Chapter 12 - THE LAST BETRAYAL
Victor Santoro was arrested three weeks later.
He denied everything.
He claimed the financial records had been manipulated.
He accused Dante of orchestrating the investigation to seize control of their shared businesses.
Then he made one final accusation.
He claimed Clare Jensen was working with Richard.
The allegation was false.
But it was designed to hurt.
Dante refused to believe it.
Clare, however, realized something.
Victor knew Richard.
That meant their lives had not collided entirely by chance.
Investigators discovered that Richard's private investigator had contacted an associate of Victor after Clare arrived in Rome.
Victor had used the information to identify Clare and exploit her connection to Dante.
Richard had accepted money in exchange for information about her movements.
Clare felt physically sick when she learned the truth.
Richard hadn't crossed the ocean because he missed his daughter.
He had turned their safety into another opportunity for control.
Lucia presented the evidence to the appropriate authorities.
Richard faced legal consequences for his conduct.
The custody proceedings continued, but the documented threats and financial arrangements seriously damaged his claims.
Clare sat in her attorney's office afterward.
For the first time, she didn't cry.
She simply felt tired.
Dante arrived an hour later.
He sat beside her.
"How are you?"
"Exhausted."
He nodded.
"Do you want to go home?"
Clare looked at him.
"Where is home?"
Dante didn't answer immediately.
Then he said, "Wherever you decide to build it."
May you like
Clare smiled.
And for the first time, she knew the answer.
