Chapter 18 - THE LAST VOTE OF THE VARENNA FAMILY|
The family council met at the Varenna headquarters the following morning.
Twenty-seven members sat around a long table. Some were business executives. Others represented the family's private interests. All had a vote in deciding who would control the empire.
Augusto sat at the head of the table.
Carlo's chair was empty.
Luca entered with me, Marco, his legal team, and Matteo.
The room fell silent.
Augusto looked at his son.
“You shouldn't have brought your wife.”
“She belongs here.”
“This is a family matter.”
“Then she has more right to be here than you do.”
Augusto's jaw tightened.
The chairman called the meeting to order.
Carlo's attorney presented the petition challenging Luca's leadership. He argued that Luca had concealed medical information, violated the spirit of the marriage contract, and exposed the family to instability by producing an unexpected heir.
I felt Luca's hand close around mine.
The attorney then presented the photographs supposedly proving my infidelity.
I stood.
“Those photographs were staged. The man in them has admitted he was paid to pose.”
The attorney objected.
The chairman allowed our legal team to submit the evidence.
Then Martin Shaw entered.
He looked pale but determined.
He admitted that the marriage contract had been drafted to protect Augusto's succession plan. The clause excluding children had not been based on Luca's medical condition. It had been inserted to discourage any possibility of an heir.
Augusto stood.
“This is nonsense.”
Luca looked at him.
“Then explain the medical records.”
He placed copies of the original reports on the table.
The room became restless.
“Explain the false diagnosis.”
Augusto said nothing.
“Explain the transfer to Saint Gabriel.”
Still nothing.
Then Luca played Isabella's recording.
Her voice filled the room.
Every person heard her accuse Augusto of taking Matteo and falsifying Luca's medical history.
When the recording ended, Teresa stepped forward.
She confirmed that Isabella had discovered the deception and had been threatened.
Finally, my father presented the original Northstar files.
He explained the unauthorized collection of genetic information, the misuse of patient records, and the company's efforts to manipulate family succession.
The chairman removed his glasses.
“Augusto, did you authorize these actions?”
Augusto looked around the room.
For the first time, he seemed to understand that his authority was gone.
“I did what was necessary to protect the family.”
Luca stood.
“You protected your power. Not this family.”
Augusto's face hardened.
“You have no idea what I sacrificed.”
“You sacrificed my mother. You sacrificed my son. You sacrificed twelve years of my life.”
“And you would throw away everything I built for a woman you married eleven weeks ago?”
Luca glanced at me.
“No. I would throw it away for the child we're expecting.”
The chairman called for a vote.
The result was overwhelming.
Augusto was removed from the council.
Carlo's petition was rejected.
Luca retained control of the legitimate companies, while the criminal operations were placed under investigation and scheduled for dissolution.
But as the members began leaving, Augusto approached Luca.
“You think you've won?”
Luca didn't answer.
Augusto looked at Matteo.
“You should ask your father what happened to the last person who tried to take this family apart.”
Then he walked toward the exit.
Outside, police officers were waiting.
They arrested him on charges related to fraud, conspiracy, unlawful medical-record access, and obstruction.
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But just before they placed him in the car, he turned toward me.
“Evelyn, ask your mother who paid for your father's disappearance.”
