Chapter 10
Marcus gave Valentina the name behind RIVER.
Leon Voss.
Old Moretti driver.
Retired after Matteo’s death.
Thomas exploded.
“You worthless coward.”
Marcus looked at him.
“Worthless?”
“You were useful for one simple job.”
“There it is.”
Thomas’s face hardened.
Marcus laughed bitterly.
“I break people for you.”
“Yes.”
“I control wedding security.”
“Yes.”
“I put the tablet recovery team in place.”
“Yes.”
“And still I’m not trusted.”
Thomas stared.
“You’re not family.”
Silence.
Vanessa looked at her brother.
That sentence hurt him.
It was also nearly identical to what Thomas had taught them to say about Ethan.
Not family.
Not enough.
Useful until finished.
Marcus turned to Valentina.
“Leon lives outside North Harbor.”
Thomas shouted:
“Marcus!”
He ignored him.
“He handled Matteo’s route.”
“How?”
Marcus shook his head.
“I don’t know.”
Valentina believed him.
For once.
Vanessa whispered:
“Second version.”
Everyone looked at her.
She was crying now.
Not absolved.
Just frightened.
“Thomas said if Ethan survived…”
She swallowed.
“…I accuse Valentina.”
“Of what?”
“Pushing him.”
Valentina stared.
Vanessa continued.
“The wedding photographers were positioned wrong on purpose.”
Marcus closed his eyes.
“The deep-end camera?”
Vanessa nodded.
“It only catches Valentina diving.”
Not Vanessa’s shove.
Not Thomas’s restraint.
Only rescue without cause.
Then Vanessa said:
“Three guests were prepared to say Valentina slapped me first.”
Thomas smiled.
“Witnesses remember what powerful people help them remember.”
Valentina looked at the guests.
Three immediately tried not to react.
She saw them.
One woman began crying.
“I didn’t know the child would actually go in.”
Thomas sighed.
“Pathetic.”
Valentina turned.
The woman continued:
“They told us it was a family confrontation.”
Another guest whispered:
“We were supposed to say Ethan slipped.”
Third:
“And Valentina attacked Vanessa.”
There it was.
If Ethan died, grief removed Valentina.
If he survived, scandal did.
Two outcomes.
Same target.
Thomas looked almost proud.
“You finally understand.”
Valentina stared.
“Yes.”
His smile widened.
Then she continued:
“You never needed Ethan dead.”
The smile faded.
“You only needed me broken.”
May you like
Thomas said nothing.
And that silence confirmed the entire architecture of the plan.
