THE MARINO LEGACY

By sunrise, the Marino estate had become a fortress.

Every entrance was guarded. Every employee had been questioned. Vincent had ordered a complete review of the family's medical, financial and security records.

But the most disturbing discovery came from a source nobody expected.

Lily.

The little girl had been drawing in the breakfast room when she noticed a photograph on the table.

It showed Vanessa standing beside Vincent at a charity gala.

“Mommy?”

Jenna looked up.

“What is it?”

“That's the lady who came yesterday.”

“Yes, sweetheart.”

Lily pointed at the photograph.

“She was talking to the man on the phone.”

Jenna stopped moving.

“What man?”

“The one who was outside our building.”

Jenna knelt beside her.

“Are you sure?”

Lily nodded.

“He had a shiny watch. He told the lady something, and she gave him a little envelope.”

Jenna immediately called Vincent.

Within minutes, Marcus was reviewing the building's security footage.

The footage confirmed Lily's description.

A man wearing a silver watch had approached Vanessa's vehicle outside Jenna's apartment building.

He had passed her a small envelope.

Vanessa had then driven away.

Vincent watched the recording twice.

“Find him.”

Marcus enlarged the image.

“That's Peter Harlan.”

Vincent recognized the name.

Harlan was a former security contractor who had worked for the Marino family before being dismissed for selling confidential information.

“Why is he working with Vanessa?”

Marcus looked uncomfortable.

“We've been investigating her finances.”

He placed several bank statements on the desk.

“For the last fourteen months, substantial sums have been transferred from an account connected to the Sterling family into companies controlled by Dominic.”

“How much?”

“Approximately eleven million dollars.”

Vincent's expression did not change.

But his fingers tightened around the edge of the desk.

“That's my money.”

“Some of it.”

Marcus placed another document in front of him.

“The transfers originated from accounts belonging to the legitimate hotel and property businesses. There are also payments to offshore entities.”

“Who approved them?”

“Dominic.”

“And Vanessa?”

Marcus hesitated.

“She received payments too.”

Vincent leaned back.

For years, he had allowed Dominic to manage certain business affairs. His brother had always presented himself as loyal, dependable and willing to handle the unpleasant details.

Apparently, he had been handling much more than that.

At noon, Vanessa arrived unannounced.

She entered the study wearing a black dress and carrying a folder.

“Vincent, we need to settle this.”

He didn't invite her to sit.

“What is this?”

She placed the folder on his desk.

“Wedding contracts. The venue needs confirmation.”

Vincent looked at her.

“Is that why you came?”

“Of course.”

“Not to explain the money?”

Her face changed.

“What money?”

“The eleven million dollars transferred through Dominic's companies.”

Vanessa laughed.

“Business expenses.”

“Then explain them.”

“You know how complicated these investments are.”

“I know enough to recognize theft.”

Her expression hardened.

“Be careful.”

Vincent slowly stood.

“Are you threatening me?”

“No. I'm reminding you that your brother has kept this family together while you've spent years being impossible to live with.”

“My brother has been stealing from me.”

“He has been protecting you!”

The shout echoed through the room.

Jenna, who had been passing the open doorway with Lily, stopped.

Vanessa realized her mistake.

She lowered her voice.

“Vincent, you don't understand what happened ten years ago.”

Vincent's eyes narrowed.

“Then explain it.”

Vanessa looked toward the doorway.

“Not in front of her.”

“Jenna stays.”

Vanessa's lips tightened.

“You've known this woman for three days.”

“And I've known you for eleven months.”

The silence was brutal.

Vanessa opened her handbag and removed a photograph.

She placed it on the desk.

It showed Vincent in a hospital bed, unconscious, with Dominic standing beside him.

The photograph had been taken shortly after the shooting ten years earlier.

“Do you remember that night?” Vanessa asked.

“Yes.”

“Do you remember who drove you to the hospital?”

“Dominic.”

“And who arranged your surgery?”

“My father.”

Vanessa shook her head.

“Your father wasn't there.”

Vincent stared at her.

“What?”

“Your father was already dead. Dominic arranged everything.”

Vincent looked toward Marcus.

Marcus appeared equally surprised.

Vanessa continued.

“Your brother saved your life. He spent weeks at the hospital. He handled the business while you were recovering. He was the one who made sure your medical treatment continued.”

“Why are you telling me this?”

“Because you're treating him like a criminal when he's the only reason you're alive.”

Vincent moved toward the desk.

“Did you know about the device in my jacket?”

Vanessa's eyes flickered.

It was only a fraction of a second.

But Vincent saw it.

“I don't know what you're talking about.”

“Someone installed an electronic device near my medical implant.”

“That sounds absurd.”

“Then you won't mind answering a few questions from the police.”

Vanessa went pale.

“The police?”

“Dr. Reed is dead. His records are being examined. So are your financial transactions.”

She stepped backward.

“You wouldn't.”

“I already have.”

Vanessa turned toward Jenna.

“You think you've won something, don't you?”

Jenna said nothing.

Vanessa moved closer.

“Listen carefully. Men like Vincent don't fall in love with women like you. They become fascinated for a week, then they get bored. And when that happens, you will be left with nothing.”

Vincent stepped between them.

“Get out.”

Vanessa's eyes filled with tears.

“After everything I've done for you?”

“Especially after everything you've done.”

She grabbed her handbag and left.

That evening, Vincent asked Jenna to join him in the library.

“I owe you an apology.”

“For what?”

“For bringing you into this.”

“You didn't bring me into it. Somebody put a threat under my door.”

He nodded.