Chapter 4 - THE FIANCÉE WHO WANTED A FAMILY|
Vanessa Hart arrived at our estate three weeks later.
She was thirty-two, beautiful, wealthy, and accustomed to getting whatever she wanted.
Her father owned several luxury hotels. Her family had political connections throughout Florida. She had known my mother for years.
Margaret introduced her as though she were already part of the family.
"Vanessa has agreed to help us with the upcoming charity foundation."
I barely looked up from my phone.
"That's generous."
Vanessa smiled.
"I've heard so much about Noah."
She crouched beside him.
"Hello, handsome."
Noah stared at her.
Then he turned and ran toward Grace.
Vanessa's smile remained in place, but her eyes hardened.
"He's shy."
"He's careful," Grace replied.
Vanessa stood.
"And you must be the famous Grace."
Grace nodded.
"Nice to meet you."
"I've heard you spend quite a lot of time with Luca."
"She's Noah's nanny," I said.
Vanessa looked at me.
"Of course."
During dinner, Vanessa asked questions about my business, my schedule, and my plans for the coming year.
She was intelligent enough to know which subjects interested me.
She also knew when to laugh.
By dessert, my mother had already begun discussing wedding venues.
I finally interrupted.
"We haven't discussed marriage."
Margaret put down her fork.
"You're not getting younger, Luca."
Vanessa touched my wrist.
"There's no rush."
But there was something strange about her patience.
She didn't want affection.
She wanted position.
Over the following month, she began visiting frequently.
She brought expensive toys for Noah, although he rarely touched them.
She criticized the nursery decorations.
She suggested replacing several household employees.
And she repeatedly asked Grace to take Noah outside whenever she wanted private conversations with me.
One afternoon, I returned from a meeting and found Vanessa standing in Claire's old dressing room.
She was holding a photograph of my late wife.
"She was beautiful," Vanessa said.
I took the photograph from her.
"Don't touch her things."
Vanessa's expression changed.
"I was only trying to understand your past."
"My past isn't yours to rearrange."
She smiled faintly.
"I understand more than you think."
That evening, I discovered she had arranged for a photographer to take pictures of her with Noah.
The pictures were already being sent to society magazines.
One caption described her as the future Mrs. Moretti.
I was furious.
But before I could confront her, my mother entered the office.
"You're being unreasonable."
"She is using my son for publicity."
"She's preparing to become his stepmother."
"Noah doesn't know her."
Margaret sighed.
"Children adapt."
I looked at her.
"People aren't furniture, Mother."
She stared at me for a long moment.
Then she said something that changed the atmosphere completely.
"Perhaps you should ask Grace why she's so determined to become irreplaceable."
I stood.
"What are you implying?"
My mother adjusted her pearl necklace.
"Nothing. Not yet."
That night, I found Grace crying in the laundry room.
When I asked what happened, she wiped her eyes.
"Vanessa told me something."
"What?"
May you like
Grace looked toward the hallway to make sure nobody was listening.
"She said she knew what happened to Claire."
