Chapter 7: What the Court Would Hear
Gianluca Ferri's office smelled like old paper and strong coffee.
He was a compact man in his late fifties with reading glasses he never seemed to actually use for reading.
He set them on the desk, looked at Valentino across a stack of organized files, and said: "She's not going to win the guardianship petition.
But she is going to make it painful."
"Tell me what painful looks like."
"A home evaluation.
A court-appointed child psychologist to interview Isolde.
Testimony from anyone Loretta can put on the stand who has observed your parenting." Gianluca opened the top file.
"She's already submitted a list of potential witnesses.
Your housekeeper, Mrs.
Holt.
Two of your company's board members.
And a Dr.
Anselm Varga — a physician who treated Isolde eighteen months ago."
"Varga diagnosed Isolde's condition.
He's a good doctor."
"He may be.
But Loretta's petition frames Isolde's medical situation as evidence of neglect.
She's arguing the brace and the ongoing treatment indicate a child whose needs are not being adequately managed." Gianluca looked over his glasses.
"It's a bad-faith argument.
But it will require a response."
"Then we respond."
"We will.
But I want you to understand what we're walking into." Gianluca set down the file.
"Loretta's legal team is very good.
They are going to try to reframe everything — the deed, the property transfer, the removal of the brace — as a pattern of erratic behavior on your part.
They will say you are a grieving widower who has made impulsive financial decisions and is now attempting to isolate his daughter from the only stable maternal figure in her life."
Valentino was quiet for a moment.
"That's what she's calling herself.
A stable maternal figure."
"Yes."
"After removing a six-year-old's medical brace and calling her weak."
"Mrs.
Holt witnessed that.
She will testify." Gianluca leaned forward.
"Here is what we have, and it is substantial.
Renato's notarized confession.
Dario Mancini's direct testimony.
The original office access records from Verona.
Elena's letters — the real ones.
The document Elena gave Claudia showing the inheritance clause Loretta intended to exploit.
And Claudia herself, willing to testify." He paused.
"That is enough to not only defeat the guardianship petition but to expose what Loretta did to Elena as deliberate, sustained, and documented."
"Will it be enough to stop her legally?
Beyond the petition?"
Gianluca was quiet for a moment.
"The forgery of documents used to manipulate a family member's perception of a deceased spouse — that is a civil matter, potentially a criminal one depending on how the documents were used and what financial decisions were influenced by them." He chose his next words carefully.
"If it can be shown that Loretta's fabrication of those letters affected decisions made about Elena's medical care in her final months — or about Isolde's treatment — the exposure becomes significantly more serious."
Valentino looked at the files on the desk.
"Elena's final months," he said.
"She was being treated at the Verona clinic.
I made decisions about her care based on what the doctors told me.
But I also made decisions based on what I believed about her state of mind." He stopped.
"Loretta had already shown me the letters by then.
I thought Elena was — I thought she was unstable.
Paranoid.
The doctors said stress was a factor."
Gianluca didn't look away.
"And if you had not believed Elena was unstable — if Loretta had not put that in your mind — would you have made different decisions?"
The office was very quiet.
"Yes," Valentino said.
"I would have."
Gianluca wrote something on his notepad.
"Then we include that in the filing," he said.
"All of it."
Valentino nodded.
He stood to leave, then stopped.
"Gianluca.
The guardianship hearing — when will Isolde need to speak to the psychologist?"
"Within the next two weeks.
It will be gentle.
A play-based session.
She won't be asked to testify formally."
"She's going to ask me what's happening."
"Tell her the truth in terms she can hold.
That some grown-ups are trying to make sure she's safe, and that you are making sure of the same thing." Gianluca looked at him steadily.
"She already knows more than you think she does.
Children always do."
Valentino picked up his coat.
"One more thing," Gianluca said.
"Loretta's lawyers sent a communication this morning.
An offer.
She will drop the guardianship petition if you agree to three conditions." He read from the page.
"First: the deed is amended to add her name as co-trustee until Isolde turns eighteen.
Second: the letters — the fabricated ones — are returned to her and no copies are retained.
Third: Claudia signs a statement confirming she has no firsthand knowledge of any wrongdoing."
Valentino put on his coat.
"No," he said.
"I assumed.
I wanted you to hear it."
He walked to the door.
His hand was on the frame when Gianluca spoke again.
"She'll escalate when you refuse.
Be ready for something public."
May you like
Valentino looked back.
"Let her," he said.
