Chapter 14
Months passed before the final family confrontation.
Marco’s lawyers challenged the old evidence.
The age of the recordings.
The chain of custody.
The missing records.
Every issue took time.
The financial investigations moved faster.
His authority disappeared almost immediately.
Clients left.
Business partners distanced themselves.
The Valenti organization removed him from every internal role.
Camilla filed for divorce.
No one needed to threaten him.
The life he had protected by lying was dismantling itself.
Domenico faced his own humiliation.
Angelo’s hidden financial practices became part of the historical review.
Older relatives accused Domenico of betraying his father's name.
One uncle slammed his fist against the council table.
“You're letting dead men be judged by outsiders.”
Domenico sat perfectly still.
His thumb turned his signet ring once.
Then stopped.
“Dead men already judged Enzo.”
The room quieted.
“They were wrong.”
No one answered.
Domenico looked around the table.
“If this family only protects truth when truth flatters us, then we don't have loyalty.”
His voice dropped.
“We have fear.”
The silence afterward was heavier than applause.
Camilla attended the final portion of the meeting.
She stood at the doorway.
No one offered her a seat.
She did not ask for one.
When the room cleared, she approached Domenico.
“How is Livia?”
“Good.”
“Does she ask about me?”
“No.”
Camilla flinched.
Domenico did not soften the answer.
After a moment she nodded.
“I deserved that.”
Domenico looked at her.
“Don't turn her into your punishment.”
Camilla’s brow tightened.
“What?”
“She isn't required to remember you, forgive you or hate you so you can feel properly guilty.”
Camilla lowered her eyes.
That landed deeper than anger.
She whispered:
“Will I ever see her again?”
Domenico looked toward the ballroom doors.
The rebuilt wedding entrance stood beyond them.
A new vase occupied the pedestal.
Cheap.
Unbreakable.
Chosen by Livia.
“I don't know.”
Camilla accepted the uncertainty.
Then Domenico’s attorney entered.
He carried one final item recovered from Angelo’s client archive.
Another envelope.
May you like
This one was addressed not to Domenico.
To Camilla.
