Chapter 11
Edmund asked to see Salvatore alone.
Salvatore refused.
Rebecca attended.
So did Edmund’s attorney.
The blue ledger sat between them.
Edmund looked older than seventy now.
“Marina started it.”
Salvatore said nothing.
“I found out after six months.”
Still nothing.
“I thought she could repay it.”
“How?”
“She was selling the venue.”
“She didn’t.”
“No.”
“So you helped.”
Edmund’s eyes closed briefly.
“Yes.”
“Then you helped put Gabriella’s name on it.”
“I did not use her login.”
“You knew it was being used.”
Edmund looked at the ledger.
“Yes.”
Salvatore’s voice stayed quiet.
“Why?”
“Because if the foundation absorbed the loss quietly, Marina went to prison.”
“That’s an explanation for hiding theft.”
“Yes.”
“It does not explain framing my wife.”
Edmund’s eyes filled.
“That came later.”
Salvatore waited.
“When Gabriella started asking questions, Marina panicked.”
“And you?”
“I told Marina to stop.”
“But you didn’t tell Gabriella.”
“No.”
“You didn’t tell me.”
“No.”
“You drafted a memorandum accusing a dying woman.”
“I told Marina to remove that language.”
“Unless you had to use it.”
Edmund looked down.
There was no defense against his own comment.
Salvatore continued.
“You hit Olivia because she knew where the ledger was.”
Edmund’s face broke.
“I will regret that until I die.”
“That is your burden.”
“I love that child.”
Salvatore’s eyes turned cold.
“Then never use the word love as an explanation for what you did to her.”
Edmund nodded slowly.
That was the last time he tried.
Marina’s interview went differently.
She was angry.
At Salvatore.
At the auditors.
At the board.
At her father.
She admitted taking money but insisted she always intended to repay it.
“You think I wanted Gabriella blamed?”
“Yes.”
“I wanted time.”
“You built the way time would be purchased.”
Marina’s voice rose.
“I was drowning.”
“So you put my wife underwater.”
“She was already dying!”
The room went silent.
Marina heard herself.
Salvatore did not move.
Her attorney closed his eyes.
Marina began crying.
“I didn’t mean—”
“Yes,” Salvatore said.
“You did.”
Not because she wanted Gabriella dead.
She did not.
May you like
Because somewhere in Marina’s calculations, Gabriella’s approaching death had become useful.
That truth ended whatever family protection Marina expected to receive.
