Chapter 15 - Victor’s Last Bargain
The morning before the hearing, Victor came to Valentina's house.
“I've been offered a deal.”
“What kind?”
“Salvatore's attorneys want me to contradict you.”
Valentina wasn't surprised.
“In exchange?”
“Protection from charges related to the surveillance.”
“What did you say?”
Victor looked at her.
“No.”
“Why tell me?”
“Because the old Victor would have accepted.”
Valentina studied him.
“Maybe.”
“He would have convinced himself it protected his family.”
“And now?”
“Now I understand that protecting my family while lying to them isn't protection.”
He handed her the written offer.
“Give it to Daniel.”
Valentina took it.
“Victor.”
He paused.
“Thank you.”
His expression changed.
Not hope.
Something quieter.
Relief.
At the hearing, Victor testified first.
He admitted restraining Valentina.
He admitted following Salvatore's orders in the past.
He admitted arranging surveillance on her father without understanding the final purpose.
The defense attacked him brutally.
Victor didn't retreat.
Then Celeste testified.
She admitted pushing Owen.
The courtroom went silent.
“Did you know the child couldn't swim?”
“Yes.”
“Why did you do it?”
Celeste cried.
“Because I was angry, manipulated, jealous, and cruel.”
No excuse.
Just responsibility.
Valentina listened from outside.
When her turn came, she walked into the courtroom wearing no Morello diamonds.
Only her father's wedding ring on a chain around her neck.
She told the truth.
The pond.
Victor's grip.
Owen's fear.
The records.
The surveillance.
Her father's letter.
She didn't dramatize.
Didn't exaggerate.
She didn't need to.
When she finished, Salvatore looked older.
Smaller.
Not because Valentina had defeated him physically.
Because the secrecy that had made him powerful was disappearing.
Outside the courthouse, reporters shouted questions.
Valentina gave no speech.
She went home.
Owen ran into her arms.
“Mommy!”
She lifted him.
“How was your day?”
“I made a dinosaur.”
“That's much more interesting than mine.”
He showed her a green clay creature.
Valentina laughed.
For the first time in months, the laugh came easily.
That evening Victor called.
“Salvatore wants to see you.”
“No.”
“He says he has information about your father.”
Valentina closed her eyes.
Another hook.
Another bargain.
Another attempt at control.
“What does he want?”
“Five minutes.”
Valentina looked at Owen sleeping on the couch.
“No.”
Victor sounded surprised.
“You don't want to know?”
“I know enough.”
“What if it's important?”
“Then he can tell investigators.”
She ended the call.
And that was when Salvatore finally lost his greatest weapon over her.
Curiosity.
He could no longer lure Valentina into darkness by promising one more secret.
But the following morning, Daniel arrived carrying an envelope.
Salvatore had told investigators instead.
Inside was the final statement regarding her father's death.
May you like
And one name Valentina never expected to see.
Evelyn Morello.
