The Mafia Boss’s Greatest Mistake

Part 3: The King Who Lost Everything

Twenty minutes later, the ballroom’s enormous screen came alive.

A security recording appeared.

Victor was standing inside Catherine’s private study, holding several documents while speaking to his financial director.

His voice echoed through the ballroom.

“Move the Moretti accounts into the offshore companies. Catherine doesn’t understand any of this. By the time she discovers it, everything will belong to me.”

Another voice responded.

“And if she finds out?”

Victor laughed.

“She’s my wife. She’ll forgive me. Women like Catherine always do.”

The recording ended.

Nobody spoke.

Catherine stood perfectly still.

She had suspected financial misconduct for months, but seeing the evidence in front of hundreds of witnesses confirmed everything.

Don Alejandro’s expression darkened.

“Victor Costello, you have stolen from the Moretti family.”

Victor immediately shook his head.

“That recording is incomplete! I was only protecting the assets!”

Arthur opened another folder.

“Unfortunately, the financial records tell a different story. More than eighty million dollars was transferred through companies controlled by you and your financial director.”

Victor’s face turned gray.

Khloe slowly moved away from him.

“Victor,” she whispered, “you told me the money was yours.”

He turned toward her furiously.

“Shut up!”

Catherine raised one hand.

“Enough.”

The entire room fell silent.

She looked at Victor.

“You humiliated me in front of your business partners. You brought your mistress into my home. You used my family name to build your empire while secretly stealing from it.”

“Catherine, please.”

“You told me to be useful tonight.”

Her voice remained calm.

“So I will.”

She turned toward the three Mafia leaders.

“Effective immediately, the Costello family’s voting privileges within the old council are suspended. All assets connected to the stolen Moretti funds will be frozen pending investigation.”

Don Alejandro nodded.

“It will be done.”

“Furthermore, Victor Costello is no longer authorized to represent the old families in any negotiations.”

Victor stepped forward desperately.

“You can’t do this! I built the Costello empire!”

Catherine looked at him.

“You built it using money that wasn’t yours.”

He reached for her hand.

“Please. We have been married for three years. Doesn’t that mean anything?”

For the first time that evening, Catherine’s expression softened.

Not with love.

With disappointment.

“I once thought it meant something.”

She removed her wedding ring and placed it on the table.

“Tomorrow, my lawyer will deliver the divorce papers. You will sign them, return every asset belonging to my family, and answer for the stolen money.”

Victor stared at the ring.

“And if I refuse?”

Don Alejandro stepped forward.

“Then you will answer to the council.”

Victor’s knees nearly gave way.

Meanwhile, Khloe was already heading toward the exit.

“Khloe.”

Catherine’s voice stopped her.

The young woman turned nervously.

“You’re not leaving with my jewelry.”

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Khloe looked down at the diamond necklace around her neck.

“That was a gift from Victor!”

“Purchased with money from the Moretti accounts.”

Two female attendants approached.

Khloe reluctantly removed the necklace, bracelet, and earrings before placing them on a velvet tray.

She left the mansion wearing nothing but her red dress.

Victor watched her disappear.

The woman he had risked his marriage for hadn’t even stayed when his money disappeared.

Catherine turned away from him.

“Gentlemen, I believe we have business to discuss.”

Don Alejandro smiled respectfully.

“Your grandfather would have been proud.”

For the first time in three years, Catherine felt that the weight on her shoulders had finally lifted.

But the evening wasn’t over.

As the guests began leaving, Arthur Kensington approached her with a sealed envelope.

“There’s something else you should know.”

Catherine opened it.

Inside was a photograph of her grandfather standing beside a young boy.

On the back, someone had written:

The last surviving heir of the Moretti bloodline.

Catherine frowned.

“Who is this child?”

Arthur lowered his voice.

“Your grandfather’s youngest grandson. We believed he died twenty years ago. But three days ago, someone used his identity to access one of the family’s private accounts.”

Catherine looked at the photograph again.

“Where is he?”

Arthur hesitated.

“We believe he’s in New York.”

Before Catherine could respond, her phone rang.

An unknown number.

She answered.

A man’s voice came through, quiet but unmistakably familiar.

“Hello, Catherine. I heard you finally reclaimed your throne.”

Her blood ran cold.

“Who is this?”

The man chuckled.

“Someone who knows what really happened to your grandfather.”

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A pause followed.

Then he delivered the words that changed everything.

“Victor Costello wasn’t the only person who betrayed your family.”

The call ended.

Catherine slowly lowered her phone.

Across the ballroom, Don Alejandro noticed her expression.

“Your Highness?”

She looked toward the dark windows overlooking the estate.

“Cancel tomorrow’s meetings.”

“Why?”

Catherine’s eyes hardened.

“Because before I rebuild the Moretti empire, I’m going to find out who destroyed it.”

And somewhere in New York, a man who had been hiding for twenty years finally smiled.

The queen had returned.

But she had no idea that her greatest enemy was still alive.