Chapter 8
Dante canceled the wedding that afternoon.
Not postponed.
Canceled.
Victoria’s attorney received written notice.
The engagement ring was her property unless she voluntarily returned it; Dante did not care enough to fight about jewelry.
Adrian was suspended from every legitimate Moretti company and stripped of authority over family-controlled accounts.
Then Dante made the decision that split the Morettis.
He hired an independent forensic accounting firm and gave it unrestricted access to the Arts Fund, Adrian’s business approvals, and every related legitimate Moretti entity.
No family accountant could control the review.
No cousin could remove a file.
No capo could warn a vendor.
Rebecca also instructed employees that destruction or alteration of records would be reported.
Several older family members confronted Dante that night.
“You’re exposing the family to outsiders.”
“Yes.”
“Over charity invoices?”
Dante looked at them.
“Over people who used my dead wife’s name to move money.”
One uncle lowered his voice.
“Handle Adrian privately.”
“That’s what created this.”
“He’s blood.”
“So was Grace once she married me.”
The man said nothing.
Dante continued.
“And Lily is blood now. She watched my fiancée grab her because she recognized her mother’s song. What exactly would you like me to teach her about family loyalty?”
Nobody answered.
Victoria called Dante directly that evening.
He almost ignored it.
Then answered.
“You canceled everything.”
“Yes.”
“You haven’t even heard my side.”
“I’ve heard three versions of your side.”
“You’re destroying my life because Grace kept notes she never explained.”
Dante’s expression hardened.
“Tell me how you knew the melody.”
Silence.
“Tell me that one thing and I’ll listen to every other sentence.”
Victoria breathed into the phone.
Then said:
“I can’t.”
“Can’t or won’t?”
“You don’t understand what happens if I tell you.”
Dante looked through the window toward the dark garden.
“No.”
His voice dropped.
“But you’re about to understand what happens if you don’t.”
He ended the call.
May you like
There was no returning to the engagement after that.
Whatever truth emerged next, Victoria would never again become Lily’s stepmother.
