Chapter 8
Evelyn did not touch the necklace again.
That made everyone more aware of it.
Gerald stared at her.
“What is he talking about?”
She looked at Greco.
“Old men love old stories.”
Greco’s mouth hardened.
“Take it off.”
Evelyn smiled.
“Still giving orders to women who aren't afraid of you?”
Gerald stepped closer.
“Evelyn.”
She turned.
His confidence had become suspicion.
“What?”
“The necklace.”
Her eyes narrowed.
“You want to humiliate me in front of them too?”
Gerald’s jaw flexed.
“I asked you a question.”
She laughed.
“Now you remember how.”
Valentina watched them.
No one touched Evelyn.
She chose when to move.
Finally she reached beneath her neckline and pulled out a small silver serpent wrapped around a black stone.
Greco’s expression changed.
Not surprise.
Recognition.
Mateo whispered:
“Luca.”
Greco nodded.
“My brother.”
Gerald looked between them.
Then at Evelyn.
“Why do you have his pendant?”
Evelyn’s chin lifted.
“Because it belonged to my father.”
No one breathed.
Gerald stared.
Valentina’s eyes narrowed.
Greco looked almost sad.
Almost.
Then it vanished.
Gerald’s voice came rough.
“Your father was Thomas Reed.”
“That was my mother’s second husband.”
Gerald looked as though the ground had moved.
“You never told me.”
Evelyn smiled without warmth.
“You never asked anything about my life that didn't involve your comfort.”
The insult cut.
Gerald’s nostrils flared.
Greco stepped forward.
“Evelyn was nine when Luca died.”
Valentina looked at her.
“My father killed him.”
Evelyn’s eyes sharpened.
“Yes.”
There it was.
Hatred no longer disguised.
Gerald turned.
“You married into this family knowing that?”
“Yes.”
His face hardened.
“You married me for this?”
Evelyn laughed.
“At first?”
She shook her head.
“No.”
“That would almost make you interesting enough.”
Gerald’s face went red.
Evelyn continued.
“I loved you.”
Past tense.
Gerald heard it.
“So when did that change?”
“When I realized you wanted power more than you wanted truth.”
She stepped closer to him.
“You became useful.”
Gerald’s hand tightened.
Valentina watched.
Power had shifted so many times that no one knew where it would settle.
Greco looked toward Evelyn.
“You contacted me three years ago.”
Gerald snapped toward her.
“Three years?”
She ignored him.
Valentina asked:
“Why?”
Evelyn’s eyes moved toward Lily inside the doorway.
Then back to Valentina.
“Because you had a daughter.”
The answer changed the air.
Valentina’s face hardened.
Evelyn smiled faintly.
“Carlo took my father from me.”
Her voice became quiet.
“So I wondered what it would take for you to understand what that feels like.”
Gerald looked at her.
Even he had not known.
Evelyn continued.
“I didn't want Lily dead.”
She sounded almost offended by the implication.
“I wanted you afraid.”
Valentina’s hands slowly closed.
Evelyn watched them.
And smiled wider.
“There.”
“That.”
“That’s the woman I came to see.”
May you like
She had not only used Gerald’s ambition.
She had built part of the entire plan around Valentina’s love for Lily.
