Chapter 10
Celia listened without interruption.
That frightened Nico more than anger would have.
When they returned to the Bellandi estate and told her about Peter March, Evelyn, Daniel, and Walter, Celia sat in the council room staring at her hands.
“Twenty-eight years.”
Vera stood across from her.
“Yes.”
“She dressed me for funerals.”
“Yes.”
“She held my coat while I buried Salvatore.”
“Yes.”
“She poured wine during council dinners.”
“Yes.”
Celia laughed softly.
Broken.
“And I thought I was the woman watching everyone.”
Vera did not comfort her.
Humiliation was part of truth sometimes.
Celia looked at Vera’s hair.
“I did exactly what she expected.”
“Yes.”
“I gave her the family conflict she needed.”
“Yes.”
“I hurt you.”
“Yes.”
Celia’s eyes lifted.
“Do you enjoy saying that?”
“No.”
Vera sat.
“But you need to hear it without adding because I was protecting you.”
Celia’s face tightened.
Then nodded.
“I hurt you.”
“Thank you.”
No forgiveness.
Not yet.
Maybe never.
But truth without disguise.
Nico watched from the doorway.
Celia looked toward him.
“You’re taking Vera tomorrow.”
Vera answered.
“Vera is taking Vera tomorrow.”
Celia almost smiled.
“Annoying woman.”
“Apparently enough to destabilize a thirty-year conspiracy.”
That earned a brief laugh from Marco, standing near the windows.
For one strange moment the council room sounded almost human.
Then a bodyguard entered.
“Mr. Bellandi.”
Nico turned.
“We found Evelyn.”
Everyone stood.
She was not running.
She sat inside the small chapel on the Bellandi property.
Alone.
Black dress.
Hands folded.
Waiting.
Nico entered first.
Celia behind him.
Then Vera.
Marco stayed near the door.
Evelyn looked at Celia.
Twenty-eight years of service between them.
“Mrs. Bellandi.”
Celia stopped.
“Don’t.”
Evelyn’s expression barely changed.
“You always liked formality when you were angry.”
Celia looked as though she had been struck.
“You used me.”
“Yes.”
“You made me believe Marco would kill Vera.”
“No.”
Evelyn looked at Vera.
“I told you he might.”
“Through the message.”
“Yes.”
“Why me?”
“Because Celia’s deepest fear is losing control of her children.”
Vera glanced at Celia.
Accurate.
Evelyn continued.
“If Marco threatened your chair, Celia would act.”
“You knew she’d assault me?”
“I knew she’d humiliate you.”
Vera’s expression cooled.
“That distinction does not help you.”
“No.”
Again, no excuses.
Evelyn looked at her.
“I am sorry.”
“Would you do it again if it brought Peter out?”
Silence.
There.
Vera nodded.
“That is your answer.”
Celia stepped closer.
“Where is he?”
“Waiting.”
“Where?”
“Not yet.”
Celia’s hand tightened.
Evelyn almost smiled.
“Still thinking force makes truth faster.”
Celia stopped.
The words were Vera’s, reflected back through another woman.
“How long have you known Peter is alive?”
“Seven years.”
“Why wait?”
“Because I wanted him afraid before he died.”
Dark.
Simple.
Evelyn had spent more than half her life imagining one ending.
Marco asked:
“Why bring me?”
Evelyn looked at him.
“Peter fears you.”
“Why?”
“Because Renato chose you.”
Jonah stood near the entrance.
His expression changed.
Evelyn looked at him.
“Your father wanted Marco to destroy the Laurel.”
Jonah stared.
“Then why give Marco the ring?”
“Because symbols make old men stupid.”
Marco almost smiled.
Evelyn continued.
“Renato knew Peter wanted the seat.”
“He gave Marco the ring so Peter could never claim it without going through him.”
Jonah looked at Marco.
For seventeen years Marco had kept the object Jonah thought belonged with his father.
Now it looked less like theft.
More like unfinished duty.
Nico asked:
“What does Peter believe happens tomorrow?”
“He believes Marco will return the Laurel to him.”
“And you?”
“I’ll kill him.”
Celia stepped forward.
“No.”
Evelyn looked at her.
“You don’t give me orders anymore.”
“No.”
Celia’s voice cracked.
“I’m asking.”
That surprised everyone.
“Why?”
“Because Daniel deserved more than to become the reason you waste your entire life.”
Evelyn stared.
Celia continued.
“You want Peter dead.”
“Yes.”
“Then after?”
Evelyn said nothing.
“Twenty-eight years,” Celia whispered.
“What do you have after?”
Evelyn’s eyes filled.
“Silence.”
Celia looked at her.
“I know that silence.”
Salvatore.
Marco.
Years of graves and secrets.
Evelyn stood.
“Do not confuse your guilt with my grief.”
“I’m not.”
Celia stepped closer.
“I’m telling you revenge is a room that looks like an exit until you close the door behind yourself.”
Evelyn’s mouth trembled.
But her answer remained:
“I’m still going.”
Vera looked at both women.
One had spent decades controlling people because she feared loss.
The other spent decades manipulating people because she wanted revenge.
Both believed pain gave them permission.
Vera understood suddenly why Peter feared her chair.
May you like
She was not powerful because Nico put her there.
She was dangerous because she had no loyalty to the old excuses.
