Chapter 7 - Bianca's Beautiful Little Lie|
Bianca called me at nine that evening.
I almost let it go to voicemail, but curiosity overcame my reluctance.
“Isabella,” she said warmly. “I've been meaning to reach out.”
“Why?”
A short pause.
“I wanted to make sure you're all right.”
“I'm fine.”
“Dante says you're very upset.”
“Dante says many things.”
She laughed softly, as if we were sharing a private joke.
“I know this situation has been difficult. But I hope you understand that I never intended to come between you.”
“Then why did you insist on sleeping in my bedroom?”
“I didn't insist. Dante offered.”
“You could have refused.”
“Would that have made you happier?”
I looked out the window.
“No. An apology and a guest room would have made me happier.”
Bianca sighed.
“I think you're making this more personal than it needs to be.”
I nearly admired the audacity.
“You were offered a guest suite. My husband moved me out of our bedroom. You accepted. What part of that is impersonal?”
“I have a child with Dante. Our history is complicated.”
“I know. I've spent thirteen years respecting that history.”
“And I appreciate it.”
“Do you?”
Her warmth vanished.
“Isabella, you need to understand something. Dante and I share a bond that you will never have with him.”
There it was.
The sentence she had been trying to deliver from the moment she called.
I felt an old wound open, but this time I didn't rush to cover it.
“You share a daughter,” I said. “You share a past. Neither gives you ownership of my marriage.”
“You think marriage is a piece of paper?”
“No. I think respect is what makes it more than a piece of paper.”
She went silent.
Then she said, “You should ask Dante why he kept Northstar in your name.”
My heart skipped.
“What do you know about Northstar?”
“I know more than you think.”
“Did you arrange the transfers?”
“No.”
“Did you use my signature?”
“I didn't need to.”
The answer was so quick that I couldn't tell whether it was a confession or a threat.
“Then what does that mean?”
“It means you should stop looking into things you don't understand. You're good at organizing parties, Isabella. You're not equipped for the business your husband runs.”
I ended the call.
My hands were trembling, but not with fear alone. I had spent years being polite to Bianca because she was Lucy's mother. I had confused courtesy with an obligation to absorb every insult.
That ended tonight.
I forwarded the call details to Margaret and wrote down everything Bianca had said while it was still fresh in my mind.
The following morning, I received a message from Lucy.
Mom says you called her a liar. Please tell me that's not true.
I called Lucy immediately.
“I didn't call her a liar. I asked her about Northstar, and she told me to stop asking questions.”
“What is Northstar?”
“A company registered in my name. I don't remember establishing it.”
Lucy was quiet.
“Mom said you were trying to take Dad's money.”
“I haven't asked for a dollar. I've asked an attorney to help me understand documents signed in my name.”
“Dad said you were going to freeze his accounts.”
“I have no authority to do that, and I haven't tried.”
Lucy breathed shakily.
“Why is everyone telling me different things?”
“Because people are trying to control what you believe. I don't want to be one of them.”
I heard her begin to cry.
“I just want my family back.”
I closed my eyes.
“So do I, sweetheart. But I can't rebuild a family by pretending nothing happened.”
After we hung up, Margaret called with an update. A bank had flagged one of the Northstar transactions because the electronic authorization had been challenged. The transfer had been directed to an account connected to Bellweather Consulting.
The money had then been moved into an investment fund whose beneficiary was not publicly listed.
But the account's administrator had a name.
Natalie Cross.
I recognized it from the corporate registration.
“Who is she?” I asked.
Margaret replied, “A former executive assistant at one of Dante's companies.”
That afternoon, I received an invitation to a private meeting at Bianca's condominium.
It included a note.
Come alone if you want to know what your husband has been hiding.
I forwarded it to Margaret.
Then I replied to Bianca.
I'll meet you in a public place, with my attorney informed of the time and location. If you have evidence, bring it.
Her response came immediately.
You really have changed.
I stared at the message.
May you like
For the first time, I wondered whether Bianca had expected me to remain the woman who apologized whenever someone else crossed a line.
She was about to discover that woman was gone.
