Chapter 8
Dominic ended the engagement formally.
Not with a confrontation.
Through attorneys.
Valeria’s belongings were packed by a neutral moving company and delivered to an apartment she already owned in Brooklyn Heights.
The engagement ring remained disputed property only briefly.
Valeria returned it voluntarily.
More important was Dominic’s other decision.
Maison Caradonna’s board was notified about the vendor irregularities.
The insurer was notified.
The bank was notified.
Outside counsel was authorized to make any required referrals to appropriate authorities.
Several Caradonna associates objected.
“This can be handled inside.”
Dominic looked at the financial statements.
“That’s how we got here.”
Lucian reacted badly.
His lawyer threatened breach claims over suspended contracts.
Lucian himself left Dominic a voicemail.
“You’re putting my people out of work because you’re mad at my sister.”
Dominic forwarded the message to Rebecca.
He did not call back.
Knox Executive Logistics employed thirty-two legitimate workers.
Dominic refused to punish them automatically.
Temporary replacement contracts were arranged property by property.
Where Knox guards were not implicated, other firms offered employment interviews.
It was slower than simply destroying Lucian’s company.
It also affected fewer innocent people.
The irreversible cost came at the atelier.
Without certainty about ingredient sourcing, Dominic authorized destruction of several launch batches and ordered First Light remade from independently verified materials.
Helen looked sick.
“Months of work.”
“I know.”
“We could test them.”
“And if we miss something?”
She understood.
The relaunch moved back at least four months.
Retail partners might not wait.
Dominic accepted that.
That evening Valeria called Rebecca.
She wanted to provide passwords to accounts Lucian had asked her to manage.
Rebecca asked why now.
Valeria answered, “Because he thinks Dominic will eventually forgive me before he forgives him.”
She sounded almost amused.
“He still thinks I’m his shield.”
Rebecca relayed the message.
Dominic felt no satisfaction.
He knew exactly what family loyalty could make people excuse.
May you like
He had built half his adult life on it.
Now Valeria was discovering that loving someone did not obligate you to keep standing in front of their consequences.
