Chapter 3 - Get Out
Valentina dropped the genuine deed onto Gloria’s lap.
“You slapped my son at a wedding I paid for.”
Gloria shoved the paper away. “I will not be spoken to like a criminal.”
“You forged a witness signature on a fraudulent transfer.”
“I witnessed what Nathan told me you agreed to.”
Nathan snapped, “Mom.”
Valentina heard it. Not surprise. A warning.
She pointed toward the ballroom doors.
“Get out of my property.”
Serena finally left the head table, her white wedding gown brushing the floor.
“Valentina, please. I didn’t know about any of this.”
Gloria turned on her. “Don’t you dare apologize.”
Valentina looked at Serena carefully. The bride looked terrified, but not shocked enough.
“Did you know there was a transfer?”
Serena’s lips parted.
Before she could answer, Nathan stepped between them.
“This wedding is over if you keep pushing.”
Valentina stared at him.
“The wedding?” she said. “You think I care about the wedding?”
Elliot tugged her sleeve.
“Mom?”
She looked down immediately.
“I want to go home.”
That decided it.
“Marco, take Elliot to the east sitting room. Stay with him.”
Gloria scoffed. “You’re treating us like thieves.”
Valentina raised the forged transfer.
“I’m treating you like people holding stolen paper.”
Two security officers approached.
Nathan’s voice dropped. “If you throw my mother out, don’t expect me to come home with you.”
Valentina stared at the man she had married. Around them, waiters had stopped moving. Serena’s new husband was pretending to study the floor. A dozen relatives watched with the hungry stillness of people who had spent years enjoying Gloria’s cruelty as long as it was aimed at somebody else.
Elliot’s cheek was still red.
That was the only thing Valentina could see clearly.
“Nathan,” she said, “your mother hit our child. And your first instinct was to protect the party.”
His jaw flexed. “I’m trying to keep this family from exploding.”
“No. You’re trying to keep your mother comfortable while the rest of us absorb the blast.”
Nathan’s eyes dropped for a fraction of a second. It was not enough.
Valentina felt something inside her crack cleanly in two.
“Then don’t.”
Security escorted Gloria toward the doors.
As she passed Valentina, Gloria whispered, “Tomorrow morning you won’t own enough of this place to throw anyone out.”
Valentina turned sharply.
May you like
Gloria smiled.
There was another transfer.
