Chapter 14 - Valentina’s Choice
Camilla agreed to testify.
That destroyed Marcus’s remaining leverage.
It also broke Valentina.
Her lawyer requested a proffer meeting.
Valentina entered in jail clothing.
She looked at the empty chair across from the prosecutor.
Then she began.
She admitted the guardianship plan.
The forged signatures.
The false medical records.
The Saint Catherine reservation.
The plan to remove Ruby before the board vote.
Then the prosecutor asked:
“Did you intend to permanently remove Ruby from Mr. Falcone’s home?”
Valentina whispered, “Yes.”
My chest tightened.
“For how long?”
“Until the sale closed.”
“And after?”
She hesitated.
“Marcus said we could bring her back.”
“Did you believe him?”
“No.”
“What did you think would happen to Ruby?”
Valentina started crying.
“I told myself she was young enough to forget.”
I stood up behind the glass.
Luca touched my arm.
I stayed.
The prosecutor asked about the banquet.
“Why take the chair?”
Valentina covered her face.
“It wasn’t part of the plan.”
“Then why?”
“Because she kept asking when Domenico was coming back from the council room. Ethan asked to sit there. I was angry.”
“So you pulled it away.”
“Yes.”
“And ordered Ruby to stay on the floor.”
“Yes.”
“And had already packed her room.”
“Yes.”
The prosecutor leaned back.
“The chair was not the plan.”
“No.”
“It was who you had become.”
Valentina looked down.
At home, Ruby was asleep.
Ethan waited for me.
“Did you see Mom?”
“Yes.”
“Is she coming home?”
“No.”
He nodded once.
Then asked, “Does she still love me?”
I sat beside him.
“I think she does.”
“Then why did she use me?”
“Because loving someone does not automatically make every choice you make good.”
He leaned against me.
The next morning, prosecutors called.
Marcus had refused every deal.
May you like
He was going to trial.
And his attorney had just filed a motion claiming I ordered the fraud myself.
