Chapter 7 - The Woman Behind the Fire Returned for Her NieceAdriana Moretti appeared at a private restaurant.
Elegant.
Older.
Beautiful.
Maggie stared.
“You're alive.”
Adriana smiled.
“So are you.”
“Why did you leave me?”
“Because your father would have used you.”
“He loved me.”
“I know.”
“Then why?”
“Because I thought I could protect you.”
“You destroyed my family.”
Adriana looked away.
“I made one terrible decision.”
“One?”
Maggie laughed bitterly.
“Twenty-four years.”
Adriana cried.
“I was afraid.”
Maggie knew that word.
Fear.
Everyone used it.
Fear had destroyed her family.
Fear had destroyed Sebastian's.
Fear had driven her into hiding.
She finally understood.
The cycle had to end.
“You want the ledger.”
“Yes.”
“Why?”
“To prove your father was innocent.”
“You could have done that years ago.”
“I tried.”
“Then why send Malcolm?”
Adriana froze.
Maggie stepped closer.
“You didn't.”
Adriana shook her head.
“Malcolm worked for himself.”
“Then who hired him?”
Adriana whispered:
“Your grandfather.”
Maggie stared.
“My grandfather died before I was born.”
“He didn't.”
Silence.
Sebastian stood beside Maggie.
“What?”
Adriana looked at him.
“Your families were controlled by the same man.”
“Who?”
“William Moretti.”
Maggie froze.
Her grandfather.
Alive.
The entire story collapsed.
He had created the feud.
He had arranged the fire.
He had manipulated both families.
He had forced Adrian and Sebastian's father apart.
He had hidden the truth for twenty-four years.
“Where is he?”
Adriana smiled.
“At the old estate.”
Maggie looked at Sebastian.
“Then we go.”
The confrontation happened at midnight.
William Moretti sat beside a fireplace.
He looked old.
Small.
Almost harmless.
Maggie entered.
“You're alive.”
“Yes.”
“Why?”
“To fix what your father broke.”
“No.”
She shook her head.
“You broke it.”
He smiled.
“You've become your mother.”
“Good.”
His smile disappeared.
He looked at Sebastian.
“Your family took everything.”
Sebastian stepped forward.
“No.”
“You married her.”
“Yes.”
“You were supposed to destroy each other.”
“We chose differently.”
William looked at Maggie.
“You were supposed to marry into another family.”
“I married the man I loved.”
He laughed.
“You don't understand power.”
Maggie walked closer.
“You don't understand love.”
She placed the original ledger on the table.
William's expression changed.
“You found it.”
“Yes.”
“You know what this means?”
“Yes.”
“It destroys both families.”
“No.”
She smiled.
“It saves them.”
The ledger contained every payment.
Every bribe.
Every forged deed.
Every name.
And one final confession.
William's.
Signed.
Dated.
Complete.
Police entered.
William was arrested.
The truth was finally exposed.
The Rinaldis had not destroyed the Morettis.
The Morettis had not destroyed the Rinaldis.
One man had manipulated both.
Maggie's family was innocent.
Sebastian's father had been protecting Adrian.
The entire war had been manufactured.
After the arrest, Maggie sat beside Sebastian on the porch.
“You were right.”
“About?”
“Rebuilding.”
He looked at her.
“We'll rebuild.”
She leaned against him.
“And your family?”
“They'll survive.”
“And mine?”
“They're already surviving.”
She smiled.
Then Sebastian said:
“Maggie.”
“Yes?”
“I love you.”
May you like
She looked at him.
“I love you too.”
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