Chapter 8 - The Night He Faced His Entire Family
"Who are you? What have you done to Dante?"
Anna Foster gripped the telephone so tightly that her fingers ached.
On the other end, a woman laughed.
"Still asking the wrong questions, Anna."
Anna recognized the voice.
Rebecca Voss.
The woman who had impersonated her, framed her for leaking confidential medical records, and threatened her younger sister.
"Where is Dante?"
Rebecca ignored the question.
"Did you enjoy finding Antonio Moretti's letter?"
Anna looked toward Victor.
He stood beside the locked archive door, desperately trying to contact the estate's security team.
"How do you know about the letter?"
Rebecca laughed again.
"Because your mother wasn't the only person Antonio trusted."
Anna's stomach tightened.
"What are you talking about?"
"Ask Victor about the money."
Anna turned.
Victor stopped moving.
Rebecca continued.
"Two million dollars. Three days after Dante's accident. That's a very generous reward for a security chief, don't you think?"
Anna stared at him.
Victor slowly lowered his phone.
"Don't listen to her."
Rebecca's voice sharpened.
"Tell her what you did, Victor."
Anna felt cold.
"What did you do?"
Victor closed his eyes.
For several seconds, he said nothing.
Then he looked directly at her.
"I took the money."
Anna stepped backward.
Her heart seemed to stop.
Rebecca laughed.
"Finally. An honest answer."
Then the telephone went dead.
Anna stared at Victor.
"Two million dollars?"
He nodded.
"Yes."
"From whom?"
"Richard."
She felt sick.
"You told us you were protecting Dante."
"I was."
"Then why did Richard pay you?"
Victor looked toward the security monitor.
The screen remained black.
"Because I agreed to disappear."
Anna frowned.
"What?"
Victor took a breath.
"Three days after the accident, Richard offered me two million dollars to resign and leave Seattle permanently."
"And you accepted?"
"Yes."
Anna stared at him.
"Why?"
"Because I believed Dante's father was dead, Dante was critically injured, and the people responsible were prepared to eliminate anyone who could testify against them."
Anna shook her head.
"So you took the money."
Victor's expression hardened.
"I transferred it into an account Antonio had established for an independent investigation."
Anna hesitated.
"What investigation?"
"Antonio suspected Richard was stealing from the family. He asked me to help gather evidence. After Dante's accident, I realized the situation was much worse."
"Then why didn't you go to the police?"
"I did."
Anna stared at him.
Victor continued.
"The detective I contacted disappeared from the investigation within forty-eight hours. Two days later, someone sent me photographs of my wife and daughter."
Anna stopped breathing.
Victor looked away.
"I resigned. I moved my family out of state. And I spent the next several months trying to find someone who would listen."
"But you came back."
"Yes."
"Why?"
Victor looked directly at her.
"Because Dante called me."
Anna frowned.
"When?"
"After he was discharged from the hospital. He said everyone around him treated him like he couldn't make decisions anymore. He wanted someone he trusted."
Victor's voice became quieter.
"I couldn't abandon him twice."
Anna studied his face.
She wanted to believe him.
But she had learned something terrible during the past twenty-four hours.
People could tell convincing lies.
Especially when those lies were wrapped in promises of protection.
"Then why did you try to stop the recording?"
Victor swallowed.
"Because the next section shows what happened after the accident."
Anna's heart accelerated.
"What happened?"
Victor looked toward the locked door.
"Richard wasn't satisfied with controlling Dante's medical treatment."
He paused.
"He wanted to make certain Antonio's original will could never be enforced."
A loud metallic sound interrupted them.
The archive door shuddered.
Victor immediately moved toward Anna.
"Get behind me."
She refused.
"Who is it?"
Another metallic sound.
Then a familiar voice.
"Anna!"
Her heart jumped.
"Dante?"
"Anna, move away from the door!"
Victor grabbed her arm and pulled her backward.
A moment later, the electronic lock clicked.
The door swung open.
Dante Moretti appeared in his wheelchair.
Behind him stood Margaret Whitmore and two security officers.
Anna rushed toward him.
"Dante!"
She dropped to her knees beside his wheelchair and wrapped her arms around him.
He held her tightly.
For several seconds, neither spoke.
Then Anna pulled back.
