The Donna: Bought, Loved, AbandonedChapter 3

At 10:00 am, Matteo and two security supervisors showed up at the mansion.

"You need to be present for the internal investigation of the attack on the estate, Mrs. Corsi," he said.

An access control record was on the long table. Two hours before the explosion, someone had used my access card to open the estate's west maintenance door. That door ended up being the entry point for the attackers.

Viviana sat on Lorenzo's right. Her expression immediately shifted as she said, "I saw a maid entering the maintenance door using Clara's access card that day. Clara said that she's the one who gave the maid permission to enter."

"When did I ever say such a thing?" I asked, looking at her.

"Perhaps I'm misremembering," she said, tears welling up in her eyes. "Mi dispiace. I just wanted to help with finding clues."

I took my phone out of my bag and projected a photo onto the screen in the meeting room. It had been taken at the exact time the maintenance door was unlocked. Lorenzo and I had been on our way to the estate in a car, where he was smiling as he kissed the back of my hand.

"You were right next to me at the time, Lorenzo," I said. "My access card was with me the entire time."

Silence descended upon the meeting room.

Lorenzo looked at the photo and said in a low voice, "There's no way that Clara was part of the attack. Stop this accusation now."

I had just sighed in relief when he continued, "However, her access card might have been duplicated. For safety reasons, we'll temporarily suspend Mrs. Corsi's access card and restore it once the investigation is over."

Matteo flipped to another page on the record. "There were also abnormalities on the Consigliere's access card records that night. According to the rules, both cards should be suspended for the time being."

Viviana's face paled slightly. "But the head of the Rossi family will be visiting the estate for negotiations tomorrow. I need to wait at the entrance to let them in. I need my access card."

"She can keep her Consigliere access card for now," Lorenzo said without hesitation. "I will personally keep an eye on it."

I stared at the two sets of records on the table. They posed the same risk, yet only my access card was suspended while Viviana was granted an exception.

I returned to the mansion after the meeting was adjourned. The door sensor lit up with a red light.

The security guard looked troubled as he hung his head and said, "Mi dispiace, Mrs. Corsi. According to the new rules, I need to verify your identity with Matteo first before I can let you in."

Seven years ago, Lorenzo had personally pressed the key to the mansion into my palm, telling me that no door within the building would be closed to me.

I dialed Lorenzo's number when the security guard left to call Matteo. "I'm outside the house. I can't get in."

"Matteo is already verifying your identity. Wait a little while."

The security guard shook his head at me through the glass as I clutched my phone. He hadn't been able to get a hold of Matteo.

"Can you just ask him to—"

Viviana's voice echoed from the other end of the line. "Will they stop me like that too in the future?"

"No. I've already informed them," Lorenzo answered quickly before turning his attention back to me. "What were you saying?"

There weren't any chairs at the door, so the security guard hauled one out of the break room. I thanked him before swallowing the words that I was going to say to Lorenzo.

"It's nothing. Go ahead and do what you need to do."

The security guard asked me if he should try contacting Matteo again after I hung up. I shook my head, telling him that he just had to follow the rules.

I sat outside the door for half an hour and was only able to step into my home for the last seven years after my identity was verified.

That afternoon, Irene dropped by to pick up the last stack of documents. After glancing at my small box of belongings, she said, "The ticket is scheduled for the morning of the day after tomorrow. Your doctor has already approved the trip. The follow-up appointments along the way have also been scheduled."