Chapter 10 - THE MAN WHO CHOSE HIS DAUGHTER
The months that followed were difficult.
Moretti Holdings underwent independent audits.
Several executives resigned.
Investigators examined years of transactions.
Lorenzo stepped back from criminal operations and began restructuring the legitimate businesses under professional oversight.
It cost him money.
Influence.
And relationships he'd spent decades building.
Some people called him weak.
Others called him foolish.
Lorenzo didn't care.
For the first time, he understood that being feared wasn't the same as being respected.
Camila's legal proceedings moved forward.
The suspected medication tampering became part of a separate investigation.
Santino faced serious charges connected to fraud and conspiracy.
Marco's involvement was also examined.
Sophie provided testimony about Daniel Mercer's death.
The case was reopened.
New evidence emerged.
Investigators began reconstructing what happened that rainy night.
For Sophie, the process was painful.
Every interview forced her to remember her brother's final moments.
But she continued.
Because Daniel deserved the truth.
One evening, Lorenzo found her sitting in the garden.
She held a photograph.
Daniel.
Smiling.
Standing beside Sophie at a graduation ceremony.
Lorenzo approached quietly.
"May I sit?"
She nodded.
He sat beside her.
"He was twenty-nine," Sophie whispered.
Lorenzo looked at the photograph.
"He looks happy."
She smiled sadly.
"He was."
A tear rolled down her cheek.
"He loved terrible jokes. He couldn't cook. He called me every Sunday."
Lorenzo swallowed.
"I'm sorry."
She looked at him.
"I know."
He hesitated.
"Sophie, I can't undo what happened."
She nodded.
"I know."
"But I can make sure the truth isn't buried again."
Her eyes filled.
She looked toward the photograph.
"That's all I ever wanted."
A few weeks later, the investigators informed Sophie that additional evidence supported her account.
The case against those responsible continued.
It wasn't closure.
Not yet.
But it was progress.
Meanwhile, Isabella began attending a new school.
She made friends.
Joined an astronomy club.
And started laughing more.
Lorenzo attended every school event he could.
He was terrible at science projects.
Awful at baking.
And completely hopeless at braiding hair.
But he showed up.
One afternoon, Isabella asked:
"Daddy?"
"Yes?"
"Do you like Miss Sophie?"
Lorenzo nearly dropped the bowl he was washing.
"What?"
She grinned.
"You smile when she comes into the room."
He looked away.
"She's a good person."
Isabella nodded.
"Mommy never smiled at you like that."
The words hurt.
But they were true.
Lorenzo knelt beside his daughter.
"Bella, Miss Sophie has been through a lot."
She nodded.
"I know."
"And I don't want to make her life harder."
Isabella considered this.
Then said:
"Maybe you could just make her happy."
May you like
Lorenzo smiled faintly.
"Maybe."
