Chapter 8 - THE LAST LIE
Vivian entered without waiting for permission.
She looked exhausted.
No makeup.
No jewelry.
No carefully arranged smile.
Just a woman who seemed to have finally run out of places to hide.
Luca stood between her and Fiona's room.
“Why are you here?”
Vivian looked at him.
“To tell you the truth.”
I almost laughed.
“That would be new.”
Her eyes moved to me.
“I deserve that.”
“You threatened Nora.”
“Yes.”
“You helped Victor.”
“Yes.”
“You knew Chloe was alive.”
She closed her eyes.
“Yes.”
Luca's voice became cold.
“Why?”
Vivian sat down.
“My father owed Victor money.”
“How much?”
“Eight million.”
I stared.
“He lost everything.”
“And Victor helped him?”
“No.”
Vivian looked at me.
“Victor bought the debt.”
Then she explained.
Victor threatened to expose her father's crimes.
He threatened to take their home.
He threatened to ruin her younger sister's future.
Vivian believed marriage to Luca would save them.
“That's why you wanted me gone.”
“Yes.”
“You thought if Luca married me, the accounts would become easier to control.”
She nodded.
“But I never wanted Chloe hurt.”
“You still helped hide her.”
“I know.”
Luca looked away.
“You lied to me.”
Vivian cried silently.
“Yes.”
“Why should I believe anything you say?”
“You shouldn't.”
She placed the photograph on the table.
It showed Chloe.
Alive.
Older.
Standing beside a small church.
On the back was an address.
“Where is she?”
“I don't know.”
Luca looked furious.
“You don't know?”
“I know where she was six months ago.”
My heart stopped.
“Where?”
“Montana.”
Luca stared at her.
“Why didn't you tell me?”
“Because Victor was watching me too.”
“You could have gone to the police.”
Vivian shook her head.
“I tried.”
She pulled a folded report from her purse.
“I was followed out of the station.”
Luca looked at it.
Then at me.
“This is real.”
Vivian nodded.
“There is one more thing.”
She looked at Nora.
“I owe you an apology.”
Nora said nothing.
Vivian reached into her purse.
She pulled out a small rosary.
Nora gasped.
“Where did you get that?”
“Chloe gave it to me.”
“When?”
“Before she left Chicago.”
Nora stared at it.
“She said if anything happened, I was supposed to give it to Fiona.”
Luca stepped forward.
“Why didn't you?”
Vivian's eyes filled.
“Because I was afraid.”
She handed it to me.
I opened the rosary.
A tiny photograph was tucked behind the cross.
Chloe.
Holding Fiona as a baby.
On the back were six words.
SHE WILL BE SAFE WITH ELLIE.
My breath caught.
“Ellie?”
Luca looked at me.
Vivian whispered,
“She knew about you.”
“How?”
“She had been watching from a distance.”
I stared at the photograph.
“She chose me?”
Vivian nodded.
“She believed you were the only person Luca trusted who wasn't part of his father's world.”
That broke something inside me.
Not fear.
Something softer.
Chloe had known about me.
She had chosen me to protect her daughter.
Then a car horn sounded outside.
Vivian looked toward the window.
Her face changed.
“Victor.”
Luca moved quickly.
“Get Fiona.”
Nora ran upstairs.
I followed.
But before I reached the staircase, I heard a crash.
The front door had been forced open.
Victor entered with two men.
“Luca!”
Luca stood in the foyer.
“Leave my house.”
Victor laughed.
“You still think this is your house.”
Luca's expression hardened.
“It is.”
“No.”
Victor pointed at the ledger.
“That belongs to the family.”
“It belongs to the people you stole from.”
Victor's smile disappeared.
“You don't understand what happens if that book leaves this house.”
“I do.”
Luca stepped forward.
“That is why it will.”
Victor looked at Vivian.
“You betrayed me.”
She stepped beside Luca.
“No.”
Her voice trembled.
“I finally stopped obeying you.”
Victor's face hardened.
Then he pulled out a photograph.
Chloe.
Alive.
Standing beside a woman.
I recognized the woman immediately.
Nora.
Six years younger.
My heart stopped.
Victor smiled.
“Ask Nora where Chloe is now.”
Everyone turned.
Nora stood halfway down the stairs.
Her face was pale.
She whispered,
“She never left.”
Luca stared at her.
“What?”
Nora's eyes filled with tears.
“She has been closer than you think.”
Then the front door opened again.
Everyone turned.
A woman stood outside.
Older.
Pale.
But unmistakable.
Chloe.
She looked directly at Luca.
May you like
And said,
“I'm sorry I made you believe I was dead.”
