Chapter 9 - THE BILLIONAIRE WHO HAD SIGNED THE CHECKS
I turned toward Matteo.
He was standing beside the conference table, staring at the phone.
For the first time since I'd met him, he looked genuinely afraid.
"Did you know?" I asked.
He swallowed.
"Tessa..."
My chest tightened.
"Did you pay the doctor?"
Matteo looked down.
"Yes."
The word hit me like a slap.
I stepped backward.
"You knew?"
"No."
His voice broke.
"I knew my uncle requested payments for medical services."
My hands trembled.
"My mother was dying."
"I didn't know the money was connected to her treatment."
I laughed bitterly.
"That makes everything better?"
"No."
He looked directly at me.
"It doesn't."
For a moment, I wanted to scream.
I wanted to throw every document across the room.
I wanted my mother back.
Instead, I asked the only question that mattered.
"Why did you sign?"
Matteo closed his eyes.
"Because my grandfather told me it was routine."
I stared.
"Routine."
He nodded.
"I was managing company accounts. Domenico submitted invoices through our charitable foundation."
"And you approved them."
"Yes."
I looked away.
For years, I'd believed wealthy people were cruel because they enjoyed it.
Now I understood there was another kind of cruelty.
The kind that happened when powerful people refused to ask questions.
Matteo watched me.
"I'm sorry."
I shook my head.
"An apology isn't enough."
"I know."
"You don't get to become a hero just because you discovered your family did something terrible."
His expression changed.
Then he nodded.
"You're right."
For the first time, I believed he was listening.
But I wasn't ready to forgive him.
Not even close.
The investigation into the old chapel continued.
Authorities searched the estate under a warrant.
They found evidence that someone had recently used the abandoned service wing.
A mattress.
Food containers.
Medical supplies.
And a broken violin bow.
But Lucia was gone.
Matteo stood beside the investigator when the discovery was reported.
His hands tightened into fists.
I watched from the hallway.
He didn't shout.
Didn't threaten.
Didn't order anyone to disappear.
He simply asked:
"What do you need from me?"
The investigator requested property records and security footage.
Matteo provided them.
Then his attorney arrived.
Sofia Marquez looked grim.
"Tessa, we received the video from Professor Bellini."
My heart stopped.
"Mom's video?"
She nodded.
"We've preserved the original and submitted a copy through the appropriate channels."
I swallowed.
"Can I see it?"
Sofia hesitated.
"It may be difficult."
"I know."
She nodded.
A few minutes later, I sat in a quiet room.
The screen flickered.
Then my mother's face appeared.
She was thinner than I remembered.
Her dark hair had begun falling out.
But her eyes were the same.
Warm.
Intelligent.
Full of love.
"Hi, sweetheart."
I covered my mouth.
Tears streamed down my cheeks.
"If you're watching this, then I've run out of time."
Her voice trembled.
"I wanted to tell you everything."
I began sobbing.
Mom continued.
"The Moretti family used me to translate documents I didn't understand at first."
"Then I discovered the medical transfers."
"People were being moved between private facilities without proper consent."
"Money was disappearing."
"And when I tried to report it, someone threatened you."
My chest tightened.
She looked directly into the camera.
"I wasn't afraid of dying, Tessa."
Her eyes filled.
"I was afraid of leaving you alone."
I couldn't breathe.
Then she whispered:
"Matteo signed the payments. But he wasn't the person who ordered my records changed."
I looked toward the door.
Mom continued.
"The person responsible was Dr. Vescari."
A pause.
"And Domenico Moretti knew."
Then she said something unexpected.
"There's one more person you must find."
I leaned forward.
"Who, Mom?"
Her voice broke.
"The nurse who helped me."
She swallowed.
"Her name is Elena Russo."
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Then came the words that made my heart stop.
"She has a daughter named Gianna. And Gianna is the only living witness who saw what happened in the treatment room."
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