Chapter 12
Marcella’s slap produced consequences too.
The wedding footage was clear.
Vanessa lunged for the handbag.
Marcella pulled it free.
Stepped between Vanessa and the bag.
Then struck her.
The immediate attempt to grab the property had largely ended.
Marcella’s attorney told her:
“You may have a defense argument around the struggle.”
Marcella looked at the footage.
“No.”
Rebecca waited.
Marcella continued.
“I was angry.”
“Yes.”
“She insulted me.”
“Yes.”
“She tried to take the deed.”
“Yes.”
“And then I hit her because I wanted to.”
Rebecca nodded.
That was the accurate version.
Marcella accepted a misdemeanor-level resolution that included counseling and financial responsibility for part of Vanessa’s medical expenses and the destroyed guest-book display.
Several Bellini men treated the counseling requirement as absurd.
Marcella attended anyway.
One capo asked:
“You’re really going to let some therapist tell you not to slap people?”
Marcella answered:
“No.”
He looked confused.
“She tells me why I wanted to.”
“Is that better?”
“Much worse.”
He stopped asking.
The financial case was more serious.
The forged deed, improper notarization, lender representations, and mortgage proceeds generated criminal and civil consequences for Adrian, Vanessa, and anyone whose conduct could actually be proved.
Jennifer cooperated.
Her notary commission was revoked while her legal exposure was resolved.
Thomas Cole’s law firm faced professional scrutiny over conflict disclosures and the closing file.
Not every lawyer at the firm knew.
Not every employee became guilty because of the name on the door.
Crestmark and Meridian became adversaries in some respects and victims in others.
They had performed imperfect due diligence.
They had also relied on false documents.
The court would separate those issues.
Marcella did not demand everyone be punished equally.
May you like
She wanted responsibility to match conduct.
That principle was new inside a family accustomed to judging loyalty more quickly than evidence.