"I saw someone behind you. They pressed something against your neck!"
Dante nodded.
"An injector."
Anna immediately examined him.
"Are you hurt?"
"No."
"Did they inject anything?"
"I don't think so."
She looked toward Margaret.
The attorney nodded.
"The estate's emergency medical team examined him. There was no puncture wound."
Anna exhaled shakily.
"What happened?"
Dante's expression hardened.
"Someone entered my office pretending to be part of the medical assessment team."
"Who?"
"Dr. Samuel Voss."
Anna froze.
Dante continued.
"He told me the court had ordered an immediate examination."
"And you believed him?"
Dante raised an eyebrow.
"Anna."
Despite everything, she almost smiled.
"Right. Stupid question."
"He tried to administer something without my consent."
Anna felt sick.
"What?"
"I don't know. I refused."
Dante's expression darkened.
"When I reached for the emergency alarm, he attempted to restrain me."
Victor stepped forward.
"What happened next?"
Dante looked toward Margaret.
"Fortunately, my attorney has excellent timing."
Margaret smiled faintly.
"I've spent thirty years interrupting questionable business arrangements. Apparently, questionable medical procedures aren't much different."
Anna hugged Dante again.
Then she noticed something.
"Where's Dr. Voss?"
Dante's expression changed.
"He escaped through the service corridor."
Victor immediately reached for his radio.
"Security, I want every exit covered."
Anna looked toward the archive.
Rebecca's voice echoed in her memory.
Your mother isn't the only person who came back from the dead.
Someone else was involved.
Someone whose identity they still didn't understand.
And whoever it was knew exactly where everyone in the estate would be.
Twenty minutes later, Dante gathered everyone inside the main conference room.
Anna sat beside him.
Margaret placed Antonio Moretti's letter on the table.
Victor stood near the door.
Annabelle and Claire sat across from them.
The family that had spent years being separated by secrets was finally beginning to assemble the truth.
But one question remained.
Who had orchestrated everything?
Dante looked toward Victor.
"Tell us about the money."
Victor explained Richard's payment, his temporary disappearance, and the investigation he'd secretly financed.
Margaret examined the bank documents.
"Can you establish where the funds went?"
Victor nodded.
"Every transfer."
"Then I want copies."
Dante looked toward Anna.
She nodded.
For the first time, Victor's explanation was supported by evidence they could independently examine.
But Anna wasn't ready to forgive him.
Not yet.
Annabelle suddenly spoke.
"There's something else."
Everyone turned.
She looked toward Dante.
"Your father didn't simply suspect Richard."
Dante frowned.
"What do you mean?"
"He knew someone had been altering your medical records."
"We already established that."
Annabelle shook her head.
"No. He knew before your accident."
The room went silent.
Anna leaned forward.
"How?"
Annabelle opened her handbag.
She removed a small notebook.
"Antonio had been investigating Westbridge for months."
Dante stared at it.
"My father never mentioned anything."
"He was afraid."
"Of Richard?"
Annabelle hesitated.
"Of what Richard might do if he discovered the investigation."
Margaret leaned forward.
"May I?"
Annabelle handed her the notebook.
The attorney carefully examined the pages.
Then she stopped.
Her expression changed.
"Antonio recorded a series of unauthorized financial transfers."
Victor moved closer.
"From where?"
Margaret looked toward Dante.
"From the private trust."
Dante became completely still.
"The trust my father left me?"
She nodded.
"Several transactions occurred before the accident."
Anna frowned.
"Then the accident wasn't the beginning."
"No," Margaret said quietly.
"It was the moment someone realized Antonio was about to expose them."
By late afternoon, the estate had become a fortress.
Victor replaced several security employees and arranged independent protection for Annabelle and Claire.
Margaret obtained an emergency hearing regarding the disputed trust.
And Dante made a decision that nobody expected.
He would confront his family publicly.
At the foundation gala.
That evening.
Anna stared at him.
"Absolutely not."
Dante looked amused.
"That's a strong opening argument."
"I'm serious."
"So am I."
She folded her arms.
"Your brother has tried to take away your authority. Your uncle may have been involved in your accident. Someone just attempted to administer an unknown substance to you."
Dante nodded.
"All excellent reasons to stop hiding."
