Chapter 9
Bianca looked between the cousins.
For the first time, Matteo seemed frightened of her.
That shifted the balance.
She noticed it too.
Her spine straightened.
“You spent all day acting like I'm the only liar here.”
Matteo’s voice dropped.
“Bianca.”
“No.”
Her breathing trembled, but her eyes stayed on Alessandro.
“Sofia discovered the debt.”
Alessandro looked at Matteo.
“What debt?”
“The hotels.”
“That was eighteen months ago.”
Bianca nodded.
“It had already started.”
Matteo’s face hardened.
“Stop talking.”
Bianca laughed.
“You don't control me anymore.”
Matteo’s nostrils flared.
Alessandro watched them.
All day, he had believed Bianca depended on Matteo.
Now he saw something else.
They had secrets powerful enough to hurt each other.
Bianca continued.
“Sofia found emails between Matteo and my father.”
Alessandro’s hands went still.
The Moretti refinancing discussions had started before Sofia died.
Long before Alessandro ever dated Bianca.
“Why?”
Bianca looked at Matteo.
“He wanted Moretti money.”
Matteo stepped toward her.
Bodyguards moved immediately.
He stopped.
Bianca’s voice softened.
“Sofia thought he was making you dependent on my family without telling you.”
Alessandro stared at his cousin.
“Were you?”
Matteo’s jaw tightened.
“The hotels needed capital.”
“That isn't an answer.”
“Yes.”
One word.
Eighteen months of trust broke around it.
Matteo had begun negotiations secretly because he feared Alessandro would refuse Moretti involvement.
Then Sofia discovered it.
She threatened to tell Alessandro.
Matteo convinced her to wait until he could stabilize the numbers.
She refused.
And called Bianca because Bianca’s father was on the other side of the deal.
Alessandro looked toward Bianca.
“What happened when you went to see Sofia?”
Bianca’s confidence vanished again.
She stared at Sofia’s phone.
“I didn't go.”
Matteo looked at her sharply.
Alessandro caught it.
“Why?”
Bianca’s voice became barely audible.
“Matteo told me not to.”
The room fell silent.
Alessandro slowly turned toward his cousin.
Matteo looked back.
Neither man moved.
Then Bianca whispered:
“He said Sofia was emotional and he would handle her himself.”
May you like
Alessandro’s heartbeat became the only sound he could hear.
Sofia lost consciousness the next morning.
