Marco lunged across the stainless steel table.

His hands reached frantically for the ledger.

Domenico did not flinch.

He caught Marco by the collar of his suit and twisted his weight down.

Marco’s chest slammed violently against the cold metal surface, scattering dust into the air.

"Do not touch the record," Domenico whispered into his brother's ear.

Marco groaned under the pressure, his fingers clawing uselessly at the steel edge.

"Domenico... please," Marco gasped, the arrogance completely gone from his tone.

"I was twenty-four years old."

"I was in debt to the Rossi syndicate."

"They threatened to take my legs if I didn't produce the four million."

Domenico maintained his grip on Marco's collar, pressing him flat against the table.

"And Enzo died so you could keep your legs?"

Camilla stood watching them, her arms limp at her sides.

Tears had washed two pale tracks through the powder on her cheeks.

"You married me," Camilla whispered, her gaze fixed on the back of Marco's head.

"You took me into this house after my father was buried in shame."

"You let the entire city call Enzo a thief for twenty years."

"You pretended to be my savior."

Marco tried to lift his head, his voice muffled against the metal.

"I took care of you, Camilla!"

"I gave you the villa on the ridge!"

"I gave you the jewelry, the cars, the name!"

"You gave me the blood of my father wrapped in diamonds," Camilla said, her voice dropping into a dead chill.

She looked at Domenico.

"When Angelo discovered the truth, why didn't he hand Marco to the authorities?"

Domenico slowly released his hold, stepping back from the table.

Marco scrambled upright, wheezing as he straightened his twisted collar.

Domenico pulled his father's handwritten letter from his breast pocket and read the final paragraph aloud:

*‘To condemn my own son to the gallows would extinguish what remains of the Valenti house.*

*Yet to let Enzo’s line carry this dishonor is an unforgivable rot.*

*I have divided the principal equity of the harbor terminals into two private trusts.*

*One remains with Marco.*

*The other, fifty-one percent controlling interest, belongs perpetually to Enzo’s direct heir.’*

Domenico lowered the letter.

He looked across the room at Camilla.

"My father gave the entire Valenti commercial estate to you, Camilla."

"Eighteen years ago."

"And Marco knew that if you ever found out, you would strip him of every single cent."