Chapter 7 - THE CHOICE
Nia spent the next three days reviewing documents.
Every patent.
Every transfer.
Every shell corporation.
The truth was devastating.
Anthony Moretti had not originally stolen the technology.
Victor's father had.
Anthony discovered it years later and tried to return ownership quietly.
But Victor intervened.
He threatened to expose the family.
Anthony died before he could finish repairing the damage.
That was why the trust existed.
It wasn't simply an inheritance.
It was restitution.
The money belonged to the descendants of the people whose work had been stolen.
Nia's children were supposed to receive it.
Luca sat beside her.
“What will you do?”
She closed the folder.
“What I should have done years ago.”
“Leave?”
“No.”
She looked at him.
“Tell the truth.”
The case became national news.
Investigators uncovered years of financial fraud.
Victor agreed to testify.
Eva provided the internal records.
Evelyn confessed to intercepting communications.
Claire gave a sworn statement about Nia's father.
And Luca publicly announced that Moretti Global would cooperate with the investigation.
But the hardest conversation was still waiting.
Nia sat across from Luca one evening.
“Our children deserve to know you.”
“I know.”
“But they don't owe you a relationship.”
“I know.”
“You can't buy their love.”
“I know.”
“And you don't get to become their father just because you discovered they're yours.”
Luca's eyes filled with tears.
“Then tell me what I can do.”
Nia looked at him for a long time.
“Show up.”
That was all.
Not money.
Not promises.
Not grand gestures.
Just presence.
Luca nodded.
“I can do that.”
For the first time in eight years, Nia believed him.
But the next morning, another letter arrived.
May you like
It was addressed to the twins.
And the handwriting belonged to Anthony Moretti.
