Chapter 7 - The Woman Behind the Crown
Three months later, the city had changed.
The Sartori empire was dismantled and rebuilt into legal businesses.
The family name was still powerful.
But differently.
Emmet testified.
Luca testified.
Noel testified.
Her father disappeared into witness protection for a while.
Sadie returned to school.
Noel became head of the executive board.
And Emmet?
He hated board meetings even more than before.
One Saturday morning, Noel found him in the kitchen making coffee.
"You made it wrong."
He looked offended.
"I run a multinational company."
"And yet you can't make coffee."
He handed her the cup.
"Then teach me."
She smiled.
"This is terrible."
"You're welcome."
They laughed.
It was ordinary.
That was what Noel loved.
Ordinary.
Then Emmet's phone rang.
His smile disappeared.
"No."
He listened.
"How long?"
He looked at Noel.
"Understood."
He ended the call.
"What happened?"
"Someone found your father."
Her smile vanished.
"Where?"
"Safe."
"Then why?"
"They sent a message."
"What kind?"
Emmet hesitated.
"Your father wants you to know something."
Noel's heart raced.
"What?"
"Your mother didn't die because of the ledger."
She stared.
"What?"
"She died because she refused to tell them where a second ledger was."
Noel looked down.
"There's another one?"
Emmet nodded.
Her entire life was built on another secret.
Then Sadie came running into the room.
"Noel!"
They turned.
Sadie held an envelope.
"This came for you."
No return address.
Inside was a single photograph.
Noel's mother.
Standing beside a woman Noel didn't recognize.
On the back were five words.
SHE HAS BEEN WAITING FOR YOU.
Noel looked at Emmet.
The peaceful life lasted exactly six hours.
Because that afternoon, a woman arrived at the estate.
She was in her forties.
Elegant.
Calm.
And when Noel saw her, she dropped the glass in her hand.
The woman whispered.
"Hello, little bird."
Noel couldn't breathe.
"Who are you?"
The woman's eyes filled with tears.
"I'm your sister."
Emmet stepped forward.
"No."
The woman smiled.
"Your mother had another daughter."
Noel stared.
"I don't have a sister."
"You do."
The woman handed her an old photograph.
Two little girls.
One was Noel.
The other had the same eyes.
The same smile.
The same birthmark.
Noel staggered backward.
"Why didn't anyone tell me?"
"Because your mother thought I was dead."
The woman looked toward Emmet.
"And your family helped make her believe it."
He went still.
"What is your name?"
She smiled.
"Claire Vance."
May you like
And then she said the words that changed everything again.
"I know who ordered your mother's death."
