Chapter 5 - Vivienne Wasn't Trying to Become My Wife—She Was Trying to Stop the Bellmont Circle From Taking Me, and Sofia Had Trusted Her With the PlanI returned to the estate.
Vivienne was waiting.
I walked into the room.
“You're part of Bellmont.”
“Yes.”
“You've been working against them.”
“Yes.”
“Sofia trusted you.”
“Yes.”
“Why didn't you tell me?”
“Because they were watching.”
“Who?”
“Everyone.”
She looked exhausted.
“Your father built Bellmont.”
“My family?”
“Your father.”
“What about my mother?”
“Your mother doesn't know everything.”
“Then who does?”
“Your uncle.”
“Lorenzo.”
She nodded.
“He's one of the last active members.”
I sat.
“What happened to Sofia?”
Vivienne's face broke.
“She discovered the plan to make you leader.”
“She tried to stop them.”
“Yes.”
“Why did she die?”
Vivienne swallowed.
“She was going to give you the ledger.”
“When?”
“The night she died.”
“She never got to.”
“No.”
“What happened?”
“Someone intercepted her.”
“Who?”
Vivienne looked at Rosie.
“She saw.”
Rosie stared at the floor.
“Who did she see?”
She whispered:
“Uncle.”
I knew.
Lorenzo.
I looked at Vivienne.
“That means he killed her.”
“Indirectly.”
“What does that mean?”
“He didn't strike her.”
“Then?”
“He ordered the medication change.”
My blood went cold.
Sofia had a stroke.
Not natural.
The medication had been altered.
Someone had caused it.
The doctor had been paid.
Lorenzo had ordered it.
And the ring had been intended to expose him.
I looked at Rosie.
“Did Mommy know she was in danger?”
She nodded.
“She gave me the box.”
“When?”
“After dinner.”
“What did she say?”
“She said, ‘If they ask you, tell them the star knows the way.’”
I closed my eyes.
The star.
The ring.
The secret door.
Everything connected.
I returned to my father's study.
Behind the ledger was a hidden key.
The star-shaped engraving on the key matched the ring.
I placed it into the safe.
It opened.
Inside were photographs.
Sofia.
Lorenzo.
My father.
Vivienne.
And me.
I was wearing the same ring.
Six years earlier.
I stared.
I had never seen the photograph.
Vivienne explained.
“Your father performed the induction ceremony before he died.”
I touched the image.
“So I already knew.”
“Yes.”
“But the memory was erased.”
“Yes.”
“Who erased it?”
“Your father.”
The room went silent.
Then Rosie walked in.
She pointed at the photograph.
“That was before Mommy got sick.”
I looked at her.
“What do you mean?”
“She cried that night.”
“Why?”
“Because you forgot her.”
I couldn't breathe.
I hadn't simply lost six years.
I had been manipulated into forgetting them.
Sofia had known.
May you like
She had tried to help.
And I had not remembered.
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