Chapter 5 - Marco Filed for Custody of My Daughter Before Dawn, but Emma’s Simple Answer Destroyed His Entire CaseThe court hearing happened within twenty-four hours.
Marco's lawyers arrived with evidence.
Sophia's poverty.
Her employment.
Her supposed instability.
Her association with me.
They claimed I had manipulated her.
They claimed Emma was safer with a neutral guardian.
I almost laughed.
The hearing began.
The judge asked Emma privately:
“Who do you want to live with?”
Emma looked at me.
Then Sophia.
“Both.”
The judge smiled.
“Why?”
Emma answered:
“Because Dad makes sure we're safe.”
“And your mother?”
“She makes sure we're loved.”
Silence.
Marco's attorney continued.
“Do you understand who your father is?”
Emma nodded.
“Is he dangerous?”
She thought.
“Sometimes.”
The room laughed softly.
The attorney looked annoyed.
“Why would you trust him?”
Emma answered:
“Because he never makes us afraid.”
That ended the argument.
The court recognized me as Emma's father.
Sophia retained full parental rights.
And the trust was secured.
Marco had lost.
But when we returned to the mansion, he was gone.
So was Isabella.
The hunt began.
My men searched every property.
Every airport.
Every account.
Nothing.
Then Emma came to me.
“Daddy?”
“Yes?”
“She gave me this.”
“What?”
A small bracelet.
Isabella had slipped it around Emma's wrist.
Inside was a memory card.
I stared.
“How did she get this?”
“I don't know.”
The card contained a video.
Isabella.
Alone.
She looked frightened.
“Alessandro, if you're watching this, Marco lied to me.”
I froze.
She continued:
“He told me you would kill me if I didn't marry you.”
I stared.
“He said your family needed me.”
The video cut.
Then another file appeared.
A document.
Payments.
Threats.
Photographs.
And a name.
Carlo Moretti.
My uncle.
Isabella had been used too.
Carlo had controlled both of them.
And Marco.
He was the true architect.
But why?
The final file answered it.
Carlo was not my uncle's ally.
He was his son.
A secret son.
My father had hidden him.
Carlo had spent decades believing the empire should have been his.
The entire conspiracy began with an inheritance dispute.
He wanted the trust.
Marco wanted power.
Isabella wanted security.
And Emma had been the obstacle.
Then the mansion door opened.
Carlo stood outside.
Hands raised.
“I surrender.”
I stared.
“Where are the others?”
He smiled.
“Gone.”
“Where?”
He looked at Emma.
“Ask her.”
I froze.
Emma frowned.
“He told me where he hid the vault.”
I stared at my daughter.
“What vault?”
May you like
She pointed toward my father's portrait.
“Behind him.”
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