Anna stared at him.
"You're impossible."
He smiled.
"You mentioned that during our first week together."
"This isn't funny."
His expression softened.
"I know."
He reached for her hand.
"Anna, they've spent six years convincing the world that I can't make my own decisions."
She looked down.
"If I disappear now, Lorenzo will tell everyone I'm too unwell to appear."
Dante gently squeezed her fingers.
"And he'll use that story to justify everything he's done."
Anna considered his words.
Then she sighed.
"Fine."
Dante raised an eyebrow.
"Fine?"
"But you're not going alone."
His smile widened.
"I was hoping you'd say that."
Two hours later, Anna stood in front of the mirror inside Dante's dressing room.
She wore a midnight-blue evening gown that complemented her full figure, with elegant sleeves and a softly draped waist.
Her auburn hair fell over one shoulder in loose waves.
She barely recognized herself.
For years, she'd worn scrubs, comfortable shoes, and practical clothing.
Now she was preparing to attend one of Seattle's most exclusive charity events.
Beside a billionaire.
Whose family wanted to destroy both of them.
Someone knocked.
"Come in."
Dante entered.
He wore the same charcoal tuxedo jacket he'd struggled to put on the previous day.
This time, he had dressed independently.
Anna immediately noticed.
Her expression softened.
"You did it again."
Dante smiled.
"Apparently I'm developing a dangerous habit."
She laughed.
He stopped moving.
For several seconds, he simply stared at her.
Anna suddenly felt self-conscious.
"What?"
Dante shook his head.
"Nothing."
She raised an eyebrow.
"Dante."
He smiled.
"You look beautiful."
Anna felt her cheeks warm.
"You're not supposed to distract me."
"From what?"
"Being appropriately terrified."
He laughed.
Then he extended his hand.
"Come here."
She approached.
Dante looked up at her.
"Whatever happens tonight, I want you to remember something."
Anna's smile faded.
"What?"
"You didn't cause any of this."
She swallowed.
"My mother—"
"Your mother made choices long before you knew me."
He gently squeezed her hand.
"And my family made choices long before you entered this house."
Anna looked into his eyes.
"You really believe that?"
"Completely."
She leaned forward and kissed him.
Then she whispered, "Let's go ruin your brother's evening."
Dante laughed.
"Now that's the woman I fell in love with."
The foundation gala was already underway when Dante arrived.
Hundreds of guests filled the enormous ballroom.
Business executives.
Politicians.
Philanthropists.
Journalists.
And nearly every important member of the Moretti family's social circle.
Lorenzo stood near the stage, smiling for photographs.
Richard was speaking with several board members.
Neither expected Dante to appear.
Especially not with Anna Foster.
When the ballroom doors opened, conversations began dying one by one.
Dante entered in his wheelchair.
Anna walked beside him.
Victor followed with two security officers.
The silence spread across the room.
Then the cameras turned.
Lorenzo's smile vanished.
Richard stopped speaking.
Anna felt hundreds of eyes watching her.
She tightened her grip on Dante's hand.
He looked up.
"Ready?"
She nodded.
"Ready."
They moved toward the stage.
Lorenzo immediately approached.
"What the hell are you doing here?"
Dante smiled.
"Attending my foundation's gala."
Lorenzo glanced toward Anna.
"You brought her?"
"Obviously."
Richard stepped forward.
"Dante, this is inappropriate."
Dante looked at him.
"That's becoming your favorite word."
Lorenzo lowered his voice.
"You need to leave before you embarrass yourself."
Dante's expression hardened.
"Move."
His brother stared at him.
For several seconds, neither spoke.
Then Dante continued toward the stage.
Anna followed.
The crowd parted.
And Lorenzo realized something terrible.
For the first time in six years, his brother wasn't asking permission.
Dante reached the microphone.
The ballroom fell silent.
He looked across the crowd.
Then toward his family.
"Good evening."
A few nervous murmurs followed.
Dante continued.
"Six years ago, I was involved in an accident that changed my life."
Anna stood beside the stage.
She watched Lorenzo exchange a glance with Richard.
Dante's voice remained steady.
"During my recovery, I entrusted certain responsibilities to members of my family."
He paused.
"I believed they were acting in my best interests."
Lorenzo immediately approached the stage.
