Chapter 6 - THE FAMILY VOTE
The Varenna family council met on Friday evening.
Luca had not wanted me there. I insisted.
“If this is about our child, I won't sit in another room while men decide what my family is allowed to know.”
He studied me for a moment.
Then he offered his arm.
The council room was on the top floor of the Varenna headquarters. Dark wood, long windows, a table large enough to make every person seated at it look small.
Vittorio sat at the far end.
He was sixty-two, elegant, silver-haired, and so practiced at appearing harmless that people often mistook his patience for kindness.
His eyes moved to me.
“Evelyn. I hope you're feeling better.”
“I'm fine, thank you.”
“Pregnancy can be difficult.”
Luca pulled out my chair.
“Let's begin.”
Vittorio folded his hands.
“The family has heard troubling rumors.”
“Then stop listening to them,” Luca said.
“Your wife may be expecting a child.”
“She is.”
A murmur moved around the table.
Vittorio looked toward Luca.
“That is impossible.”
“Apparently not.”
“Your medical condition was established years ago.”
“By a fraudulent report.”
The room went silent.
Luca placed copies of the laboratory log and payment ledger on the table.
“Someone substituted another patient's results for mine. A family account paid the laboratory employee who changed the records.”
Vittorio did not touch the papers.
“An accusation of this magnitude requires proof.”
“I'm gathering it.”
“Then you should be careful about making accusations before you have it.”
Luca leaned forward.
“Are you denying that you authorized the payment?”
Vittorio's expression remained calm.
“I authorize hundreds of payments.”
“To the clinic that falsified my diagnosis?”
“I funded medical research. I cannot account for every administrative decision.”
“Did you know?”
Vittorio looked at him for a long moment.
Then he turned to the council.
“Luca is under considerable emotional strain. A child would be a blessing, but we should not allow personal matters to destabilize the organization.”
I felt the room turn toward us.
One of the older council members cleared his throat.
“Under the family charter, the birth of a direct heir would trigger a review of the succession arrangement.”
Luca's eyes narrowed.
“What review?”
Vittorio answered before the man could.
“Your grandfather's trust contains provisions that were never activated because you were believed unable to have children. A legitimate heir would change the voting structure.”
I understood.
This was not only about a medical lie.
It was about power.
Luca had been kept from having an heir because an heir would weaken Vittorio's control.
Luca stood.
“The charter will be reviewed by independent counsel. Until then, no one discusses my wife or child without my permission.”
Vittorio's gaze moved to my stomach.
“I hope you understand the consequences of entering this family, Evelyn.”
May you like
I met his eyes.
“I understand them better than you think.”
