Chapter 11
Veronica stared at the insurance form.
Her mouth opened.
No sound came.
Roman did not ask immediately.
He watched her eyes.
They moved across the page.
Then stopped at the signature.
Her own.
Veronica covered her mouth.
“I signed this.”
Roman’s voice was low.
“I know.”
“But not like this.”
Helena laughed bitterly.
“Convenient.”
Veronica turned.
“Shut up.”
The sharpness surprised everyone.
Her hands were shaking now.
She looked back at Roman.
“Rachel brought me estate documents months ago. She said because we were getting married, you wanted updated policies.”
“Did I tell you that?”
“No.”
Roman waited.
Veronica looked down.
“I didn't ask.”
Again.
That was her pattern.
Not engineering every betrayal.
Choosing not to examine anything that benefited her.
Roman felt the distinction.
It did not absolve her.
It clarified her.
Veronica had signed an insurance inquiry that created a policy paying twenty-five million dollars if Roman died after marriage.
Beneficiary:
Veronica.
Secondary beneficiary:
Sophie’s trust.
Veronica whispered:
“I thought it was normal.”
Roman’s eyes held hers.
“You thought twenty-five million dollars was normal.”
She flinched.
“No.”
Silence.
Then:
“I thought marrying you meant I never had to be afraid of money again.”
There it was.
Not love versus greed.
Love contaminated by dependence.
Roman stood.
Veronica’s breathing stopped.
He walked toward her.
Then past.
No violence.
That frightened her more.
“You're done in this house.”
She closed her eyes.
A tear fell.
Roman continued.
“You'll get your belongings through attorneys.”
“Roman—”
He turned.
Veronica stopped speaking.
His expression was not rage.
It was grief.
She understood.
That was worse.
Then Adrian received a message.
Rachel had contacted him.
One line:
If Roman wants the truth about Sicily, tell him to ask why his flight was delayed six hours.
May you like
Roman went still.
His return had not been late by accident.
