Chapter 19 - The Final Vote|
The final council assembled at Castell Verde three days later.
Helena's confession had been recorded and submitted to the investigators. Thomas Bell had been detained while authorities reviewed the financial evidence and the documents connected to the conspiracy.
But the Donna council still faced a decision.
It had to determine whether the trust would remain under the Ashcroft custodianship, return to the original Vale line, or be transferred to an independent council.
Vivien entered the ballroom carrying the Donna necklace.
She placed it on the table.
"I will not ask you to recognize me because of my bloodline," she said. "I will not ask you to recognize me because my mother wore this necklace or because my father died protecting the trust."
The representatives listened in silence.
"I ask you to recognize that the old system failed because too many people believed authority belonged to a family rather than to the responsibility that family accepted."
Kanti rose.
"What do you propose?"
"An independent trust governed by representatives from all seven founding families. The Donna will convene the council, but she will not control its assets alone. Every transfer will require multiple signatures. Every succession will be recorded. No single family will be able to conceal a change of authority."
Isabella Romano nodded slowly.
"And who will serve as Donna?"
Vivien looked at the necklace.
"That decision belongs to the council."
Damian sat near the rear of the room. He had surrendered his claim to the trust and agreed to cooperate with the investigation into his father's dealings.
Seline sat beside him.
She had provided evidence of Thomas's financial arrangements and accepted that she would no longer hold any claim to the necklace through her relationship with Damian.
When the vote began, each family representative cast a ballot.
Six voted in favor of Vivien's proposal.
The seventh, Helena's family, abstained.
Isabella announced the result.
"The council recognizes Vivien Ashcroft Viscari as the first custodian of the reformed Donna trust."
The representatives stood.
Then, one by one, they knelt.
Vivien stepped forward immediately.
"Please stand."
They obeyed.
"I will not build another system in which people kneel because they fear what happens if they remain standing."
The oldest representative smiled.
"Then perhaps the Donna has finally become what the necklace was meant to represent."
Vivien placed the necklace around her own throat.
It felt heavier than it had before.
Not because the stone had changed.
Because she finally understood what it represented.
Damian approached her after the ceremony.
"I don't expect you to forgive me."
"Good."
He almost smiled.
"I wanted you to know that I have signed the divorce papers."
Vivien nodded.
"Thank you."
He looked at the necklace.
"Your father would have been proud."
"Perhaps."
Damian hesitated.
"Will you ever remember us without hating me?"
Vivien considered the question.
"I don't hate you, Damian. But I won't return to a life where I have to become smaller to make you feel powerful."
He accepted the answer.
Then he walked away.
For the first time in twenty-two years, Vivien watched her husband leave without feeling responsible for what happened next.
That night, the council's new trust agreement was sealed.
The Donna necklace was returned to its case.
And Vivien believed the worst was finally behind her.
Until Gabriel entered the library carrying a letter addressed to him.
The handwriting belonged to their father.
The date was from the morning after his supposed death.
Gabriel opened it.
May you like
His face went white.
"Vivien," he whispered, "there's one more person we need to find."
