Chapter 24 - Carlo’s Share
The forensic audit took seven weeks to produce its first formal report.
Carlo Moretti had been deprived of assets whose present adjusted value exceeded one hundred sixty million dollars.
Including interest, lost distributions and related property gains, the potential restitution figure approached two hundred million.
Damian’s attempted theft had been larger than the legitimate claim.
But not absurdly larger.
Massimo read the report alone.
Then he called Judge Evelyn Shaw.
“Begin restitution.”
“To whom?”
“Carlo’s estate.”
“Mr. Moretti, Damian is a beneficiary.”
“I know.”
“You understand restitution may eventually benefit someone currently charged with defrauding you.”
“Yes.”
Judge Shaw paused.
“Most clients would find that difficult.”
“It is difficult.”
“And?”
“That doesn’t make the money mine.”
The restitution process became public.
Several board members called Massimo insane.
One told him:
“You are rewarding Damian.”
Massimo answered:
“No. We are returning Carlo’s property. Damian’s criminal case is separate.”
That distinction became the foundation of everything that followed.
Justice did not have to choose one truth.
Damian could be entitled to inheritance and prison.
Vivian could be wounded and guilty.
Lucia could be loving and complicit.
Enzo could be generous and corrupt.
Massimo could expose a conspiracy and still have failed his mother in the surveillance room.
Sophie could care about Vivian without forgiving her.
The family had spent decades forcing every person into a single role.
Victim.
Villain.
Protector.
Traitor.
Reality refused.
Damian pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit wire fraud, identity theft-related offenses and unlawful access to corporate systems. Prosecutors dropped the most serious poisoning allegations against him because evidence showed he opposed Vivian’s escalated dose.
He still faced years in federal prison.
At sentencing preparation, he requested a meeting with Lucia.
She agreed.
Massimo accompanied her but remained outside.
Damian entered wearing detention clothing.
He looked thinner.
Lucia stared at him.
“You look like Carlo.”
Damian’s face cracked.
“That’s a cruel opening.”
“I didn’t mean it cruelly.”
“I know.”
He sat.
For a while neither spoke.
Then Lucia said, “I am sorry.”
Damian looked at her.
“For what part?”
“For signing the Harbor Point paperwork.”
His jaw tightened.
“For lying when you asked me.”
His eyes filled.
“For allowing your father to die believing nobody in this family would ever admit what happened.”
Damian looked down.
Lucia continued.
“I cannot apologize on Enzo’s behalf.”
“No.”
“I cannot return your childhood.”
“No.”
“I can tell the truth.”
Damian wiped his face.
“Why now?”
“Because almost dying apparently improved my character.”
He laughed unexpectedly.
Lucia smiled.
Then Damian became serious.
“I planned to take everything.”
“I know.”
“I wanted Massimo powerless.”
“I know.”
“I told myself Father would have wanted it.”
“Would he?”
Damian looked away.
“No.”
Lucia nodded.
“Carlo wanted Enzo to admit he had cheated him.”
“Yes.”
“He never wanted the family destroyed.”
“No.”
“So you were avenging your father by becoming unlike him.”
Damian closed his eyes.
“That sounds worse when you say it.”
“Age gives me efficiency.”
He laughed through tears.
Before leaving, Lucia handed him a copy of the restitution report.
Damian stared at the number.
“They’re actually returning it.”
“Yes.”
“Even my share?”
“Yes.”
He shook his head.
“Massimo is an idiot.”
Lucia smiled.
“He gets that from his father.”
Then her smile faded.
“Hopefully only selectively.”
Outside, Massimo waited.
Damian stopped before him.
“You’re giving it back.”
“Yes.”
“You could fight for years.”
“Yes.”
“Why aren’t you?”
“Because I know what happened.”
Damian looked toward Lucia.
“She forgave me.”
“No.”
Damian blinked.
Massimo continued.
“She apologized to you. That isn’t the same thing.”
A faint smile appeared.
“You really have become irritatingly precise.”
“I’ve had difficult teachers.”
Damian knew he meant Sophie.
“You love her?”
Massimo stared.
“We’re not discussing that.”
“So yes.”
“Prison has made you intrusive.”
“It has made me bored.”
An officer gestured.
Damian stepped away.
Then turned back.
“Massimo.”
“Yes?”
“I am sorry about Vivian.”
Massimo’s expression changed.
“You loved her too.”
“Yes.”
“Then I’m sorry too.”
They looked at each other.
Cousins.
Almost brothers.
Victim and betrayer.
Both.
Damian was escorted away.
That evening Massimo visited Sophie’s apartment.
She had begun volunteering with a nonprofit providing legal referrals to domestic workers and elder-care employees.
Thomas Bell’s original Document 17 hung inside a protective frame over her desk.
Massimo stared.
“You framed it.”
“Better than letting Vivian frame me.”
He laughed.
Then she handed him a proposal.
Bell-Bennett Elder Advocacy Project.
Massimo read it.
Legal support.
Anonymous reporting.
Independent medication review.
Protection for household employees reporting abuse.
“You designed this?”
“Yes.”
“Funding?”
“I was going to ask foundations.”
Massimo looked at her.
“No.”
She frowned.
“No?”
“The Moretti restitution foundation funds it.”
“Absolutely not.”
“It should.”
“I don’t want your guilt money.”
“It isn’t guilt money.”
“What is it?”
“Responsibility money.”
Sophie almost smiled.
“That sounds invented.”
“It is.”
She took the proposal back.
“I’ll consider it if the funding is independent and you have no control.”
Massimo nodded immediately.
“No control.”
She narrowed her eyes.
“That was suspiciously easy.”
“I’m practicing.”
May you like
![92 The Girl They Called Broke Was a Billionaire’s Daughter—But Her Father’s Arrival Exposed a Secret Powerful People Had Buried for Years]](https://cdn.treeiq.biz/site_590/2026/11/clone-0-0915d882-53d7-4d17-b43a-a010ca1a1068.webp)
Sophie laughed.
For the first time, Massimo felt something in his life opening rather than collapsing.
