Chapter 6 - The Bride Nobody Expected
Emma packed one suitcase.
That was all.
Eighteen months in the mansion fit inside it.
Three black dresses.
Two sweaters.
Work shoes.
Toiletries.
A framed photograph.
One stuffed rabbit Sofia had accidentally left in Emma's room.
She placed Captain Blue on the bed.
Then Sofia appeared in the doorway.
"No."
Emma froze.
Sofia saw the suitcase.
"No!"
"Sofia—"
The child grabbed her walker and pushed forward too quickly.
Emma dropped to her knees.
"Slowly."
"No go!"
Mia appeared behind her.
"Emma leaving?"
Emma's throat closed.
"Only for tonight."
It might not be true.
She refused to tell them.
Sofia began crying.
"You said stay."
Emma hugged her.
"I know."
"Daddy!"
Sofia screamed.
Vincenzo appeared seconds later.
He stopped at the doorway.
Sofia pointed at the suitcase.
"Make Emma stay!"
Vincenzo's expression broke.
He crossed the room.
"I can't tonight."
"Why?"
"Because grown-ups made a stupid rule."
Emma looked at him.
Despite herself, she smiled.
Sofia did not.
"Daddy break rule."
Vincenzo almost laughed.
"I usually would."
Emma raised an eyebrow.
"Helpful."
He crouched beside Sofia.
"But this time, we do it the right way."
Sofia looked furious.
"Bad way."
"Probably."
Emma kissed her forehead.
"I'll see you soon."
Sofia stared.
"Promise?"
Emma hesitated.
That hesitation frightened Vincenzo.
Then she said, "I promise I'll try."
That was the most honest promise she could give.
Emma moved to a hotel under security.
The next morning, the courthouse filled with reporters.
Somebody had leaked everything.
Headlines spread before breakfast.
MAFIA HEIR IN CUSTODY BATTLE.
MAID ACCUSED OF MANIPULATING DISABLED CHILD.
MORETTI FAMILY WAR ERUPTS.
Vincenzo hated all of it.
Especially the photograph of Emma.
Taken from her employment file.
She looked tired and uncomfortable.
The article called her "an ambitious domestic worker."
He nearly threw the phone.
Salvatore stopped him.
"Violence against electronics rarely improves legal strategy."
Vincenzo glared.
"You're funny today."
"I'm terrified. It happens."
Inside the courtroom, Isabella sat beside Bianca.
Both wore conservative suits.
Both looked respectable.
Emma sat behind Salvatore.
Vincenzo beside her.
She whispered, "They look like we're the criminals."
He glanced at her.
"Technically, people have called me worse."
She looked at him.
He smiled faintly.
"Bad timing?"
"Terrible."
The hearing began.
Isabella's attorney argued first.
Vincenzo's history.
His reputation.
His security.
His enemies.
Then Emma.
"Ms. Brooks developed an inappropriate emotional attachment to the child."
Emma's hands tightened.
"She conducted physical exercises without medical supervision."
Vincenzo leaned toward Salvatore.
"Say something."
"Not yet."
The attorney continued.
"She then used the child's improvement to ingratiate herself with Mr. Moretti."
Emma stared at the table.
"Not yet?" Vincenzo whispered.
Salvatore nodded.
"Not yet."
Then came the accusation everyone expected.
"Ms. Brooks appears to have pursued a romantic relationship with Mr. Moretti while caring for his daughters."
Emma looked at Vincenzo.
He looked back.
Neither spoke.
The judge asked, "Mr. Moretti, are you romantically involved with Ms. Brooks?"
Silence.
Reporters leaned forward.
Emma's heart pounded.
Vincenzo stood.
"Not at the time these allegations were written."
Emma blinked.
The judge frowned.
"That wasn't exactly my question."
Vincenzo looked at Emma.
Something changed in his expression.
Then he answered.
"I care about her."
The courtroom erupted in whispers.
Emma stared at him.
The judge struck the gavel.
"Quiet."
Isabella smiled.
Her attorney pounced.
"So there is a relationship."
Vincenzo did not look away from Emma.
"There wasn't."
"Is there now?"
Emma's face burned.
Vincenzo finally turned toward the attorney.
"I'm hoping there will be."
Emma nearly stopped breathing.
Salvatore closed his eyes.
"Vincenzo."
"What?"
"You were supposed to answer narrowly."
"I did."
"No, you proposed emotionally in open court."
"I didn't propose."
Every reporter began typing faster.
Emma whispered, "Can we survive one crisis before you create another?"
He looked at her.
"Probably not."
Despite everything, she laughed.
The judge noticed.
So did Isabella.
And Isabella's expression changed.
Hatred.
The hearing continued.
Then Salvatore presented evidence.
Independent pediatric specialist.
Therapy records.
Video excerpts that did not expose Sofia's most private moments.
