Chapter 8: Four Names in the Will
Claire spread the trust documents across the conservatory table.
“Your grandfather’s will divided voting control between the oldest direct heirs,” she said.
“Victor controlled your father’s portion while you had no acknowledged children.”
Dominic touched the paragraph bearing his grandfather’s seal.
“And now?”
“Once paternity is confirmed, Luca, Leo, Nico, and Matteo become beneficiaries.
Victor’s temporary voting power ends.”
Victor scoffed.
“They have not proved those children are Morettis.”
“I requested an independent test,” Elena said.
“The clinic is sending a technician.”
“You agreed to that?” Dominic asked.
“I’m finished letting other people define the truth.”
Victor turned to Sloane.
“Fix this.”
Sloane’s mouth fell open.
“You told me the trust would transfer to Dominic after we married.”
“It would—with you controlling his proxy.”
Dominic looked at her.
“Was that the proposal you wanted?”
Sloane faced Victor.
“You said I would have a board seat.”
“And you will, if you get Dominic out of this room.”
Owen stepped between his sister and the door.
“You used her.”
Sloane pushed him aside.
“Don’t pretend you came here out of kindness.
You want Father’s company.”
“I came because you tracked children.”
“I never intended to hurt them.”
Elena held up the photograph.
“You sent this to my hotel.”
“I sent warnings.
Victor chose the words.”
Victor grabbed the metal box.
Detective Ellis seized the other handle.
“Release it,” she ordered.
“These are private company records.”
“They are evidence.”
Victor let go, then turned to Dominic.
“You can still contain this.
Deny paternity, marry Sloane, and I will place ten million dollars in trusts for the boys.”
Elena stepped forward.
“You’re trying to buy their father in front of them.”
“I am trying to protect what three generations built.”
Dominic removed his Moretti signet ring and laid it on the table.
“Then keep the name if this is what it costs.”
Victor’s face reddened.
“Without me, every lender will abandon you.”
Claire slid another document forward.
“Not after they see your unauthorized loans.”
Victor froze.
Malcolm opened a second ledger.
“He borrowed against three company properties and routed the money through Gavin’s security contracts.”
Detective Ellis looked at Victor.
“You told us no company funds reached Mr.
Pike.”
“I said no such thing.”
Owen lifted his phone.
“You did.
I recorded the entire conversation.”
Sloane backed toward the side door.
Her hand disappeared into her purse.
“Stop,” Owen said.
She pulled out a phone and pressed the screen.
Smoke rose from the shred bin beside the table.
“Fire!” Teresa shouted.
Dominic smothered the flames with his jacket.
Claire pulled out a half-burned sheet.
Sloane ran, but Detective Ellis caught her at the doorway.
“You cannot prove I sent anything,” Sloane screamed.
Owen held up the recovered phone.
“Cloud backup.
You forgot my company archives every purchase for seven years.”
The clinic technician arrived and collected samples while the detectives sealed the records.
Forty minutes later, Claire’s phone rang.
She put it on speaker.
“The probability of Dominic Moretti being the biological father of all four children exceeds 99.99 percent.”
Victor sank into a chair.
Detective Ellis stepped toward him.
“Victor Moretti, you are being detained in connection with extortion, stalking, fraud, and destruction of evidence.”
Sloane twisted against the officer holding her.
“Dominic, tell them this family forced me into it!”
Dominic looked at the woman he had almost married.
“You had six years to walk away.”
Victor was led toward the door.
He turned back, his voice sharp.
“Those boys will inherit enemies along with your money.”
Dominic placed one hand on Luca’s shoulder and the other on Matteo’s.
May you like
“No,” he said.
“They will inherit the truth about what you did.”
