Chapter 7
Matteo ordered Lily’s trust reviewed immediately.
Nothing had been stolen.
That was the first good news.
The second was worse.
Three months earlier, Richard had requested expanded administrative access.
Veronica supported the request.
Matteo had rejected it without much thought.
He remembered the conversation now.
Richard claimed the family needed streamlined control before Matteo and Veronica married.
Matteo had found the request unnecessary.
He never told Elena’s old warning because he had never seen it.
Now the timing looked different.
Richard defended himself.
“The trust was untouched.”
“Because I said no.”
“Yes.”
“So what would have happened if I said yes?”
Richard’s jaw tightened.
“You’re inventing crimes now.”
Matteo stared at him.
Richard looked away.
Veronica stepped forward.
“Richard was trying to restructure his company.”
Matteo’s eyes moved to her.
“And you were helping again.”
Her hands folded at her waist.
“I was trying to stop him from collapsing.”
“By giving him access to my daughter’s money?”
“I never agreed to take anything.”
Matteo’s voice stayed low.
“You agreed to put the door in front of him.”
The words landed.
Veronica went silent.
Then Lily’s housekeeper entered the library carrying a canvas laundry bag.
“I think you need to see this.”
Inside were envelopes.
Dozens.
Bright crayons.
Stickers.
Uneven handwriting.
Every one addressed:
DADDY.
Matteo did not touch them immediately.
His eyes lifted toward Veronica.
She closed hers.
Lily’s missing letters had been found behind a locked cabinet in Veronica’s dressing room.
Some were months old.
One was dated two days after Matteo’s last business trip.
He opened it.
DADDY VERONICA SAYS MOMMY IS MAKING ME BAD.
PLEASE COME HOME.
Matteo’s throat tightened.
Another:
DADDY RICHARD TOOK MOMMY’S BOX.
Another:
DADDY I FOUND SOMETHING IN THE PICTURE.
Then Matteo reached the final envelope.
It was unopened.
Unlike the others, Veronica had not hidden this one.
She had written across the front in red ink:
May you like
DO NOT LET MATTEO READ THIS.
Inside, Lily had drawn Veronica holding a lighter beside a pile of papers.
