Chapter 13 - THE LETTER FROM EMILY
"Did you keep a letter from me?" Julian asked.
Cesare did not answer quickly enough.
Julian stood.
"Dad."
Cesare's face changed.
"Emily gave me a sealed letter two days before she died. She asked me to give it to you when you were ready to stop blaming everyone else for your life."
Julian stared at him.
"You had no right."
"Maybe not."
"Three years?"
"You were drunk at her funeral, Julian. You missed Elsie's first day of kindergarten because you were in Monaco. Six months later you introduced Vanessa as the woman who had 'saved' you. Tell me when you were ready."
Julian's eyes burned.
"Where is the original?"
"In my home safe."
Marta looked at the photograph on the phone.
"Then Vanessa has a copy."
Rosa whispered, "She searched the townhouse last Christmas. She said she lost an earring."
Cesare understood.
Vanessa hadn't been looking for jewelry.
At noon, Julian entered a Bellini Grand suite wearing a wire while detectives listened next door. Vanessa waited in white.
The pink backpack was on the bed.
"You came alone?" she asked.
"Yes."
"Good."
She held up the envelope.
"Your dead wife knew your father would control you forever. She wrote it all down."
Julian's jaw tightened. "What do you want?"
"Sign a statement saying Ethan acted alone and that you authorized North Harbor as a confidential acquisition vehicle."
"That would make me responsible for the transfers."
"Temporarily."
He laughed in disbelief.
Vanessa stepped closer.
"Do it, and I'll destroy the proxy, the side agreement, everything. We can still get married."
"And Elsie?"
Vanessa's eyes flattened.
"Send her to Vermont. Children adjust."
In the next room, Cesare's hands curled into fists.
Julian stared at Vanessa for a long moment.
Then he said, "Show me Emily's letter."
Vanessa smiled.
May you like
"First, sign."
And she slid a pen across the table.
