---
**Chapter 18: The Old Ledger**
The Moretti estate seemed to breathe with its own kind of life, its creaking floors and whispering walls revealing fragments of a forgotten past. Matteo paced the study, his fingers tracing the edges of an antique ledger he had discovered tucked beneath piles of dusty books.
"Elena, come look at this," Matteo called, his voice a mix of excitement and uncertainty.
Elena entered the room, her curiosity piqued by the sight of the leather-bound book. Matteo flipped it open, revealing handwritten entries in their father's meticulous script.
"It's an old financial ledger," Matteo explained, his finger trailing down the list of transactions. "But some of these don't make sense. Look here—payments to someone named E.R., dated years before Emilia even arrived."
Elena frowned, her mind racing. "E.R.… Could it have something to do with the vineyard?"
"Maybe," Matteo admitted. "But look at this entry—it's marked with the word 'Inheritance.' What was Father hiding?"
Before they could speculate further, a knock at the door startled them. Elena moved cautiously to answer, finding Marco on the doorstep with a warm smile that offset the tension in her chest.
"I hope I'm not intruding," Marco said, holding a basket of fresh lavender and grapes. "A little welcome gift from the neighboring vineyard."
Elena hesitated before stepping aside to let him in. "Thank you. But I'm not sure this place feels much like home yet."
Marco's gaze drifted to the ledger in Matteo's hands, his interest unmistakable. "What's that?" he asked, his tone casual but curious.
"An old record," Matteo said curtly, closing the book before Marco could glimpse too much. "Family history."
Marco nodded, his expression thoughtful. "San Violetta is full of family histories—and secrets. If you ever need help sorting through it all, you know where to find me."
As Marco left, Elena couldn't shake the feeling that his offer carried more weight than it seemed. And as she returned to the study, the ledger in Matteo's hands felt heavier, its secrets pressing against her like shadows in the room.
---