The Barefoot Girl Who Saved a Cartel King—Her Reward Left Everyone in Tears

Vincent's Lawyer Unleashes a New Attack

The estate's great hall was thick with tension as Vincent's lawyer, a sleek man named Richard Cole, stood before Lorenzo with a smug smile. "Mr. Moretti," he said, "my client has made serious accusations. He claims you conspired to have him killed, and he has evidence."

Lorenzo laughed, a cold, dangerous sound. "Vincent is a traitor. He tried to have me murdered on those stairs. The little girl saved my life."

Richard's smile only widened. "Ah, yes, the little girl. Tell me, Mr. Moretti—have you verified her story? Or have you been blinded by sentiment?"

Lorenzo's hand tightened on his cane. "What are you implying?"

"I'm implying," Richard said, "that Vincent didn't act alone. He had help—from someone inside your own family. And I have proof."

He slid a folder across the table. Inside were photographs, bank statements, and a recording. Lorenzo's blood ran cold as he recognized the voice of his own son, Marco.

"Marco?" Lorenzo whispered. "My own son?"

Richard nodded. "Marco has been working with Vincent for months. He wanted you dead so he could take over the empire. The little girl exposed one plot—but there are others."

Lorenzo felt the world tilt. He had trusted Marco with everything—his business, his secrets. And now, the boy he'd raised had tried to kill him.

"Where is Marco now?" Lorenzo demanded.

"He's on his way," Richard said. "He wants to speak with you. He says he can explain."

But Lorenzo was already on his feet, his cane forgotten. "He'll explain to the police," he growled. "I'll have him arrested."

"You can't," Richard said calmly. "Marco has diplomatic immunity. He's been working with the FBI to take you down. This whole thing—the sabotage, the guard, the little girl—it was all a setup to make you look paranoid and unstable."

Daisy was in the hallway, listening through the crack in the door. She heard Lorenzo's roar of rage, and then a crash as his cane hit the floor. She ran into the room, her small feet padding on the marble.

"Don't hurt him!" she cried, flinging herself at Lorenzo's legs. "He's my friend!"

Lorenzo froze. "Friend?"

Daisy nodded, tears in her eyes. "The tall man with the scar—Vincent—he was nice to me. He gave me candy. But he said if I told you about the pin, he'd hurt my mama. He said he'd hurt everyone I love."

Lorenzo knelt down, his face softening. "Daisy, Vincent was going to kill me. He's not your friend."

"But he said he was," she insisted. "He said he was protecting me."

Lorenzo's mind raced. Vincent had been his most trusted guard for years. Could it be that Vincent had planned to save Daisy all along? Or was this another layer of the trap?

He looked at Richard. "I want to see the recording."

Richard hesitated, then played it. On the screen, Vincent stood in a dim room, speaking to a figure in shadow. "The boss will break his neck on those stairs. Then we take the girl and disappear."

Lorenzo's blood ran cold. "The girl? Why would they want Daisy?"

Richard shrugged. "She's the key to the trust fund, Mr. Moretti. Your late wife set it up—every grandchild of yours gets a fortune. Daisy is your granddaughter, isn't she?"

Lorenzo felt the pieces click. Maria's daughter—his granddaughter—was worth millions. And someone had known.

"Who else knows about her?" he demanded.

"Marco," Richard said. "He's been trying to find her for years. He knew she was at the orphanage. He arranged for her to be brought here."

Daisy looked up, confused. "The nice lady at the orphanage said I was going to a big house with a playground. She said I'd be safe."

Lorenzo pulled her into his arms, his heart breaking. "You are safe, sweetheart. I promise you, no one will ever hurt you again."

But as he said it, he knew it wasn't true. The men in the black cars were still outside. And Marco was still coming.

The Trap Springs in the Vineyard

Lorenzo knew he couldn't trust anyone. He sent Daisy to a hidden room in the wine cellar, with a guard he'd known since childhood. Then he waited for Marco.

Marco arrived at sunset, walking through the gates as if he owned the place. He was tall and handsome, with his mother's eyes and his father's cold smile. "Father," he said, spreading his arms. "I've come to save you."

Lorenzo didn't move. "From what?"

"From yourself," Marco said. "You're old, broken. You can't run an empire anymore. It's time to step aside."

"And let you destroy everything I built?" Lorenzo said. "You tried to kill me, Marco. You sabotaged my brace. You hired Vincent to make sure I died."

Marco laughed. "Vincent was mine, yes. But I didn't want you dead—I wanted you out of the way. The brace was just to slow you down, to give me time to take control. The girl was a wild card. I didn't expect her to notice the pin."

Lorenzo's fists clenched. "She's innocent. She doesn't deserve this."

"She's a pawn," Marco said. "Like everyone else."

But Marco had made a mistake. He didn't know about the hidden camera in the tasting room, or the recording device in Lorenzo's pocket. As Marco spoke, he revealed everything—the plan, the bribes, the men in the black cars.

When Marco finished, Lorenzo spoke into his watch. "You heard it all?"

A voice crackled back. "Loud and clear. We're moving in."

Marco's eyes widened. "You're wired?"

"I'm smarter than you," Lorenzo said. "You're under arrest for attempted murder and conspiracy."

But Marco just smiled. "You think I came alone?"

At that moment, the estate's security feeds went black. Gunfire erupted outside. Lorenzo hit the ground, pulling his cane up as a shield.

And in the wine cellar, Daisy heard the shots and hid in the darkest corner, clutching her locket.