Chapter 7 - The Man in St. PetersburgMatteo was alive.
Camille had found him.
Not because she wanted to hurt Dela.
Because she wanted leverage.
She believed Matteo controlled the final account.
He didn't.
But she didn't know that.
Raphael and Dela flew to St. Petersburg.
The city was buried under snow.
Dela looked through the window.
Her mother had once sung lullabies about this place.
Now she was returning to the place where those songs began.
They found Camille in an abandoned hotel.
Matteo was with her.
He looked older.
But alive.
Dela stopped.
“Papa.”
He looked at her.
“Dela.”
She cried.
He opened his arms.
She ran to him.
For the first time in decades, father and daughter were together.
Camille watched.
She looked different.
Smaller.
Afraid.
“You lied to me,” Dela said.
Camille looked down.
“I thought your father had the account.”
“He doesn't.”
“I know.”
“Then why bring him?”
“Because I wanted someone to talk to.”
Dela stared.
“You could have asked.”
Camille laughed bitterly.
“People like me don't ask.”
“What do people like you do?”
“Take.”
Dela looked at Raphael.
He understood.
She walked toward Camille.
“You can still stop.”
“Stop what?”
“Running.”
Camille's eyes filled.
“My family is gone.”
“Mine almost was.”
“What's the difference?”
“I asked for help.”
Camille looked away.
“I don't know how.”
Dela softened.
“You can learn.”
Camille hesitated.
Then dropped the gun she had been holding.
Police entered.
Camille surrendered.
The final trial began.
This time, everything came out.
Matteo testified.
Anna testified.
Raphael testified.
Dela testified.
Camille testified.
The truth was painful.
But it ended the cycle.
The courts divided the stolen assets.
Riverline became a nonprofit financial protection organization.
The remaining legitimate businesses stayed under Raphael and Dela.
The family name recovered.
Not completely.
But honestly.
Months later, Dela and Raphael married.
The ceremony was small.
Toby carried the rings.
Mrs. Kowalski cried.
Anna smiled.
Matteo sat in the front row.
When Raphael saw Dela walking toward him, he forgot the vows.
She laughed.
“Speechless?”
He nodded.
“Apparently.”
She reached him.
“You ready?”
“Yes.”
The ceremony ended with snow falling outside.
Afterward, Raphael whispered:
“Table twelve?”
Dela laughed.
“What?”
May you like
“Someday, we should go back.”
“We will.”
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