The Heiress of Shadows

bided

held in noise and fury. Sometimes, it bloomed in silence. In patien

und, with her breath held like a prayer. She counted steps, memorized turns, and studied the placement of cameras disguised as antique wall sconces. By the end of the

f wealth, subdued, supposedly grateful to be kept in silk and stone. No one saw

ing casually about linens and recipes. When the head housekeeper scolded her for lingering in the

ad a purpose. E

d which weren't. She found the servants' entrance used for deliveries, and noted that it was

ws of the world beyond

hifted near the west wing balcony, Valeria would find a message hidden in the drawer behind the antique mirror. Each

" "Asset from Milan archive secured. Angelo's letters

the worst

ribed. Official declaration of incomp

shook in

dn't quite name-now had a name. They hadn't just taken her company. They had buried her

woman with no voice. A woman stripped of po

grand mirror in her chamber, bare feet on

erself as if st

come? Who had

ern but proud: "You were born in silk

tay silent. Sh

ed her hair, letting the weight

she whispered t

per beca

ir puppet.

ase began w

the butler a book she had just finished reading. She asked the estate

guards down when

phones instead of just notes. Their conversations were s

old her. "You never even met him, yet hi

o we u

itnesses. But it won't be enough

hen I have to prove I'm sane by

ld make her first appearance at the annual Moretti Foundation gala in Mil

ect you to sho

do, I won't just sh

ke admiration in his eyes now. Ma

sembling the

en and women who had been pushed out quietly or intimidated into silence. A

ria began rewri

bribed a private physician to perform an unbiased evaluation, one conducted un

came from a s

iscovered a dusty ledger belonging to her father

ind them whose blood built the

til she found it. Taped be

ed photocopies of two or

gned over

invalidated Ivana's claim to

spected e

of the gala arrive

ore c

mered with silent defiance, custom designed with her initials sewn insid

e steps of the Moretti Villa, a

oze, glas

smile

teady as she greeted the press. "The rumors

lbs wen

ered with quiet pride,

idn't

smol

e fire had