Chapter 1
“You didn’t care about the vase. You were terrified of what was under it.”
I kept the yellowed envelope unopened in my hand.
Camilla lay among overturned wedding programs and flower petals, one palm against her cheek. Marco was fighting his way out from beneath the collapsed seating display while hundreds of guest cards covered his expensive suit.
Neither looked embarrassed anymore.
Only afraid.
Livia was crying against my shoulder.
“Daddy, I’m sorry.”
I looked at the shattered porcelain around us.
“For what?”
“The vase.”
I kissed her forehead.
“You matter more than every vase in this house.”
Camilla’s face tightened.
Good.
I wanted her to hear it.
Then I examined the envelope.
The paper was old enough to have yellowed at the edges. Dark sealing wax covered the flap, pressed with the original Valenti crest used by my father before I inherited the organization.
My breathing changed.
My father had been dead seven years.
Across the front, in his handwriting, were five words.
FOR DOMENICO — WHEN IT BREAKS.
I looked at Camilla.
She stopped breathing.
My father had known the vase would matter.
More importantly, he had expected someone to find the envelope only after it broke.
I tore the seal.
Camilla screamed.
“No!”
Every person in the ballroom turned.
Inside was one folded letter and a small brass key wrapped in cloth.
I opened the letter.
Domenico,
If Camilla tries to stop you reading this, then I was right to hide it from her.
I looked up slowly.
My cousin’s face had gone white.
The letter continued.
Marco Valenti is not the man our family believes he is.
Do not confront him until you open the old chapel cabinet.
And whatever happens—
keep your future child away from Camilla until you understand why.
My eyes moved toward Livia.
Camilla did the same.
That glance told me more than the letter.
May you like
My father had died before my daughter was born.
Yet somehow, seven years ago, he had already been afraid of what Camilla might someday do to my child.
