Chapter 1 – THE COLD TRUTH BEHIND THE GOLD WATCH

Luca stopped breathing.

He didn’t turn around immediately. He just stood there, the rain from his dark suit dripping onto the marble floor, while his mother’s heartbreaking words echoed in the hallway.

She told me if I could learn to live without him, it would be easier when Luca sent me away.

Vanessa froze.

She realized Luca had heard.

“Luca, wait,” she started, her voice suddenly trembling. “She’s confused. I didn’t mean it like that.”

He slowly turned around.

The calm expression on his face was entirely gone. In its place was a quiet, terrifying rage.

“Daniel,” Luca said, his voice dropping to a dangerous whisper.

“Sir?”

“Miss Bellini has exactly ten minutes to pack whatever fits into one suitcase. Anything left behind will be burned.”

Vanessa’s eyes widened. “You can’t do this! We’re getting married! My family is in the dining room!”

“Your family can leave through the front door,” Luca said cold. “You will leave through the service entrance. Just like you made Walter do.”

He turned back to his mother, gently guiding her and the old dog toward the sitting room.

I stayed in the hallway, watching Vanessa’s face twist from panic into pure spite.

She wasn’t going to leave quietly.

“You think you’re so honorable, Luca?” Vanessa yelled, her voice echoing off the high ceilings. “You think your precious family is so perfect?”

Luca stopped walking.

He didn’t look back.

Vanessa stepped forward, her silk gown rustling.

“Your mother thinks Antonio was a saint. She thinks he was this perfect, loyal husband who came home at seven o’clock every night.”

Teresa tightened her grip on Luca’s arm.

“Vanessa, stop,” Luca warned.

“Why don’t you ask her about the gold pocket watch?” Vanessa sneered.

Teresa suddenly went completely rigid.

I saw the older woman’s breath catch in her throat.

Luca frowned, finally turning around. “What watch?”

“The gold one Antonio always carried,” Vanessa said, a cruel smile spreading across her face. “The one he was holding the night he died. He didn’t leave it to you, did he, Luca?”

He hadn’t.

I knew that because I had dusted Antonio’s memorial shelf in the library every week. There was a space where a watch used to sit.

“Where is my father’s watch, Vanessa?” Luca demanded.

Vanessa laughed softly. “I don’t have it. But I know who does. And if you throw me out tonight, I’ll make sure the whole city finds out who Antonio was actually visiting when he was supposedly working late.”

She looked directly at Teresa.

“Tell him, Teresa. Tell him why the watch is gone.”

Teresa’s hands were shaking violently. She looked at her son, tears spilling over her wrinkled cheeks.

“Mom?” Luca asked gently.

Teresa closed her eyes.

“Because he gave it to her,” she whispered.

Luca’s face went pale. “Her who?”

Before Teresa could answer, Vanessa pulled a small, silver key from her designer clutch and tossed it onto the marble floor. It clattered loudly.

“Check the safety deposit box at First Chicago,” Vanessa said. “Have a nice life, Luca.”

She turned and walked toward the stairs.

Luca stared at the small key on the floor.

He bent down and picked it up.

Then he looked at his mother.

“Mom. Who did Dad give his watch to?”

Teresa looked down at Walter, who whined softly and pressed his gray head against her leg.

“To his other daughter,” Teresa whispered.