"Dante, this isn't the time."
Dante looked directly at him.
"Actually, it's the perfect time."
Several guests turned.
Cameras began recording.
Dante continued.
"Recently, I discovered evidence suggesting that some of the medical information used to restrict my professional responsibilities was altered."
The room erupted in whispers.
Richard stepped forward.
"That's an outrageous accusation!"
Dante looked toward him.
"Then I'm sure you'll welcome an independent investigation."
Anna almost smiled.
Margaret approached the stage carrying a folder.
Dante continued.
"I've also learned that confidential financial documents connected to my father's estate may have been manipulated."
Lorenzo's face turned pale.
"Stop this!"
Dante ignored him.
"Tonight, I'm announcing that I've formally challenged the authority of the current family trustees."
Applause began somewhere near the back of the room.
Then another guest joined.
Then another.
Lorenzo looked furious.
Dante raised his hand.
"There's one more thing."
Anna's heart accelerated.
He looked directly toward her.
"The woman standing beside this stage has been accused of betraying me."
Every camera turned toward Anna.
She felt her stomach tighten.
Dante continued.
"She has also been subjected to threats, false accusations, and an organized attempt to destroy her professional reputation."
Lorenzo shouted.
"You're being manipulated!"
Dante turned toward him.
"No, Lorenzo."
His voice became cold.
"For the first time in six years, I'm refusing to be manipulated."
The ballroom erupted.
Then Margaret stepped onto the stage.
She handed Dante a sealed envelope.
He examined it.
His expression changed.
Anna noticed immediately.
Something was wrong.
Margaret leaned toward him.
"There's been a development."
Dante frowned.
"What?"
"The court has accepted our emergency petition."
His expression softened.
"Good."
"But there's something else."
She handed him another document.
Dante opened it.
Then stopped breathing.
Anna immediately approached.
"Dante?"
He looked toward her.
His face had gone pale.
"What is it?"
Margaret lowered her voice.
"The forensic examiner completed a preliminary review of your father's will."
Dante stared at her.
"And?"
"The amendment Lorenzo submitted is fraudulent."
Anna exhaled.
But Margaret didn't look relieved.
"There's another problem."
Dante's eyes narrowed.
"What?"
"The original trust contains a provision that nobody previously disclosed."
Anna felt cold.
"What provision?"
Margaret looked directly at Dante.
"Your father named a second beneficiary."
The room seemed to disappear.
Dante stared at her.
"Who?"
Margaret hesitated.
Then she handed him the document.
Dante read the name.
His expression changed completely.
Anna leaned closer.
"What does it say?"
Dante slowly turned the document toward her.
The second beneficiary was Anna Foster.
She stared at the page.
Her name.
Her full legal name.
And beside it, a financial interest large enough to make her one of the most powerful people connected to the Moretti family.
Anna shook her head.
"That's impossible."
Dante looked toward Margaret.
"Why would my father leave Anna part of the trust?"
Margaret's expression became serious.
"Because your father believed she would eventually become the key to exposing what happened at Westbridge."
Anna felt her knees weaken.
Before she could speak, the ballroom's enormous screens suddenly flickered.
The foundation's presentation disappeared.
A new video began playing.
Anna looked up.
The screen showed the parking garage.
Six years earlier.
The night of Dante's accident.
But this footage was different.
It showed the moments after Dante's father warned him not to drive.
A woman stepped into the frame.
She approached Dante's vehicle.
Then she turned toward the camera.
Anna stopped breathing.
Because the woman had her face.
And beneath the image appeared a single sentence.
ANNA FOSTER WAS THERE THE NIGHT DANTE MORETTI ALMOST DIED.
The ballroom erupted.
Dante looked toward Anna.
She shook her head.
"No."
Then the video continued.
The woman reached into her pocket.
Removed a small electronic device.
And pressed a button.
A man's voice shouted from the recording.
"Rebecca! Stop!"
Anna froze.
Rebecca.
The woman turned toward the camera.
And smiled.
Then every screen in the ballroom went black.
A moment later, the lights went out.
Someone screamed.
Anna reached for Dante's hand.
But his wheelchair was already moving.
Away from her.
Into the darkness.
May you like
And someone whispered directly into her ear:
"Your mother lied about everything."
