CHAPTER SIXTEEN
O livia scoffed. “But this video isn’t current. He made this years ago. Why did you play it at all?”
“It’s all we have,” Mr. Sears answered and cleared his throat. “It’s… it’s earlier than the current will, but we believe Luca Marini’s video demonstrates his best wishes for his inheritance—”
“We’ll see about that,” Gunnar cut in, his tone sharp.
“You should all review the booklets of the current will,” Mr. Sears announced.
“The video fails to acknowledge that I hold the most shares of our stock and that I’m co-head of our board. It’s also been recorded in minutes, and approved by the current board in every quarter for the past five years that I’ll be his successor,” Rocco said in a raised voice as he flipped through the papers. “Most of these changes would have to have my approval, and I most definitely won’t give them.”
“What about us?” Sienna sobbed. “Did Grandpa take us out of his will? Does that mean we won’t get allowances?”
“He’s only giving Sienna and Salvatore five hundred million dollars. He’s cut me out completely,” Nico shouted and threw his booklet across the table. “Where’s the one hundred and thirty billion dollars going? To the trust, the board, and charities? Fuck that.” He jumped up and started to pace.
“I can’t believe he’d do this,” Salvatore slammed his fist on the table.
Nico went over to Mr. Sears and pointed his finger in his face. “Where did you get this new will?”
“It was given to me a couple of months ago,” Mr. Sears said. “It’s legal—”
“I wouldn’t speak in definitive, Mr. Sears,” Gunnar spoke over him. “You’ll have to prove it. This will’s completely different from the one on file for the past five years.”
Nico walked over to Olivia who was strangely quiet. “The arranged marriage contract agreement said Rocco had to marry Adelina. We removed the children stipulation. Did you know your father put it in his will? Is that why you’re not upset?” he yelled.
“Stop screaming at her,” Rocco shouted at him.
I touched Ian’s arm and leaned toward his ear. “Can I at least say how upset I am, too?” Luca’s used his will to control me as much as his family.
“No. It’s best to let this legally play out,” he whispered close.
“But your mother planned this with him, son,” Nico said to Rocco. “Look at the new will; all her money and property remain hers. He’s making me beg my wife for handouts. You should be furious. He stole your future.”
“He hasn’t yet,” Rocco said in an even tone.
“But you all have money,” Olivia softly interjected. “More money than you’ll ever spend in a lifetime. Rocco, he’s given you the equivalent of twenty billion dollars, and you’re still on the trust and boards—”
“Mom, what use is money, if grandfather’s controlling how I can spend it? He’s attempting to use the will to take my board and trust power,” Rocco said to her, surprisingly calm as he scanned the pages. “He’s trying to use the estate and trust to rule from the grave.”
“Some things, not everything—”
“Yes, everything , Mom. Grandfather never had to answer to anyone, but he wants to make me do it. He’s attempting to take away my ability to produce films, create a studio. He even wants to force me to have kids. It’s cruel and egoistic, and I won’t allow it. I’ll be calling a board meeting tonight to block most of this, and I’m filing papers tonight.” Rocco’s gaze went to Gunnar, who nodded affirmatively at him. “To fight his desperate act.”
I wasn’t all that surprised at what Mr. Marini had done to Rocco and me. He’d been very clear during our dinner he wanted us to have children sooner than later. However, the Luca on the video was different than the one I knew the last eight years. He was selfish and heavy-handed, especially to Rocco. Luca had previously announced publicly Rocco as his successor. It was natural for him to expect all powers turned over on his death.
“Well, it can all be easily solved without having to involve the board, Rocco,” Olivia said quickly. “I’m not happy about the quick elopement, but you’re married as my father wanted. So why not have a child now and use the money you’ll get from doing that to start your studio since you and Adelina were going to have children anyway? As for the board, I’ll support whatever you need.”
“Absolutely not,” Nico said, his voice raising. “Luca went back on the main provision he promised, no forced children. He broke his trust and ruined Rocco’s dream, and yet, you’re fine with it. Honestly, I’m baffled the board approved this new will. When was it made?”
All our heads turned to Mr. Sears.
“The board didn’t approve it,” Gunnar answered for him.
Mr. Sears straightened his spine. “As I said, a couple of months ago—”
“Any changes to the will must be approved by the board,” Rocco cut in. “He can’t make a last ditch effort without board approval, especially with succession. It’s in the Marini Holdings bylaws.”
Mr. Silver cleared his throat. “It was to be presented at the quarterly meeting—”
“But it wasn’t,” Rocco cut him off.