The new doctor testified that Sofia's progress had been underestimated.
That supportive practice could be appropriate when guided safely.
That nothing Emma had done appeared abusive or exploitative.
Then Dr. Hale testified.
This time in person.
Under oath.
He confessed.
Payments.
Pressure.
False assessments.
Bianca's threats.
Isabella's trust plan.
The courtroom changed.
Reporters stopped watching Emma.
They watched Isabella.
Her attorney whispered urgently.
She refused to look at him.
Then Salvatore played the recording.
"You will stop interfering with Sofia."
Bianca's voice.
"Stay away from her therapy, or you won't have a job to worry about."
Then:
"If you ever tell my brother about this, losing your job will be the smallest problem you have."
Bianca covered her face.
The judge's expression hardened.
The emergency removal order against Emma was dissolved.
The trust petition was suspended.
A guardian ad litem was appointed.
A criminal referral was issued regarding suspected fraud.
Emma should have felt relief.
She did.
For perhaps thirty seconds.
Outside the courthouse, reporters surrounded them.
Vincenzo placed himself between Emma and the crowd.
Questions flew.
"Are you marrying the maid?"
"Did your mother steal from your daughters?"
"Is Victor Dane connected to the Moretti organization?"
"Is Sofia permanently disabled?"
Vincenzo stopped.
That last question.
He turned.
"Don't use my daughter's medical condition for headlines."
The reporter stepped backward.
Emma touched his arm.
"Let's go."
They reached the SUV.
Inside, silence.
Then Emma looked at him.
"So."
He stared out the window.
"So?"
"You told a judge you wanted a relationship with me."
"I did."
"In front of thirty reporters."
"Thirty-eight."
She stared.
"You counted?"
"Luca did."
From the front seat Luca said, "I regret becoming involved."
Emma laughed.
Vincenzo finally looked at her.
His expression became serious.
"I meant it."
Her smile disappeared.
"Vincenzo."
"I don't expect an answer now."
"Good."
"But I meant it."
She looked down.
"Your life is complicated."
"That's generous."
"I'm serious."
"So am I."
She rubbed her hands together.
"I work for you."
"You don't have to anymore."
Her face changed.
He quickly added, "Not because you're fired."
"That sounded like firing."
"You're terrible at letting me finish."
"You're terrible at sentences."
Luca stared straight ahead.
Vincenzo exhaled.
"I don't want you to wonder whether saying no costs you your job."
Emma looked at him.
There it was.
The most important part.
Choice.
He continued.
"If you want to remain employed, you can. If you want another position somewhere else, I'll help. If you want to leave and never see me again, I'll respect it."
"Would you?"
His jaw tightened.
"I'd hate it."
"That's not what I asked."
"Yes."
He looked directly at her.
"I would respect it."
Emma believed him.
Her heart did something inconvenient.
"Ask me again when this is over."
His eyes softened.
"I will."
Back at the mansion, Sofia nearly abandoned the walker trying to reach Emma.
Emma caught her.
"I told you I'd try."
Sofia hugged her neck.
Vincenzo watched from the doorway.
Mia ran toward him.
"Daddy, Emma back!"
"I noticed."
"Marry Emma."
The room went silent.
Emma turned bright red.
Vincenzo looked at Mia.
"Who taught you that word?"
"TV."
Emma covered her face.
Vincenzo said solemnly, "Television is dangerous."
That evening, the mansion felt almost normal.
Then Luca entered the office.
"Boss."
Vincenzo looked up.
"What?"
"Victor made bail."
Vincenzo stood.
"How?"
"Technical issue with the arrest. His attorney moved fast."
"Where is he?"
"Unknown."
Emma appeared in the doorway.
She had heard.
Luca continued.
"There's more."
He placed a folder on the desk.
"Bianca transferred money this afternoon."
"To Victor?"
"No."
"Who?"
Luca opened the folder.
One account.
Offshore.
Beneficiary hidden.
Then a security image.
Taken at the airport.
Bianca.
Carrying a passport.
Beside her stood someone Emma recognized immediately.
Dr. Hale.
Emma frowned.
"I thought he was cooperating."
"So did we," Luca said.
Vincenzo stared at the timestamp.
Twenty minutes ago.
Then his phone buzzed.
A message from Bianca.
YOU SHOULD HAVE LET EMMA LEAVE.
A photograph followed.
Sofia's silver walker.
Sitting alone beside an open side door.
Vincenzo looked toward the hallway.
He ran.
Emma followed.
They reached Sofia's bedroom.
Mia stood crying beside the bed.
"Soso gone."
Emma's blood turned cold.
Vincenzo looked toward the open balcony door.
A red ribbon was tied to the handle.
The same ribbon from the walker.
And beneath it was one line written in black ink.
May you like
BRING EMMA.
ALONE.
