Chapter 3
Veronica insisted her connection to Elena had been insignificant.
Charity events.
Fundraisers.
A few dinners.
Nothing intimate.
Matteo did not argue.
He checked.
Estate guest archives showed Veronica had entered the Vaughn property eleven times during Elena’s final year.
Three visits lasted more than four hours.
One occurred while Matteo was overseas.
Another happened two weeks before Elena died.
Matteo placed the records on the dining-room table.
Veronica stared at them.
Her shoulders remained straight.
Her breathing did not.
“You said a few dinners.”
“They were.”
“At my house?”
“Elena invited me.”
“Why didn't I know?”
Veronica looked at him for a long moment.
“Because you weren't paying attention to your wife by then.”
The sentence landed.
Nobody moved.
Richard’s eyes flickered toward Matteo, waiting for the explosion.
It never came.
Matteo slowly sat.
That frightened Richard more.
Elena had been ill for nearly a year.
Matteo had spent much of that year moving between doctors, business conflicts, and travel he told himself was necessary to protect the family.
There were months when he knew her medication schedule better than what frightened her.
Veronica had found the exact wound to press.
Matteo’s voice came out lower.
“What did Elena want from you?”
Veronica’s hands folded together.
“She was worried about Richard.”
Richard’s head snapped toward her.
“Veronica.”
She ignored him.
Power shifted.
Matteo watched both siblings.
“What about Richard?”
Veronica exhaled.
“Elena thought his security company was billing Vaughn businesses for work it wasn't performing.”
Richard’s jaw tightened.
“That was never proven.”
Matteo looked at him.
“You knew my wife investigated you?”
Richard said nothing.
Matteo’s signet ring clicked once against the table.
Richard finally spoke.
“She misunderstood irregular billing.”
“Did she confront you?”
“Yes.”
“When?”
Richard’s eyes moved toward the guest records.
Matteo followed the glance.
The final four-hour visit.
Two weeks before Elena’s death.
Matteo’s voice hardened.
“You were here too.”
Richard did not answer.
Veronica looked at her brother.
Then away.
Matteo understood.
Elena had not simply known Veronica.
May you like
She had brought Veronica into the house because of Richard.
And whatever happened during that final meeting had been important enough for Elena to hide a warning behind her daughter’s photograph.
