Chapter 7 - Loretta’s Last Move
Loretta Moretti had lost her authority.
But she had not lost her pride.
And Valentino knew his mother well enough to understand one thing.
A person like Loretta did not accept defeat.
She searched for another battlefield.
Three weeks after the family hearing, a new lawsuit arrived.
This time, Loretta did not attack Valentino.
She attacked Isolde.
The claim was carefully written.
Concerned grandmother.
Protective family member.
A child too young to understand her inheritance.
The argument was simple:
Isolde was only six years old.
She could not possibly control billions in assets.
Someone responsible had to manage everything.
And Loretta wanted the court to appoint her.
Valentino read the lawsuit in silence.
His lawyer watched him.
“She’s trying to regain guardianship.”
Valentino looked up.
“She’s using Isolde as the reason.”
“Yes.”
“She’s not fighting for the child.”
“No.”
“She’s fighting for control.”
Exactly.
The same battle.
Different words.
The court hearing attracted national attention.
The Moretti family was already famous.
But now the public saw something different.
Not a billionaire family.
A family fighting over a little girl’s future.
Loretta entered the courthouse surrounded by attorneys.
She looked calm.
Confident.
Like she still believed she was the person everyone would trust.
When reporters asked:
“Mrs. Moretti, why are you challenging your son?”
She answered:
“I only want to protect my granddaughter.”
Valentino watched from inside.
He almost believed her.
Almost.
Because that was Loretta’s greatest talent.
She could make control sound like love.
Inside the courtroom, Loretta’s attorney began.
“Your Honor, this is not about money.”
Everyone knew that sentence usually meant money was involved.
“This is about a child.”
The attorney pointed toward Valentino.
“Mr. Moretti is allowing personal emotions to interfere with responsible guardianship.”
Valentino remained silent.
Then came Loretta’s testimony.
She walked to the stand.
The same woman who had controlled family meetings for decades.
The same woman who made executives nervous.
She looked at the judge.
“I love my granddaughter.”
The judge nodded.
“Explain your concerns.”
Loretta sighed.
“Isolde is a wonderful child.”
A pause.
“But she is vulnerable.”
Valentino’s expression changed.
There it was.
The word.
Vulnerable.
The same idea she had used since Isolde was born.
The same excuse.
“She requires guidance.”
The attorney asked:
“And who do you believe can provide that guidance?”
Loretta looked directly at Valentino.
“Someone who understands responsibility.”
The answer was obvious.
Herself.
Then Valentino’s attorney stood.
“Mrs. Moretti.”
Loretta looked confident.
“Yes?”
“Do you believe my client loves his daughter?”
“Yes.”
“Do you believe he protects her?”
“Yes.”
“Then why are you requesting control?”
Loretta paused.
The courtroom waited.
“Because love is not enough.”
Valentino looked down.
Because those words explained everything.
Loretta believed love was weakness.
The attorney continued.
“Is it true you removed Isolde’s medical brace?”
Loretta’s lawyer objected.
The judge allowed the question.
Loretta answered:
“I was correcting behavior.”
“Behavior?”
“Yes.”
“Was her brace causing the behavior?”
Silence.
The attorney looked at the jury.
“She was not misbehaving.”
He turned back.
“She was using medical support prescribed by doctors.”
Loretta looked uncomfortable.
Then came the next question.
“Did you call Isolde a weak heir?”
Loretta said nothing.
The silence was the answer.
Then Valentino’s attorney played the recording.
Loretta’s own voice.
Clear.
Cold.
“Weak heirs cannot lead this family.”
The courtroom became silent.
The judge looked toward Loretta.
“Did you say this?”
Loretta’s face tightened.
“I was speaking emotionally.”
“About a six-year-old child?”
No answer.
Then the attorney displayed the inheritance documents.
“The child you called weak is the legal owner of the estate.”
Loretta looked away.
The truth was undeniable.
She did not fear Isolde being weak.
She feared Isolde being powerful.
The final witness surprised everyone.
Isolde.
The judge carefully considered her age.
But after speaking privately with her, allowed limited testimony.
Valentino did not want this.
He wanted to protect her.
But Isolde held his hand.
“Daddy.”
“Yes?”
“I want to tell the truth.”
He looked at his daughter.
And realized something.
She was not the little girl Loretta thought she was.
She was scared.
But she was brave.
The judge asked gently:
“Isolde, do you know why you are here today?”
She nodded.
“Because adults are fighting about my home.”
The courtroom became quiet.
“Do you want to live with your father?”
“Yes.”
“Why?”
She looked confused.
“Because Daddy listens.”
That sentence destroyed Loretta more than any document.
The judge asked:
“Does your grandmother love you?”
Isolde thought carefully.
Then answered:
“I think she loves the family name more.”
Nobody spoke.
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Even Valentino looked surprised.
Because a six-year-old had explained the entire case in one sentence.
