Chapter 10 - THE MAFIA BOSS WHO CHOSE THE TRUTH
The room erupted.
People whispered.
Chairs scraped.
Cameras appeared.
Salvatore's smile vanished.
"Enzo," he said sharply. "This is not the time."
Enzo stood beside him.
"Then when?"
Salvatore reached for the microphone.
Enzo didn't move.
"You've had eleven years to tell the truth."
The room fell quiet.
I stood near the staircase, unable to breathe.
Enzo looked toward me.
Then back at the guests.
"Daniel Bennett was an honest man. He uncovered financial crimes inside Moretti Maritime."
Salvatore laughed.
"Ridiculous."
"His evidence was hidden because people were threatened."
"You're embarrassing yourself."
Enzo's voice remained steady.
"No. I'm correcting something my family should have corrected years ago."
He nodded toward the screen.
The forged confession disappeared.
A shipping ledger appeared.
Then bank records.
Then photographs of Salvatore meeting Victor Sloane.
Guests began murmuring.
Salvatore turned pale.
"Where did you get those?"
Enzo looked at him.
"From the people you thought were too frightened to speak."
Victor moved toward the exit.
Two investigators intercepted him.
He stopped.
Then slowly raised his hands.
Salvatore looked around.
"What is this?"
Rachel Hayes stepped forward.
"Mr. Moretti, federal investigators would like to speak with you."
Salvatore's expression twisted.
"You planned this?"
Enzo lowered the microphone.
"I gave them the evidence. They planned the investigation."
Salvatore stared at him.
"You're betraying your family."
Enzo's voice was quiet.
"No. I'm ending what you did to it."
The investigators escorted Salvatore away.
Victor followed.
The gala dissolved into chaos.
Reporters gathered outside.
Guests demanded explanations.
Marco rushed between tables trying to maintain order.
I stood frozen.
Then Enzo appeared beside me.
"Clara?"
I looked at him.
"Is it over?"
He hesitated.
"The investigation isn't."
I swallowed.
"But tonight?"
He looked toward the doors where Salvatore had disappeared.
"Tonight, he doesn't get to control the story anymore."
I began crying.
Not because I was afraid.
Because for eleven years, my father had been remembered as a thief.
And now, in front of hundreds of people, someone had finally said his name without shame.
Enzo reached for my hand.
I let him take it.
Then I asked, "What happens to you?"
He looked tired.
"My businesses will be investigated. My reputation may not survive."
"Are you afraid?"
"Yes."
I squeezed his hand.
"Good."
He looked surprised.
I smiled through tears.
"Maybe being afraid means you finally understand what matters."
He laughed softly.
Then his expression changed.
His phone vibrated.
He read the message.
All the color left his face.
"What?" I asked.
He looked at me.
"Clara, we need to go."
"Why?"
He swallowed.
"Someone just contacted Rachel."
"Who?"
Enzo's voice dropped.
May you like
"A man claiming to be Daniel Bennett."
My heart stopped.
