Chapter 4 - THE DINNER GUEST WHO KNEW TOO MUCH
Luca stared at the photograph.
Then he turned it over.
“Who took this?”
Gabriel shook his head.
“We're checking the event photographer's contact sheets and the guest list.”
I felt sick.
Twenty powerful men had attended that dinner.
Any one of them could have watched me leave the table.
Any one of them could have noticed Luca following me upstairs afterward.
But only a handful of people knew the precise terms of our marriage contract.
“How does someone know about the children clause?” I asked.
Luca's expression became cold.
“Because somebody with access to our private agreements has been talking.”
He handed the photograph to Gabriel.
“Find out how this got into my house.”
Gabriel nodded and left.
I looked at Luca.
“What happens if everyone finds out?”
“Nothing happens to you.”
“You can't promise that.”
He was quiet.
Then he said, “You're right. But I can promise I won't make decisions about our child without you.”
It was the first time he'd said our child without hesitation.
I nearly cried again.
That afternoon, we attended my first prenatal appointment.
I had spent the entire morning afraid.
Afraid the pregnancy test had been wrong.
Afraid something would be wrong with the baby.
Afraid Luca would be disappointed if the appointment didn't provide the certainty we wanted.
The obstetrician, Dr. Rachel Monroe, was kind and practical.
She confirmed the pregnancy and estimated that I was approximately six weeks along.
The early ultrasound showed a tiny pregnancy developing inside my uterus.
It was still too early to answer every question.
But it was real.
Luca stood beside me, holding my hand.
For a long time, he said nothing.
Then he leaned closer to the monitor.
“That's really there?”
Dr. Monroe smiled.
“Yes, Mr. Varenna.”
He gave a small, astonished laugh.
I'd never heard anything like it.
Outside the examination room, Luca stopped walking.
“Evelyn.”
I turned.
He looked at the folded ultrasound photograph in my hand.
“May I?”
I gave it to him.
He studied it as though someone had handed him a priceless painting.
Then he pressed it carefully inside his jacket.
“I'm keeping this.”
“You can have a copy.”
“I want this one.”
I smiled.
For several beautiful minutes, I forgot about the contract, the suspicious photograph, and Matteo Varenna.
Then we returned home.
And Matteo was waiting in our sitting room.
He rose when we entered.
“Luca. Evelyn. I hope I'm not interrupting.”
His gray suit was immaculate.
His silver hair was perfectly combed.
He looked like the distinguished businessman every newspaper in Boston admired.
Luca remained standing.
“What do you want?”
Matteo raised an eyebrow.
“Is that how you greet family?”
“Answer the question.”
Matteo sighed.
“I understand there have been questions about your medical history.”
My heart began pounding.
“Who told you that?” Luca asked.
“You requested hospital records. Medical centers have administrators. Administrators talk.”
Luca's expression darkened.
Matteo continued.
“I also understand your wife may be expecting.”
I felt Luca move closer to me.
“Careful,” he said.
Matteo looked genuinely wounded.
“I'm not your enemy, Luca.”
“Then stop behaving like one.”
“I'm trying to prevent you from being humiliated.”
Silence.
Matteo turned toward me.
“Evelyn, I realize this is uncomfortable. But my nephew has lived with a permanent medical diagnosis for twelve years.”
“I know.”
“Then surely you understand why the family will have questions.”
I lifted my chin.
“My marriage isn't a family board meeting.”
For the first time, Matteo looked surprised.
Then he smiled faintly.
“You're stronger than you look.”
“And you're less subtle than you think.”
Luca almost smiled.
Matteo didn't.
He turned back to his nephew.
“If this pregnancy becomes public, certain people will question whether the child can be recognized under the family trust.”
Luca stepped forward.
“Listen carefully. My wife's pregnancy is not your business.”
“The financial consequences are.”
“Then consider this your warning. Stay away from her medical care. Stay away from her mother. And stay out of our marriage.”
Matteo's expression finally changed.
“You're making an emotional decision.”
“Yes,” Luca said.
He took my hand.
“For once in my life, I am.”
Matteo looked from Luca to me.
Then he walked toward the door.
Before leaving, he stopped.
“Your father understood the danger of bringing children into this family.”
Luca went rigid.
“Don't use my father.”
Matteo's voice softened.
“Antonio made sacrifices you know nothing about.”
Then he left.
That evening, Gabriel identified the person who had supplied the dinner photograph.
It came from a camera belonging to the event photography team.
But the image had been ordered separately.
Paid for through a private family account.
Matteo's office.
Luca studied the receipt without speaking.
Then Gabriel showed us something else.
The clinic had conducted a routine access audit after our request for strict confidentiality.
Someone using an old Varenna family administrative credential had accessed information associated with my appointment.
The credential didn't belong to Matteo.
It belonged to someone Luca trusted.
Someone who had attended our wedding.
Someone who had comforted him after his father's funeral.
Teresa Varenna.
His father's younger sister.
Luca stared at the name.
May you like
Then he said, almost inaudibly:
“Aunt Teresa knew about the baby before I even told my family.”
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