Chapter 10
Vincent looked down at the sealed envelope sitting on the white tablecloth. The red wax seal bore the private crest of the Romano family line from Sicily—a crest that had not been used in over twenty years.
Clara noticed the change in Vincent's expression and set her wine glass down, her brown eyes filled with quiet curiosity. "Vincent? What is it?"
"It’s a letter from Marco," Vincent said softly, his deep voice carrying a trace of disbelief. "Sent from Rome four years ago."
Ellie looked up from her plate, her big brown eyes shining innocently as she pointed at the red wax seal. "Pretty stamp, Daddy!"
Vincent smiled gently at the child, smoothing down her curly hair. He took a silver letter opener from the tray, carefully slicing through the red wax and unfolding the thick, yellowed parchment inside.
The dining room fell into a quiet hush as Vincent scanned the handwritten Italian script.
Written in Marco’s precise, elegant handwriting were lines that made Vincent’s jaw tighten, his breath catching in his chest:
My dear brother Vincent,
If you are reading this, it means I am no longer there to protect my wife and daughter, and you have taken them into your heart as I always prayed you would.
There is one final truth you must know before you name Ellie your heir. Ellie is not only my daughter. Four years ago, before Clara gave birth, we discovered a secret kept by our grandfather in Palermo.
Ellie carries the bloodline of the founding Moretti estate—making her the rightful owner of the primary syndicate deeds in Sicily, above all other family branches.
Beware of the council in Palermo... they have been searching for her since the day she was born.
Vincent slowly folded the parchment, his dark eyes staring out across the candlelit room.
Clara leaned in close, her hand resting on his arm. "Vincent... what did Marco write?"
Vincent looked at Clara, then turned his gaze to little Ellie, who was happily clutching her one-eyed teddy bear, completely unaware of the massive, royal legacy hanging over her tiny shoulders.
Vincent reached into his vest pocket, pulling out the small gold coin Ellie had given him months ago. He placed it gently into Clara's palm, his voice steady, powerful, and filled with unyielding resolve.
May you like
"He wrote that our little girl is going to change the world," Vincent murmured softly, a dark, protective smile appearing on his face. "And no one in Palermo or Boston will ever take her from us."
As the candles flickered in the warm dining room, the future of the Moretti bloodline hung on the threshold of a brand-new, extraordinary mystery...
