Chapter 7 - Confrontation at the Gala
A hush fell over the room. Vincent Caruso adjusted his tie, his eyebrows knitting together. Vanessa’s smile froze.
Ethan gestured toward the grand staircase.
"Many of you were here three nights ago when my fiancée publicly humiliated a young woman working in this house," Ethan continued, his voice sharp as a blade. "What Miss Caruso did not know—and what certain people in this room went to great lengths to hide—is that this young woman was not merely a servant."
The double doors at the top of the stairs opened.
Hannah stepped out into the light, walking slowly and gracefully down the carpeted steps, one hand resting over her belly. The room gasped. The guests recognized her instantly, but the air of helpless vulnerability was gone. She walked with the poise of a woman backed by the entire might of the Moretti empire.
"Her name is Hannah Reed Moretti," Ethan announced, his voice ringing through the silent ballroom. "She is the lawful wife of my late brother, Owen Moretti. And the child she carries is the sole legal heir to the Moretti family lineage."
Whispers erupted like wildfire.
Vanessa turned pale, taking a step back. "Ethan! This is insane! She’s a liar! A gold-digger trying to claim—"
"Silence!" Ethan barked, his eyes flashing with lethal fury. He motioned to Marco, who walked forward carrying a black leather portfolio containing certified marriage records, DNA testing confirmation from the hospital, and financial records detailing the betrayal.
"Three nights ago, someone searched Hannah's room to destroy these documents," Ethan said, turning his gaze directly toward Dominic Vance, who was standing near the back exit. "And six months ago, someone planted an explosive in a shipyard warehouse to murder my brother because he found out about an illegal smuggling network run by Vincent Caruso... and executed with the help of a traitor in my own house."
Dominic’s face drained of color. He reached into his coat for a hidden firearm, but before he could raise it, Marco moved with lightning speed, striking Dominic’s wrist and forcing him to the floor, disarming him instantly.
Vincent Caruso tried to back toward the front entrance, but two heavy Moretti guards blocked the doors, arms crossed over their chests.
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"You have no proof of this, Moretti!" Vincent shouted, his suave demeanor finally cracking into anger. "You can't prove a single word!"
"I don't need to prove it to the courts, Vincent," Ethan said quietly, stepping down from the platform. "Julian has already given a full signed confession to federal agents. They are waiting outside the gates right now."
