Chapter 1 - "THE MOMENT THE MAFIA BOSS’S FIANCÉE CALLED ME “A WORTHLESS LITTLE MAID,” I PUT A BOWL OF CHICKEN SOUP IN FRONT OF HIM DURING HIS ENGAGEMENT DINNER—BECAUSE HIS MOTHER WAS EATING ALONE IN THE KITCHEN.
“Take that disgusting thing off my table.”
Vanessa Bellini stood in her red evening gown, staring at the chipped white bowl I had just placed in front of Luca Moretti.
Thirty wealthy guests watched from beneath the crystal chandeliers of his Chicago mansion.
The table was covered with expensive steaks, fresh lobster, and champagne.
And there I was, standing beside the most feared man in Chicago, holding a kitchen towel while his fiancée pointed at a bowl of homemade chicken soup.
“Emma, have you completely lost your mind?”
I didn't answer.
Because downstairs, sitting on a wooden chair beside the service elevator, was an elderly woman wearing a faded blue cardigan.
She had traveled four hours to see her only son get engaged.
And Vanessa had told her she wasn't welcome upstairs.
My name is Emma Carter.
I was twenty-eight and had been working as a housekeeper at Luca Moretti's Gold Coast mansion for seven months.
I knew which rooms to clean before sunrise, which doors to avoid when Luca had business meetings, and exactly how Vanessa liked her coffee.
I also knew that if Vanessa fired me tonight, I would have trouble paying my father's next mortgage payment.
But I couldn't forget the look on that elderly woman's face.
Twenty minutes earlier, I had been carrying fresh linens through the kitchen when I noticed her sitting alone.
A small, battered suitcase rested beside her feet.
She was eating soup from a chipped bowl.
I recognized her immediately from the photographs in Luca's study.
“Mrs. Moretti?”
She looked up.
“Oh, sweetheart. Could you tell me what time the dinner starts?”
I glanced at the clock.
“It started half an hour ago.”
Her spoon stopped.
“Oh.”
She looked down at her cardigan.
“Vanessa said I should wait down here. She told me Luca was busy with important people.”
My stomach tightened.
“Does Mr. Moretti know you're here?”
She smiled sadly.
“I suppose he does. Vanessa told me she'd let him know.”
Then she carefully folded the paper napkin in her lap.
“I brought him something from home. Nothing expensive. I just wanted to see him before the wedding.”
I knew I should have gone straight to Luca.
But when I reached the dining room, Vanessa was already raising her champagne glass.
“To our wonderful future together!”
Everyone applauded.
Luca smiled politely beside her.
And I realized his mother wasn't coming upstairs unless someone brought her.
So I went back to the kitchen.
“Mrs. Moretti, would you mind if I borrowed your soup?”
She looked confused.
“Whatever for, dear?”
“Because I think your son needs to see something.”
And now, standing in front of thirty guests, I was beginning to wonder whether I'd just made the biggest mistake of my life.
Vanessa stepped closer.
“Emma. Remove that bowl immediately.”
I looked at Luca.
“Sir, do you recognize this?”
He glanced at the soup.
Carrots.
Celery.
Small pieces of chicken.
Thick homemade noodles.
His expression changed slightly.
“Where did you get that?”
“Your mother made it.”
Vanessa laughed.
“Oh, for heaven's sake. She's become obsessed with your mother lately.”
Luca looked up.
“What?”
Vanessa quickly touched his shoulder.
“Darling, your mother couldn't make it tonight. Remember? She's not feeling well.”
I swallowed.
“Mrs. Moretti is downstairs, sir.”
The entire table fell silent.
Luca slowly put down his fork.
“What did you say?”
“She's in the kitchen.”
Vanessa's face tightened.
“Emma, that's enough.”
I looked directly at Luca.
“She came on the afternoon bus. She's been waiting downstairs because she was told she wasn't dressed appropriately for the dinner.”
A woman near the end of the table quietly lowered her champagne glass.
Luca turned toward Vanessa.
“You told me my mother was sick.”
“She wasn't feeling well when I spoke to her!”
“Then why is she in my kitchen?”
Vanessa gave an exasperated sigh.
“Because she arrived wearing an old cardigan and carrying a suitcase. I didn't want her wandering into our engagement photographs looking like she'd just come from a bus station.”
Nobody moved.
Luca stared at her.
Vanessa seemed to realize what she'd said.
“Darling, please. I was trying to make tonight perfect.”
I watched Luca's expression become completely still.
“Emma.”
“Yes, sir?”
“How long has my mother been downstairs?”
“Almost two hours.”
His jaw tightened.
“Has she eaten?”
I looked at the bowl.
“Just this, sir.”
Vanessa threw up her hands.
“Wonderful. Now I'm the villain because I didn't invite someone wearing bedroom slippers to a formal dinner.”
“They weren't slippers,” I said quietly.
She turned on me.
“Shut your mouth!”
I flinched.
Luca stood.
“Don't speak to her like that.”
Vanessa blinked.
“Excuse me?”
“Emma answered my question.”
He looked toward the dining room entrance.
Then he turned back to me.
“Where is my mother now?”
I hesitated.
Because there was one thing I hadn't told him.
And it was the reason I'd brought the soup upstairs instead of bringing Mrs. Moretti herself.
“Sir, when I went back to the kitchen, she was gone.”
Luca's expression changed.
“What do you mean, gone?”
“Her suitcase was gone too. I asked the driver outside, and he said she requested a ride to Union Station.”
Vanessa exhaled.
“Well, there you go. Obviously, she wanted to leave.”
I shook my head.
“No, ma'am.”
Because before she'd left, Mrs. Moretti had pressed something into my hand.
A little white envelope.
On the front, in careful handwriting, were four words.
FOR MY BOY, LUCA.
I reached into my apron pocket.
“Sir, your mother asked me to give you this.”
Luca took the envelope.
He recognized her handwriting immediately.
For several seconds, he simply stared at it.
Then he opened it.
Inside was a photograph of a little boy sitting on a kitchen counter beside a woman making chicken soup.
On the back, she'd written a short message.
I know you have a beautiful new life now, sweetheart. I'm proud of you. I just wish I could have seen you tonight.
Luca read it twice.
Then he looked at Vanessa.
“She thought I didn't want her here?”
Vanessa said nothing.
He slowly folded the photograph and slipped it into his jacket.
Then he turned toward the two security men standing beside the dining room doors.
“Get the car.”
Vanessa grabbed his arm.
“Luca, you're not seriously leaving our engagement dinner over this?”
He looked at her hand until she released him.
Then he turned to me.
“Emma. Come with me.”
I stared at him.
“Sir?”
His voice was quiet.
“We're going to the station. And you're going to tell my mother exactly what happened in this house tonight.”
I started toward the door.
But Vanessa suddenly stepped in front of us.
“Luca, wait.”
May you like
For the first time all evening, her voice sounded genuinely frightened.
“There's something your mother said before she left. And if you go after her, she's going to tell you everything.”"
