bianca continued.
"When Salvatore died, Rosa helped me preserve the evidence. She also helped me escape the mansion once before Lorenzo found us."
Dante leaned forward.
"What happened to Rosa afterward?"
"Franco arranged for her to lose her job. Her bank accounts were targeted. Eventually, the stress and trauma contributed to her declining health."
Alessia covered her mouth.
All those years, she'd believed her mother had simply been unlucky.
Now she understood.
Rosa had suffered because she refused to betray the Morettis.
Bianca squeezed Alessia's hand.
"Salvatore established a trust to compensate Rosa and protect you."
"How much?"
Rebecca looked at the documents.
"The current value appears to be approximately twelve million dollars."
Alessia stared.
"Twelve million?"
Bianca nodded.
"The funds were invested and protected through an independent trustee."
Alessia looked at Dante.
For seven months, she'd been cleaning floors inside a mansion owned by a man whose parents had apparently set aside a fortune for her.
She laughed once.
A disbelieving, broken sound.
"I can't even afford my mother's medical bills."
Dante's expression softened.
"And now you may have the means to give her the care she deserves."
Alessia shook her head.
"This doesn't feel real."
Bianca smiled.
"It will take time."
Then Rebecca turned another page.
Her expression changed.
"There's a complication."
Dante looked up.
"What?"
"The trust was amended eleven years ago."
Bianca frowned.
"I never authorized an amendment."
Rebecca continued.
"The amendment transfers control to Lorenzo Bellini if Alessia dies before receiving the assets."
Silence filled the room.
Alessia's blood turned cold.
Dante slowly stood.
"Bellini didn't just want her fired."
Rebecca nodded.
"He had a financial motive to prevent her from claiming the trust."
Alessia gripped the table.
Then she realized something.
For seven months, Bellini had been watching her.
For seven months, he'd known exactly where she slept.
And on the morning of her dismissal, he'd already packed her suitcase.
Dante looked toward Marco.
"Increase security around Alessia and Rosa. Coordinate everything with the police."
He turned back to Alessia.
His expression was darker than she'd ever seen.
"Bellini won't get another chance to hurt you."
But before Alessia could respond, her phone rang.
Rosewood Care Center.
She answered immediately.
"Hello?"
May you like
The nurse sounded frightened.
"Miss Romano, your mother is missing."
