Chapter Sixty - The Triumph

The day passed in a whirlwind of preparations for the gala. It wasn't until late afternoon that Amelia found a moment to slip away to the library. She located the hidden compartment and carefully replaced the diary, her mind racing with questions. As she turned to leave, she nearly collided with Claudia, Eloise's longtime friend and confidante. "Oh! I'm so sorry, Mrs. Moretti," Amelia apologized, her heart pounding. Claudia waved off her apology with a smile. "No harm done, dear. And please, call me Claudia. What brings you to this dusty old library on such a busy day?" Amelia hesitated, then decided to take a risk. "Actually, Claudia, I was hoping to learn more about the De Laurentis family history. Do you know much about their ancestors?" A flicker of something – surprise? concern? – passed over Claudia's face before she composed herself. "Well, that's quite an interest you've developed. The De Laurentis family has a long and... complicated history. Perhaps we could discuss it s