THE MAFIA BOSS'S SON WAS ONE BITE FROM DISASTER—THEN THE MAID EXPOSED HIS FIANCÉE'S SECRET

Julia Moretti arrived at eleven-thirty.

She didn't knock politely.

She walked straight through the front entrance, past the security desk, and into Luca's study.

"Where is my son?"

Her voice carried down the hallway.

I was arranging fresh water on Ethan's bedside table when I heard it.

Ethan lifted his head.

"Mom?"

He ran before I could answer.

I followed him downstairs.

Julia was standing near Luca's desk in a navy sweater and jeans, her dark hair pulled into a loose ponytail.

She was a pediatric physical therapist and had taken the morning off work after Luca's call.

When Ethan saw her, he practically threw himself into her arms.

"Mommy!"

She dropped to her knees.

"Oh, baby."

He clung to her.

She held him so tightly I looked away.

"Are you okay?" she whispered.

He nodded.

"Did you eat any of it?"

"No."

"Did you have trouble breathing?"

"No."

She kissed the top of his head.

"Okay. Good. That's good."

Then she looked at Luca.

"Tell me everything."

Luca motioned toward the study.

"Nora, would you stay with Ethan?"

But Julia shook her head.

"No."

Both of us looked at her.

"I want Nora there."

Luca hesitated.

"Julia—"

"She's the one who stopped him from eating that cake. If she has something to say, I want to hear it."

So I joined them.

Mrs. Carter took Ethan into the kitchen to prepare lunch.

The moment he was out of earshot, Julia turned on Luca.

"How long?"

He didn't pretend not to understand.

"I don't know."

"How long has Vanessa been telling my son he's a burden?"

"I found out last night."

Julia stared at him.

"That's not an answer."

"It's the only answer I have."

"Then you haven't been paying attention."

He accepted the accusation without argument.

She shook her head.

"I told you something was wrong."

"When?"

"Three months ago. When Ethan stopped wanting to come back here after weekends with me."

Luca frowned.

"He never told me that."

"Of course he didn't. He was afraid you'd think he didn't love you."

Her voice cracked.

"He started asking whether I could keep him longer. Then he'd apologize for asking. Last month, he wanted to know whether children could have allergies removed from their medical records."

My stomach turned.

Julia looked at me.

"Do you know why?"

I swallowed.

"Vanessa told him his allergy was making life difficult for everyone."

Julia closed her eyes.

For several seconds, she said nothing.

Then she looked at Luca.

"If I had known he was being treated this way, I would have come here myself."

"I believe you."

"Do you?"

"Julia."

"No. You don't get to say my name like that and make this smaller than it is."

Luca stood.

"I'm not trying to make it smaller."

"You were marrying someone who wanted our son out of your house."

The words hit him.

He lowered his eyes.

"You're right."

Julia seemed surprised.

So was I.

Luca Moretti wasn't known for admitting mistakes.

But he looked at his former wife and said, "I failed to see what was happening. I can't change that. I'm going to change what happens next."

Julia's shoulders dropped a fraction.

"Good."

Daniel arrived with another folder.

He explained the Westbrook documents.

Julia read every page.

When she reached Ethan's signature, she stopped.

"He's nine."

"I know," Luca said.

"He thinks he signed himself away."

Daniel leaned forward.

"The document is not sufficient to transfer custody or authorize a placement. We haven't found any valid parental consent. But we need to establish what Vanessa intended to do with it."

Julia looked up sharply.

"Then why does it say Monday?"

Daniel didn't answer immediately.

"Because someone was planning a Monday intake appointment."

Julia stood.

"I want every person involved identified."

"That's already underway," he said.

"And I want a written record that I never agreed to any of this."

"You'll have it."

She turned to me.

"Nora, can I ask you something?"

"Of course."

"Has Ethan been frightened of Vanessa for a long time?"

I thought about the question.

About how easily children could hide fear behind manners.

"Yes."

Julia's face crumpled.

She sat down.

For a moment, she looked less like the strong woman who'd marched into the mansion and more like a mother who had just realized how much her child had suffered while trying to protect everyone else's feelings.

I moved closer.

"Mrs. Moretti—"

"Julia. Please."

"Julia, Ethan still talks about your apartment all the time."

She looked up.

"He does?"

"He tells me about the pancakes you make on Sundays. And the neighbor's dog. And how you let him pick the movie on Friday nights."

A small smile appeared.

"He's obsessed with that dog."

"He says it understands him."

She wiped her eyes.

"Sometimes I think it does."

Luca stood near the window, listening.

Then Julia asked a question I hadn't expected.

"Why doesn't he tell us these things?"

Nobody answered.

Because we all knew.

Ethan had learned that being quiet was safer than being inconvenient.

Later, Julia went upstairs to spend time with him.

Daniel remained in the study with Luca and me.

"I've reviewed the investment proposal Richard Bellini submitted last spring," Daniel said.

Luca folded his arms.

"And?"

"His company needs substantial financing to complete the Lakefront Meridian development."

"That's not my problem."

"It becomes your problem if someone used your engagement to suggest that financing was already approved."

Luca stared at him.

"What are you saying?"

"Bellini's company circulated a presentation showing a future investment from a Moretti-controlled entity."

"I never agreed to that."

"I know."

"Then why would anyone believe it?"

Daniel opened his folder.

"Because the presentation included a page from the proposed family governance agreement."

I felt my stomach drop.

"The agreement Vanessa had?"

"Yes."

Luca looked furious.

Daniel continued.

"If that page was circulated as evidence of an expected financial commitment, somebody may have been trying to create the appearance of an approved deal."

Luca looked toward the ceiling.

"What's Ethan got to do with a real estate investment?"

Daniel paused.

"That's what I need to show you."

He turned the page.

A diagram appeared.

At the center were three boxes connected by arrows.

One was labeled MORETTI FAMILY OFFICE.

Another was BELLINI DEVELOPMENT HOLDINGS.

The third carried Ethan's full legal name.

ETHAN ANTHONY MORETTI—BENEFICIARY TRUST.