Chapter 10 - The Man Who Wanted Dante’s Chair
Alessandro’s arrest should have ended everything.
It did not.
Men like Alessandro rarely built power alone.
Investigators uncovered accountants, attorneys, executives and family associates who had protected him for years.
Vincent’s cooperation became crucial.
He admitted he had wanted Dante’s position.
Not because he believed he deserved it.
Because Alessandro had spent years convincing him Dante was permanently diminished.
“You believed him,” Dante said.
Vincent looked ashamed.
“Yes.”
“Why?”
Vincent stared at the wheelchair.
“Because I wanted to.”
That answer mattered.
Prejudice often survived because it was convenient.
If Dante was incapable, Vincent could justify taking his position.
If Anna was manipulative, the family could justify distrusting her.
If Luca’s death was an accident, everyone could avoid confronting Alessandro.
The Moretti family had spent years believing the versions of reality that demanded the least courage.
Now those stories were collapsing.
Dante resigned from several companies linked to the old family structure.
He remained chairman of the charitable foundation only long enough to establish independent governance.
Then he announced he would step down there too.
Anna was surprised.
“I thought you wanted to prove you could lead.”
“I did.”
“And?”
“I proved it to myself.”
That was enough.
For the first time, Dante began asking what he actually wanted.
The answer was not an empire.
He wanted to create a rehabilitation center focused on patient autonomy.
No paternalism.
No decisions made over patients’ heads.
No assumption that disability erased adulthood.
Anna listened to him describe it over breakfast.
“You’ve thought about this.”
“For years.”
“Why didn’t you do it?”
Dante smiled.
“I was busy being angry.”
“And now?”
“I’m still angry.”
She laughed.
“But?”
“But I’d like to make it useful.”
Anna returned to work part-time.
Their relationship changed slowly.
They refused to hide.
They also refused to perform for cameras.
When photographers caught them leaving dinner, tabloids invented engagement rumors.
Dante found them hilarious.
Anna pretended to.
Then one evening, she discovered a jewelry box in his study.
She stared.
Dante entered.
Stopped.
Anna pointed.
“No.”
“No?”
“You said you wanted to ask me something after the press conference.”
“I did.”
“You forgot.”
“I was distracted by federal agents arresting my father.”
“Excuses.”
Dante laughed.
Then his expression softened.
“The box isn’t what you think.”
Anna’s disappointment came too quickly.
He noticed.
“Oh.”
“Don’t.”
“You thought—”
“I said don’t.”
He rolled toward the desk.
Opened the box.
Inside was the old Moretti ring.
The one he had stopped wearing after the accident.
“I found it yesterday.”
Anna looked at him.
“I thought about putting it back on.”
“Do you want to?”
“No.”
He closed the box.
“I don’t need it anymore.”
Anna smiled.
“Good.”
“But there is something else.”
Dante reached into the drawer.
Another box.
Anna’s breath stopped.
He held it but did not open it.
“Not yet.”
She stared.
“Dante Moretti.”
“Patience.”
“I hate you.”
“No, you don’t.”
Unfortunately, he was right.
Before he could continue, Marco entered.
Again.
Anna threw both hands into the air.
Marco looked confused.
“Should I leave?”
“Yes,” Anna said.
“No,” Dante said simultaneously.
Marco hesitated.
“We have a problem.”
Anna groaned.
Dante sighed.
“What?”
Marco placed a folder on the desk.
Alessandro had offered prosecutors a deal.
In exchange for reduced charges, he would reveal evidence implicating Vittorio in Luca’s death.
Dante stared at the folder.
May you like
The family war was not finished.
It had simply found another target.
