Chapter 5
The next recordings changed the shape of Valeria’s involvement.
She was guilty.
There was no way around that.
But she was not as comfortable as Dominic had assumed.
On one file, Valeria confronted Lucian in the mansion garage.
“I’m done moving Margaret’s things.”
Lucian answered:
“You’re done when I say you’re done.”
“Dominic is noticing.”
“That’s the point.”
“You said he needed distance from her.”
“He needs doubt.”
Valeria lowered her voice.
“You’re enjoying this.”
Lucian laughed.
“You’re benefiting from it.”
A long silence followed.
Then Valeria said:
“I paid you back.”
Dominic paused the file.
Paid him back for what?
The next relevant recording came seventeen days later.
Valeria:
“I want the originals.”
Lucian:
“You don’t get originals.”
“You promised.”
“I promised nobody would know if you cooperated.”
“What more do you want?”
“Access.”
“To what?”
“Dominic.”
The file ended when Ava carried the rabbit into another room.
Dominic sat absolutely still.
Rebecca Sloan had joined the review.
She looked at him.
“This doesn’t sound like siblings planning something together.”
“No.”
“It sounds like leverage.”
Dominic called Valeria into the library.
Margaret refused to attend.
“I don’t want to watch her cry her way out of it.”
Dominic did not argue.
Valeria entered without jewelry.
Her engagement ring remained.
Dominic noticed because he was not sure why she still wore it.
He played the audio.
Valeria’s eyes closed.
When it ended, Dominic asked:
“What originals?”
No answer.
“What did you pay Lucian back for?”
Valeria rubbed her hands together.
“Something before you.”
“What?”
“I made a mistake.”
“What kind?”
“Financial.”
Dominic waited.
Valeria looked humiliated.
Seven years earlier she had owned a small luxury event company with a friend.
The company failed.
Bills accumulated.
Valeria moved money from a nonprofit gala account temporarily to cover payroll.
She intended to replace it within weeks.
She could not.
Her business partner discovered the shortage.
Before anyone reported it, Lucian covered the missing money and persuaded the partner to accept repayment.
“He saved you,” Dominic said.
Valeria laughed bitterly.
“I thought so.”
Lucian retained copies of the account records, messages, and transfer confirmations.
Years passed.
Then Valeria began dating Dominic.
Lucian reminded her what he had.
“He told you to stay with me?”
“No.”
She looked offended.
“I wanted you.”
“Then what did he want?”
“Information at first.”
“What kind?”
“Who you trusted. What you were changing. Which businesses you were selling.”
Dominic’s jaw tightened.
“And you gave it to him.”
“Yes.”
“Then Margaret?”
Valeria looked down.
“Lucian said your mother was interfering with decisions.”
“So you helped convince me she was confused.”
“Yes.”
“Why?”
“He said if I didn’t, he’d send everything from my old company to you.”
Dominic stared at her.
“That was enough for you to do this to my mother?”
Valeria suddenly looked angry.
“You think I’m asking you to excuse me?”
“I don’t know what you’re asking.”
“I’m telling you I was afraid.”
“So was my mother when you shoved her.”
Valeria flinched.
“So was Ava.”
Her eyes filled.
Dominic continued.
“You had choices.”
“I know.”
“You chose yourself.”
“Yes.”
For the first time since the entrance gallery, she did not defend herself.
Dominic looked at the engagement ring.
“You can take that off.”
Valeria’s hand immediately covered it.
“Dominic.”
“Take it off.”
“Please.”
“I’m not deciding what happens to the rest of your life today.”
He looked directly at her.
“But I’m deciding what happens to mine.”
Valeria slowly removed the ring.
She placed it on the table.
Dominic did not touch it.
When she reached the doorway, he asked one last question.
“Why did Lucian need access to me?”
Valeria stopped.
“I never figured that out.”
May you like
Dominic believed her.
That was the problem.
