Chapter 6 - The Choice Lorenzo Made
The next morning, Carlo Rossi requested a private meeting.
I refused.
“Ballroom,” I told Marco.
“In front of everyone?”
“In front of the people who were supposed to witness the alliance.”
At noon, the same families returned.
This time there was no champagne.
Vivian entered with two attorneys.
Carlo came alone.
Lena stood beside me.
Emma was elsewhere with her child advocate.
Vivian looked exhausted.
“You’ve humiliated me enough.”
“You did that yourself.”
Her attorney stepped forward.
“Mr. Duca, my client denies involvement in any criminal act related to Daniel Carter’s death.”
“So do I.”
Vivian blinked.
“You do?”
“I don’t accuse people without evidence.”
Lena glanced at me approvingly.
Sophia’s lesson had worked.
Evidence first.
I continued.
“But there is evidence that you illegally obtained medical information, paid intermediaries to conceal it, and attempted to interfere with Sophia Carter’s ability to establish Emma’s identity.”
Vivian’s attorney whispered to her.
Carlo stared at his daughter.
“Tell me one thing.”
Vivian looked at him.
“Did you know the child might be Lorenzo’s before you accepted his proposal?”
She didn’t answer.
Carlo repeated the question.
“Yes.”
His shoulders dropped.
“And you said nothing.”
“I loved him.”
I finally spoke.
“No.”
Vivian turned toward me.
“You don’t get to tell me what I felt.”
“You’re right.”
I removed the engagement ring she had returned that morning and placed it on the table.
“But love that requires a four-year-old child to disappear isn’t something I want.”
Carlo closed his eyes.
The alliance was finished.
But I surprised everyone with what came next.
“The legitimate Duca-Rossi businesses will continue honoring existing contracts.”
Marco looked at me.
Carlo did too.
“You’re not destroying us?”
“No.”
Vivian laughed bitterly.
“How generous.”
“This isn’t generosity.”
I looked around the room.
“It’s the end of an old habit.”
“What habit?”
“Making children inherit the wars of their parents.”
Nobody spoke.
I turned to Carlo.
“You and I can conduct business without arranging a marriage.”
Carlo slowly nodded.
“And Vivian?”
“That is for her attorneys and the authorities.”
Vivian stared at me.
“You’re really choosing that child over everything we built?”
I shook my head.
“There is no choice.”
“What does that mean?”
“She is my daughter.”
Four words.
That was all.
Vivian looked around the ballroom, perhaps waiting for someone to defend her.
Nobody did.
She left with her attorneys.
Carlo remained.
“I owe Sophia Carter an apology I can no longer give.”
“Then give it to her daughter by leaving her alone.”
“I will.”
After everyone departed, I found Emma in the kitchen.
She was sitting on the counter while Rosa, our cook, decorated cupcakes.
Emma held up one covered in crooked yellow frosting.
“This one is yours.”
“It looks dangerous.”
“It’s a lion.”
“It looks injured.”
Rosa slapped my arm with a towel.
Emma giggled.
I took the cupcake.
Then she became serious.
“Am I staying here?”
The question caught me off guard.
“If you want to.”
“Forever?”
“If the court agrees.”
“What if the court says no?”
“Then I convince the court.”
Rosa cleared her throat.
I corrected myself.
“Legally.”
Emma smiled.
“Mommy said you’re bossy.”
“Your mother said many unnecessary things.”
“She said you pretend you don’t like pancakes.”
“That was confidential.”
Emma laughed.
Then her expression softened.
“Can Mommy’s room stay?”
I looked toward the hallway.
“Yes.”
“Forever?”
“As long as you need it.”
She leaned against me.
“Okay, Daddy.”
I stopped breathing.
May you like
Emma continued decorating her cupcake as though nothing extraordinary had happened.
But everything had.
