Chapter 26 – Moretti Falls
I stood by the window, arms folded, watching the trees sway gently.
For the first time in days, I could breathe. My grandfather was back, safe and resting.
When I got the call that he’d been rescued, I cried-full, hot tears that soaked Mateo’s shirt as he held me.
Now, my father sat across from me in the living room, staring into his coffee like it had all the answers in the world.
“It’s time we end this,” he said firmly. “Dante and Renata have played too many games. If we don’t destroy them now, they’ll come back stronger.”
I nodded. “I agree.”
Just then, Mateo walked in.
His shirt was stained with blood.
“Is that-?” I stood up quickly.
“Renata,” he said, his voice hard. “She’s dead. Lorenzo beat her to death.”
I blinked. “What?”
“She mocked him. Told him everything. That she was working with Dante. That the twins weren’t his. She laughed in his face.” He exhaled slowly. “He snapped before anyone could stop him. She
didn’t make it. The twins didn’t either.”
The room went quiet.
“I got it all on tape,” he added, pulling out his phone. “It’s already been sent to our people.”
My father crossed himself slowly. “May God forgive us all.”
“No,” I said coldly. “There’s no forgiveness left in this war.”
Mateo looked at me. “Are you ready?”
“Yes. It’s time we finish what they started.”
He nodded and stepped outside to make some calls.
I turned to my father. “We burn it all. Starting now.”
By evening, the internet was on fire. Every major news channel had picked up the scandal. Mateo had sent the full story-pictures, documents, video evidence of Lorenzo’s abuse, corruption, his family’s history of violence, and the truth about Mateo’s mother.
One by one, news anchors tore the Moretti empire apart.
“Moretti family accused of rape, murder, and financial fraud.”
“Illegitimate son Mateo De Luca rises with vengeance, claims control.”
“Sophia Moretti: The woman who returned from the dead to destroy her enemies.”
I sat on my bed, flipping through channels, watching Lorenzo’s world fall apart. Mateo called. “We’re ready.”
8:54 pm
I met him in front of the Moretti Tower.
The building looked smaller now, almost pathetic. There were police outside, reporters with cameras, and angry investors demanding answers.
We didn’t stop.
We walked straight through the front doors, past stunned security guards, past board members whispering in shock, straight into the boardroom.
Lorenzo’s grandfather was already inside.
His face was pale, lips tight. He looked like a man who had lost everything.
“You don’t belong here,” he said hoarsely.
Mateo stepped forward and dropped a thick file on the table. “You made a mistake trying to kill me when I was a child. That mistake just cost you everything.”
He handed the file to the board members.
“I’ve bought up every share in this company,” Mateo announced. “I’m now the majority shareholder. Which means I’m now your boss.”
The boardroom erupted.
“What is this?”
“This has to be a joke.”
“You can’t-”
“I can,” Mateo cut in smoothly. “And I have. As of this morning, all the shares were transferred. Legal and clean.”
Alessandro looked around. His father was sitting stiffly, red in the face. His mother looked like she might faint.
‘You-you can’t do this,” the old man snapped. “We’re Morettis! We won’t stand for this, it’s ar injustice!”
Mateo smirked. “So was my mother treated unjustly. You raped her, killed her, and failed to kill
me.”
‘You’re lying,” the grandfather hissed.
Mateo tossed another file on the table. DNA results. Photos. Witness reports.
Silence followed.
The air was thick with tension.
‘I built myself from nothing,” Mateo said, his voice steady. “I climbed out of your shadows. And now, I own everything you ever built.”
“Security!” Alessandro shouted. “Get him out of here!”
But no one moved.
Instead, a loud thud echoed in the room.
Lorenzo’s grandfather clutched his chest.
He gasped twice and then collapsed to the floor.
“Papa!” Alessandro shouted, rushing to him.
But it was too late.
He wasn’t breathing.
The room turned to chaos. Someone screamed. People called for an ambulance.
Mateo stepped back, calm.
I walked over to Lorenzo who had been sitting calmly a while ago.
He looked up at me with wild, broken eyes.
“You did this,” he whispered.
“No,” I said softly. “You did this to yourself.”
I turned to Mateo. “Let’s go.”
He nodded, slipping his hand into mine as we walked out of the boardroom.
Outside, the cameras were waiting.
Reporters rushed us, snapping pictures, yelling questions.
“Mateo De Luca, is it true you’re the new CEO?”
“Miss Sophia, is this revenge?”
I smiled faintly but said nothing.
Mateo pulled me close. “You look proud.”
“I am,” I said.
He smiled. “Then let’s finish this. There’s still Dante left.”
“I’m ready.”
He kissed my forehead. “Good. Because we’re just getting started.”
