Chapter 9 - THE BROTHER WHO STOLE FIVE YEARS
Lorenzo Moretti was arrested two weeks later.
Investigators had uncovered financial fraud, conspiracy, falsified medical records, unlawful confinement, and other serious offenses.
Evelyn Cross and several associates were also charged.
The evidence showed Lorenzo had orchestrated the deception to protect his control over trust assets and conceal years of financial misconduct.
He had used my reputation to convince Sofia I was dangerous.
Then used her disappearance to keep the children hidden.
I visited him once.
In a monitored interview room.
He sat across from me wearing a gray uniform.
For the first time in twenty years, he looked small.
“Alejandro,” he said.
I stared.
“Why?”
He smiled bitterly.
“You always got everything.”
I said nothing.
“Father's respect. The organization. The money. Sofia.”
My jaw tightened.
“Sofia wasn't something I owned.”
Lorenzo looked away.
I leaned forward.
“You stole five years from my wife.”
Silence.
“Five years from my children.”
His expression hardened.
“And you think you're innocent?”
I stared.
He continued.
“You built your empire through fear.”
I nodded slowly.
“Yes.”
He looked surprised.
I continued.
“And I have to live with what I've done.”
My voice lowered.
“But you chose to hurt children.”
Lorenzo looked away.
I stood.
He called after me.
“Family is supposed to protect family.”
I turned.
“Yes.”
Then walked out.
The trial lasted months.
Lorenzo and his associates were convicted on multiple charges.
The court ordered restitution and other remedies where legally appropriate.
The trust assets were placed under independent oversight.
The children were protected from unnecessary public exposure.
And Sofia began rebuilding her life.
But the legal victory didn't erase what had happened.
She had nightmares.
The boys struggled with changes in routine.
I had to learn how to be a father.
And our marriage had to begin again.
Not from where it had ended.
From where we were now.
One evening, Sofia sat beside me on the terrace.
The boys were asleep.
She looked at me.
“Do you still love me?”
My chest tightened.
“More than ever.”
She smiled sadly.
“I'm not the woman I was.”
I took her hand.
“Neither am I.”
She leaned against me.
“Then maybe we can learn who we are now.”
May you like
I kissed her forehead.
“I'd like that.”
