Chapter 11 - THOMAS GREER
Thomas Greer arrived with three attorneys.
Dominic considered that wise.
Grace handled the meeting.
Dominic attended only because the trust was his family’s.
Greer denied orchestrating manipulation.
“I explained legal consequences.”
Grace played the recording.
Greer sighed.
“That was poorly phrased.”
Dominic laughed once.
“Interesting.”
Grace continued:
“You advised Veronica to trigger Dominic’s fear regarding Lila.”
“I advised her that Dominic reacts strongly to succession threats.”
“Why was she your client?”
Silence.
Greer’s attorneys conferred.
Eventually:
“She paid independently.”
“How much?”
“$310,000.”
Dominic stared.
“For trust analysis?”
“Yes.”
“About my family?”
“Yes.”
“Without notifying trustees?”
“The documents were partly public or provided by her.”
Not all.
Some sealed schedules had been accessed through Greer’s old credentials.
That created bigger problems.
Greer claimed authorization remained active.
Grace disagreed.
The legal system could decide.
Then Dominic asked one question.
“Did you know Veronica stole Lila’s DNA?”
Greer looked shocked.
“No.”
Dominic believed him.
“Did you know she lied to Ethan?”
“No.”
Likely true.
“Did you tell her to frighten my daughter?”
Greer paused.
“No.”
Dominic leaned back.
“You told her to threaten Lila’s place.”
Greer’s face tightened.
“In a strategic sense.”
“There is no strategic sense to an eight-year-old.”
Silence.
That was the moral center.
Greer understood systems.
Forgot people.
The trust firm terminated him.
Professional complaints followed regarding access and conflicts.
No dramatic arrest.
Appropriate.
Veronica’s civil exposure increased.
Her lawyers began settlement discussions concerning unauthorized testing, physical conduct, and financial-plan interference.
Dominic did not demand ruin.
He demanded:
No contact with Lila.
No contact with Ethan.
No claim against Bellini trusts.
Return of confidential material.
Full disclosure of anyone involved.
Financial restitution where supported.
And personal accountability for the gala assault through legal channels.
Veronica initially refused.
Then Rachel’s messages and Greer’s recording surfaced.
She reconsidered.
Before signing anything, Veronica requested one meeting with Dominic.
Grace opposed.
Dominic agreed with strict conditions.
Neutral conference room.
Lawyers.
No children.
Veronica entered in a navy suit.
No diamonds.
No silver gown.
She looked tired.
Dominic felt nothing at first.
Then sadness.
Seven years.
They had known each other seven years.
He had loved her.
That did not vanish because the ending was ugly.
Veronica spoke.
“I never wanted to hurt Lila.”
Dominic stared.
“Bad opening.”
She closed her eyes.
“You’re right.”
Try again.
“I resented her.”
Better.
“Why?”
“Because every room had Isabella in it.”
Dominic looked at her.
“Lila is not Isabella.”
“I know.”
“No.”
His voice hardened.
“You knew intellectually. You treated her like evidence that another woman mattered first.”
Veronica cried.
Dominic felt no urge to comfort.
She continued.
“When I found Gabriel’s son, I thought I could finally create a structure where everything was clear.”
“You mean controlled.”
“Yes.”
Good.
“I thought if I solved the succession problem, you’d need me.”
“I needed honesty.”
“I know.”
“Why the gala?”
Veronica looked ashamed.
“She had the report.”
“So you punished her.”
“Yes.”
“Why say bloodline ends with you?”
“I wanted her to give me the box.”
Dominic stared.
“You frightened a child because you lost control of paper.”
Veronica cried harder.
“Yes.”
No excuse.
That mattered.
Then she said:
“I loved you.”
Dominic looked away.
“I believe you.”
She seemed surprised.
He continued.
“That doesn’t make you safe.”
Silence.
Their relationship ended there in truth.
Not at the gala.
Here.
When both acknowledged love could coexist with harm and still not justify reunion.
Veronica signed the agreement weeks later.
No contact.
No Bellini governance.
Restitution.
Cooperation.
The gala assault resulted in legal consequences consistent with evidence.
May you like
Dominic did not celebrate.
He took Lila for ice cream.