“That’s because the meeting was postponed for the wedding, and now with his untimely passing it couldn’t be presented,” Mr. Sears said. “However, these were Luca Marini’s wishes, and the estate and trust are prepared to enforce this new will regardless of its late submission.”
“And what if Rocco divorces Adelina?” Nico asked.
Olivia scoffed. “That’s not happening.”
“I’m just asking Mr. Sears, hypothetically,” Nico said to her. “What happens if he marries someone else?”
I locked my jaw to keep silent and calm.
“If Rocco divorces Adelina, there’s a provision that stipulates that he’ll not be permitted funds beyond what he’s been allotted in this will. As for the Belfiores, their monies and properties would be reverted back to the Marini Corporate if that happened.”
I swallowed hard. Luca had tied me to Rocco, too. My grandmother, who I had just become close to, would lose her legacy property and all the funds promised in the marriage. They’d also end up in great debt. This was a horrific blow . Had I ever known Luca at all? This was a side to him I had never seen before. It was ruthless.
“Fuck that,” Nico said. “Luca’s diabolical. He’s forced marriages, children. It’s obvious he’s trying to make Rocco give up movies and return to Marini Corporate.”
The Marinis would still have billions, properties, shares, and stock, a staggering amount of wealth. I, however, was coming from a position of having nothing.
“Mr. Sears, can you explain what Sienna and I have now?” Salvatore said to him.
“Mr. Marini’s built your trust and funds for you and your children’s children’s lifetimes. Nothing fundamentally changes for you two,” he explained.
“Except for the billions you were to receive in the legal will,” Nico said and huffed. “Get out of here with that bullshit of nothing has changed.”
“Rocco, do you want to have a child with Adelina?” Olivia asked him directly, and I held my breath.
“Eventually,” Rocco answered. “Not this year or the next.”
Olivia glared at Nico. “Then, I don’t see the problem. Rocco. You can still run your production company. Just get more investors for the studio.”
I looked at Rocco and admired his calmness and patience with his mother. She obviously didn’t see how taxing this would be for him, and the magnitude of what he just lost.
Nico huffed. “Luca ruined Rocco’s dreams, his inheritance, but you’re fine with it. Nothing Daddy does was ever a problem for you.”
“Stop talking to her like that,” Rocco snapped at Nico. “I get it, Dad. It’s a wishlist will, that has never been approved. I’m going to fight it. But we’re still family and we don’t need to hurt each other right now.”
“If you’re fighting this will, why not fight the arranged marriage?” Nico asked Rocco before turning his attention to me. “You could also fight it, Adelina. Can’t you do that for Rocco? We’ll make sure you’ll never need or lack a thing for the rest of your life. After all we’ve been through, I’m sure you don’t want to put us through litigation.”
“That would only hurt Rocco,” Olivia pointed out. “Isn’t that right, Mr. Sears?”
“It is. But their divorce won’t change anything as I explained,” Mr. Sears replied. “Adelina is as tied to Luca’s will as Rocco is.”
Nico wasn’t considering the will. His only thought was that I wasn’t good enough for his son.
Olivia came over to stand in front of me. She bent at her knees and slowly clasped my hands. Her eyes were watery, and I knew this all was hard on her, and I hated that I hurt her in any way. She had always been accepting of me. “I was upset to learn about the elopement because I love being my children’s mother, and I wanted to see my son marry. I sat right here in your position years ago. I chose to raise a family, and that’s all my father ever wanted. Please tell me, would you be willing to have Rocco’s child now?”
I glanced over at Rocco and he gave me back a blank stare. Still, I told her the truth. “Yes. I would have a child now, but I’m also here to support Rocco’s wishes.”
She squeezed my hands. “Good…good. I needed that. I forgive you. I’m happy you’re my new daughter, and I welcome you. We will get through this as a family.”
I was relieved she forgave me and wanted us to get along. My eyes filled, and she lightly tugged my arms, getting me to stand up and give her a hug. Her warmth surrounded me, and I could so easily see Luca and Rocco basking in it.
Nico came to me and glowered. “I don’t forgive you for damning my son into a lifetime of a loveless marriage. Please, remove yourself, and let us figure things out on our own.”
“Don’t say another word to my wife,” Rocco hissed. “You are never to speak to her like that again.”
I stiffened my back and pressed my lips together. There was nothing I could say that would change Nico’s mind about me or my family. For better or worse, Luca had been right. His decisions placed me on a difficult path. I would have to stand up for what I wanted. Rocco asked me to choose him and that was what I planned to do.
I straightened my spine and gazed around until my gaze connected with Rocco’s. “I’m not divorcing Rocco, and nothing you can say or do will change my mind.”
I was a Marini now, Rocco’s wife, and our destinies, like our vows, would be our bond.