Chapter 13 - The Summit Turns Against Damian|
Castell Verde Estate had never hosted a more tense gathering.
Every family sent representatives. Every seat was filled. Security stood along the walls, and the central table had been rearranged into a circle so that no single family occupied the head.
Vivien entered wearing a simple black suit and no jewelry.
She did not need the necklace.
Kanti rose first.
Then Isabella Romano.
One by one, representatives from the seven founding families stood in recognition.
Damian watched from the opposite side of the room.
Seline sat alone near the back, her hands folded in her lap. Thomas Bell stood beside the legal team, surrounded by documents he had prepared to challenge the trust.
Helena Vale arrived last.
She entered without an escort and took the empty chair beside Vivien.
"Let us begin," she said.
Thomas rose.
"The purpose of this assembly is to resolve the question of lawful succession following the transfer of the Donna necklace."
Isabella interrupted him.
"The council has already suspended recognition of that transfer."
"On what legal grounds?"
"On the grounds that the designated Donna did not consent to the transfer and that the succession covenant was violated."
Thomas turned toward Damian.
"Mr. Viscari, did you believe you had the authority to transfer the necklace?"
Damian stood.
"I did."
"Did you act under the advice of your legal counsel?"
"Yes."
Thomas nodded as though the answer settled the matter.
Vivien rose.
"Then perhaps your legal counsel should explain why he prepared documents transferring trust assets before the council had approved the succession."
Thomas's composure faltered.
She placed copies of the offshore agreements on the table.
"These documents show that Thomas Bell arranged the transfer of legacy assets to a corporation controlled by an undisclosed beneficiary. The transfers were initiated before the Black Summit."
A murmur spread through the room.
Thomas straightened.
"The documents are incomplete."
"Then explain the missing pages."
"I will not be interrogated by a woman whose own family records are fraudulent."
Helena stood.
"Then perhaps you would prefer to answer to me."
She presented the original trust documents, including the records identifying Seline as a descendant of the Vale line.
The room erupted in questions.
Damian looked at Seline.
"You knew?"
"No," she replied. "Not until yesterday."
Thomas attempted to interrupt, but Isabella raised her hand.
"Enough."
The room fell silent.
"The question is not whether Vivien's ancestry is complicated. The question is whether the trust was unlawfully manipulated."
She turned toward Damian.
"Do you still claim that Seline is the rightful Donna?"
Damian looked at the woman he had publicly chosen over his wife.
Seline met his gaze without pleading.
He remembered the ballroom, the necklace, and the certainty with which he had announced his decision.
"No," he said.
Thomas's face hardened.
"Then you admit your error?"
"I admit I acted without understanding the consequences."
"That is not sufficient."
Damian looked toward Vivien.
For the first time, he did not ask her to rescue him.
"I will submit my authority to review."
The representatives began voting.
One by one, they suspended Damian's unilateral control over the legacy trust and authorized an independent investigation into the transfers.
But before the final vote could be recorded, the doors at the rear of the ballroom opened.
A man entered carrying a sealed document.
He approached the central table and handed it to Isabella.
She read the first page.
Then she looked at Vivien.
"Your mother is alive."
The room fell silent.
May you like
Isabella turned the document over.
"And she has demanded the return of the Donna necklace."
