Chapter 13 - what vincent did with the truth
The arrests made national news.
Vincent Moretti hated every headline.
Moretti Heir Targeted in Family Conspiracy.
Billion Dollar Trust Plot.
Housekeeper Held Beneath Mansion.
Financier's Hidden Crime Exposed After Twenty Years.
For two weeks, Moretti Manor became a fortress of attorneys, investigators, auditors, and journalists waiting outside the gates.
Vincent gave only one public statement.
"My father's wrongdoing will not be hidden to protect my family name."
Then he proved it.
Independent auditors reconstructed David Cole's ownership.
Carlo Moretti had indeed concealed David's stake.
The damage was enormous.
Vincent established a restitution fund for David's estate and other partners affected by Carlo's fraudulent accounting.
The amount exceeded four hundred million dollars.
Adrian was still expected to face charges for kidnapping, fraud, conspiracy, unlawful detention, and evidence tampering.
Julian faced additional weapons charges and several international financial investigations.
Eleanor entered a plea agreement on conspiracy and fraud-related charges.
Because she had ultimately cooperated and had not ordered physical harm to Mia, she avoided the longest possible sentence.
But she lost something more important to her.
Control.
Vincent removed her from every family trust, company, foundation, and estate position.
Her access to Moretti Manor was revoked.
The day she came to collect personal belongings, Vincent met her in the foyer.
She looked older.
Not physically.
Something inside her had changed.
"Are you going to watch them pack everything?"
"Yes."
"You think I'll steal a painting?"
"No."
"Then why?"
"Because this is my house."
The words hurt her.
He saw it.
She looked toward the staircase.
"I loved your father once."
Vincent said nothing.
"I hated him too."
"That doesn't explain what you did."
"No."
She swallowed.
"I convinced myself I was correcting his mistakes."
"You created your own."
"I know."
For a moment she was simply his mother.
Not the conspirator.
Not the trustee.
Not Eleanor Moretti.
Just the woman who had held his hand when he was six and afraid of thunder.
That made everything harder.
"I'm sorry," she said.
Vincent looked at her.
"I believe you."
Hope appeared in her face.
Then he continued.
"But believing you're sorry doesn't mean trusting you again."
Her eyes filled.
"I understand."
"No. You don't yet."
He opened the front door.
"But you will."
She left.
Vincent watched the car disappear through the gates.
Then he closed the door.
Behind him, Lily's voice echoed from the drawing room.
"Mr. Vincent!"
He turned.
Mia and Lily had returned to the manor for the first time since the rescue.
Mia had insisted.
"I don't want Lily remembering this place only as somewhere bad happened."
Vincent had understood.
Lily ran toward him carrying something.
The brass key.
"You forgot this."
Vincent crouched.
"That belongs to you."
She frowned.
"No. It's your house."
"You found the key."
"But you opened the door."
He looked toward Mia.
She smiled.
Vincent took the key.
"What should I do with it?"
Lily thought very seriously.
"Don't lock people in cellars."
Mia covered her face.
"Lily."
Vincent laughed.
A real laugh.
Rare enough that Mia stared.
"I can promise that."
Lily seemed satisfied.
Then she looked behind him.
"Where's Miss Isabella?"
Vincent's smile disappeared.
Mia noticed.
"She hasn't been here?"
"No."
After the arrests, Isabella had helped investigators for several days.
Then she returned to Manhattan.
They spoke.
Professionally.
Carefully.
Neither mentioned the ring.
Vincent had broken something when he doubted her.
Stopping the conspiracy had not automatically repaired it.
Mia studied him.
"You should call her."
Vincent looked at her.
"Was that employment advice?"
"I'm technically on medical leave."
"Convenient."
She smiled.
That evening, after Mia and Lily left, Vincent entered his study.
The engagement ring remained inside his desk.
He held it for a long time.
Then his phone rang.
Isabella.
He answered immediately.
"Hello."
"You sound surprised."
"I am."
"I found something."
Vincent closed his eyes.
Of course.
Not I miss you.
Not we should talk.
I found something.
"What?"
"A payment from Northstar."
"Another one?"
"Yes."
"To whom?"
There was a pause.
"Someone inside Moretti Holdings."
Vincent sat.
"Adrian?"
"No."
"Julian?"
"No."
"Eleanor?"
"No."
Vincent's voice hardened.
"Who?"
May you like
Isabella said the name.
And Vincent realized the conspiracy was not completely over.
