Chapter 13
Warren’s trial began eleven months after the wedding.
Giulietta testified for less than two hours.
She wore a plain dark suit.
No diamonds.
No Marconi ring visible.
Prosecutors asked what happened.
She answered.
Defense counsel asked whether she had instructed armed men to surround Warren and Preston afterward.
“Yes.”
“Men associated with the Marconi family?”
“Yes.”
“Men who would do what you told them?”
“Within the law.”
The attorney smiled.
“That wasn’t my question.”
Giulietta looked at the jury.
“It was my answer.”
He tried another approach.
“You slapped no one that day?”
“No.”
“You physically threw Preston onto a sofa.”
“After he swung a metal golf club at me.”
“You are trained to defend yourself.”
“Yes.”
“So perhaps Mr. Hale was actually the person in danger.”
Giulietta looked at Preston, seated elsewhere after entering his plea.
Then at Warren.
“No.”
Her calm did more than anger could have.
Caroline Webb testified about the contingency statement.
Warren’s former assistant testified about the documents waiting after the planned private meeting.
The hotel manager confirmed Warren’s override access.
Then Preston testified.
Nobody enjoyed it.
He admitted everything that made him look weak.
He wanted his father’s approval.
He resented Giulietta refusing the guarantee.
He believed marriage would make her easier to pressure.
He carried the club into the room.
He used his mother’s abuse as a threat.
He swung.
When Warren’s lawyer tried to shift everything onto him, Preston agreed with much of it.
“Yes. I made the choice.”
Then the prosecutor asked:
“Did your father create the plan to isolate Ms. Marconi and pressure her before the ceremony?”
Preston looked at Warren.
“Yes.”
Warren did not look back.
May you like
That was the moment Preston finally seemed to understand something his mother had learned decades earlier.
Warren’s definition of family loyalty lasted only until loyalty became expensive.
