Chapter 2 - THE SECRET FAMILY TREE|
Nora had imagined many things about her family history.
She had imagined a grandfather who died at sea, cousins scattered across Italy, perhaps a distant relative who had once owned a vineyard. Her grandmother's stories were full of colorful names and half-remembered places, but whenever Nora asked why Isabella had left Sicily, the old woman would become quiet.
Once, when Nora was twelve, she had asked whether her grandmother missed home.
Isabella had answered, “Home is where the people you love are allowed to live.”
Nora had never understood the sentence.
Now she understood that it had been a warning.
Aurelio led her into a private sitting room beyond the ballroom. Dante followed, ordering two guards to remain outside.
Nora clutched her tray because she had no idea what else to do with her hands.
“Your sister?” she asked.
Aurelio nodded.
“Isabella was twenty when she disappeared. My father said she had died during a fever outbreak. We held a funeral without a body.”
“But my grandmother lived in America for decades.”
“I learned that tonight.”
Dante stood beside the fireplace.
“Father, we need to be careful. We don't know who this woman is or why she has appeared here.”
Nora felt her face heat.
“I didn't appear here to find you. I took a temporary catering job because my grandmother needs medical treatment.”
Dante's expression remained unreadable.
“I didn't accuse you of anything.”
“You looked at me as if I had stolen something.”
“It's a habit.”
“Then perhaps you should work on it.”
Aurelio let out another unexpected laugh.
“God help you, Dante. She has Isabella's temper.”
Dante did not laugh.
He took the photograph and examined it carefully.
“Do you have anything belonging to your grandmother? Letters, birth records, old documents?”
“Some photographs. A box of letters. Why?”
“Because if you are related to my father, someone may have a reason to keep that fact hidden.”
Nora thought of her grandmother's locked bedroom drawer.
For years, Isabella had kept it shut, even when she became too frail to climb the stairs without help. Nora had assumed it contained private memories.
“There's a box,” she said slowly. “My grandmother told me never to throw it away. She said it was the only thing she had left from the old country.”
Aurelio closed his eyes.
“Then we must see it.”
“No.”
Both men looked at her.
“My grandmother is in a hospital. I won't hand over her belongings because a wealthy stranger says we're family.”
Dante's mouth tightened.
“You're speaking to the head of the Vescari family.”
“And you're speaking to a woman who has no reason to trust you.”
For the first time, something resembling respect appeared in his eyes.
Aurelio leaned on his cane.
“She is right. We have asked too much of her already.”
He removed a card from his pocket and placed it on the table.
“This is my personal number. If you need anything for Isabella, call me.”
Nora did not take it immediately.
“Why would you help us?”
Aurelio looked toward the ballroom.
“Because I spent fifty years believing my sister was dead. If I can repair even one part of what happened, I will.”
She finally accepted the card.
Dante walked her toward the service corridor. The music had resumed, but the guests watched her as she passed.
“Don't tell anyone what happened tonight,” he said.
“Why?”
“Because people who know my family history may not welcome this discovery.”
“Are you threatening me?”
“No.”
“Then try saying that without sounding like you are.”
He stopped.
For a moment, his expression softened.
“I am warning you.”
Before Nora could answer, a guard hurried toward them.
“Mr. Vescari. We have a problem.”
Dante turned.
“What?”
“The security office received a message. Someone has accessed the old family archive.”
Dante's face went cold.
“Which archive?”
The guard swallowed.
“The one containing the records of Aurelio Vescari's sister.”
Nora's fingers tightened around the card.
The guard continued.
“And, sir, the archive wasn't accessed from outside.”
May you like
He looked at Dante.
“It was opened using your personal security code.”
