Chapter 8 - The State Takes Valentina
Dominic thought he'd misunderstood.
"Excuse me?"
The caseworker remained calm.
"Until an emergency placement review is completed, Valentina will enter temporary protective care."
"No."
"Mr. Moretti—"
"No."
Marco moved toward Dominic's bedside.
"Dom."
The caseworker continued.
"You are not her legal guardian."
"Then make me one."
"It doesn't work overnight."
"Everything works overnight if enough people care."
"That sentence is precisely why the court may have concerns."
Dominic stared at her.
Valentina woke.
"What's happening?"
Dominic looked away.
The caseworker introduced herself as Rebecca Hale.
She had twenty years of experience and no fear of wealthy men.
Rebecca sat beside Valentina and explained that she would stay temporarily with a certified foster family.
Valentina's face lost all color.
"No."
Dominic tried to rise.
Pain forced him backward.
"She stays with Rosa."
Rebecca shook her head.
"Rosa can apply."
"She stays here."
"Hospital policy—"
Valentina suddenly grabbed Dominic's hand.
"You said you wouldn't send me away."
"I'm not."
"Then tell her."
Dominic looked at Rebecca.
"She's been kidnapped, homeless, and traumatized. Moving her again is dangerous."
Rebecca's expression softened.
"I agree. But the answer cannot be placing her permanently with a man currently under investigation."
Dominic froze.
"What investigation?"
"Aleandro Moretti's arrest has reopened several federal cases."
Marco cursed softly.
Rebecca continued.
"And there is your medical condition."
Valentina looked between them.
"What medical condition?"
The room became silent.
Dominic closed his eyes.
He had delayed the truth too long.
"Valentina."
She moved closer.
"I'm sick."
"Like Mama?"
His heart broke.
"Different."
"Are you going to die?"
No adult moved.
Dominic could have lied.
He didn't.
"Maybe."
Valentina released his hand.
Her face went blank.
"You knew?"
"Yes."
"When you found me?"
"Yes."
"That's why one week."
Dominic whispered, "Yes."
She climbed from the chair.
"You lied."
"I was afraid."
"Rich people aren't supposed to be afraid."
Dominic almost smiled at the sentence he'd taught her.
Instead tears filled his eyes.
"Everybody is."
Valentina looked furious.
"Then why did you ask me?"
Dominic had asked himself the same thing.
"Because when you said you had no one, I understood."
"You were going to die and leave me too."
"I thought giving you one good week was better than nothing."
"It's not!"
Her shout filled the room.
"People keep leaving!"
Dominic flinched.
Valentina ran into the hallway.
Rebecca followed.
Dominic stared at the ceiling.
Rosa entered ten minutes later and slapped his arm.
He looked at her.
"What was that for?"
"For being stupid."
"I have cancer, Rosa."
"Then be sick and stupid separately."
Dominic nearly laughed.
Rosa sat.
"You decided for the child that one week of love was enough."
"I didn't expect—"
"Exactly."
She leaned closer.
"Children do not need perfect people. They need people who stay."
Dominic looked toward the hallway.
"What if I can't?"
"Then stay as long as you can."
Valentina left the hospital that afternoon with Rebecca.
Dominic watched from the window.
She didn't turn around.
The experimental trial began two days later.
The treatment was brutal.
Fever.
Nausea.
Pain.
For decades Dominic had controlled his surroundings.
Now nurses told him when to sleep, when to eat, when to move.
He hated every second.
But each morning he asked Marco the same question.
"Any news?"
On the fourth day Marco finally smiled.
"Rosa's emergency foster certification was approved."
Dominic closed his eyes in relief.
"Valentina's coming home?"
"To Rosa."
"At the estate."
"Yes."
"Good."
But Valentina still refused Dominic's calls.
So he wrote letters.
One each day.
He never asked forgiveness.
He simply told the truth.
Day one: I was scared.
Day two: I shouldn't have decided what was best for you without asking.
Day three: I don't know whether treatment will work.
Day four: I want to live.
Day five: That is new.
On the seventh day, a small envelope arrived at the hospital.
Inside was a drawing.
Dominic and Valentina holding hands.
Above them she'd written:
YOU STILL OWE ME MORE DAYS.
Dominic cried.
Marco pretended not to see.
The treatment continued.
Meanwhile Aleandro agreed to cooperate with prosecutors.
He confessed to financial crimes.
He implicated Victor in Lucía's death.
But he refused to discuss one thing.
A secret account Isabella had discovered.
An account containing nearly forty million dollars.
Money taken from vulnerable families through extortion and fraudulent charities.
Dominic met investigators from his hospital bed.
"Return it."
"It's complicated," the attorney said.
"No."
Dominic looked at Marco.
"Find every person harmed."
"Could take years."
"Then spend years."
The attorney stared.
"You're voluntarily surrendering forty million dollars?"
"It isn't mine."
That decision spread quickly.
Men who had feared Dominic Moretti began watching something unusual happen.
His empire was changing.
Illegal businesses closed.
Victims received restitution.
Employees tied to violence were dismissed or prosecuted.
Dominic's legitimate companies created a foundation supporting homeless families and children exiting unsafe environments.
Marco asked why.
Dominic answered simply.
"I found Valentina because she fell through every crack people like us helped create."
Two weeks later Valentina visited.
Dominic looked thinner.
She stood at the door.
He smiled.
"Hi."
"Hi."
"Still mad?"
"Yes."
"Good."
She frowned.
"Why good?"
"Means you came."
She approached.
"Are you dying today?"
"No."
"Tomorrow?"
"Probably not."
"Can doctors know?"
"Doctors pretend."
Dr. Falcone, standing outside, rolled his eyes.
Valentina climbed beside Dominic.
"I read your letters."
"I know."
"Rosa cried."
"Rosa cries during commercials."
"She says she doesn't."
"She lies."
Valentina smiled.
Then became serious.
"If you die, where do I go?"
Dominic took her hand.
"You'll have Rosa. Marco. A trust. A home."
"I didn't ask about money."
He stopped.
"I know."
She leaned against him.
"I want you."
Dominic closed his eyes.
"I know."
Three days later the doctors performed the first major scan.
Rico entered Dominic's room holding the report.
He looked confused.
Dominic braced himself.
"Say it."
Falcone sat down.
"The tumors are shrinking."
Dominic stared.
"How much?"
"More than expected."
"Meaning?"
Falcone smiled cautiously.
"Meaning the trial may be working."
Valentina jumped.
Dominic didn't celebrate yet.
He had learned what hope could cost.
But for the first time since the diagnosis, six weeks was no longer a deadline.
It had become a possibility.
Then Rebecca Hale called.
The court had scheduled a hearing.
Dominic's petition for guardianship would be considered.
But someone had filed an objection.
Dominic assumed it was the state.
He was wrong.
The objection came from a man claiming to be Valentina's biological father.
May you like
And he wanted his daughter back.
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