Chapter 3: The Secret My Sister Kept
The police called it an attempted break-in.
Dante called it a warning.
I called it proof that my life had never been as simple as I wanted to believe.
By midnight, my father’s old house was surrounded by security.
Not police.
Dante’s people.
Men who appeared silently, checked every corner, and disappeared again.
I hated that part of him.
The part that reminded me he was never just the man who kissed my forehead in the morning.
He was Dante Moretti.
And now my son was standing in the middle of his world.
Leo slept in my room.
Dante sat downstairs.
Neither of us slept.
Eventually, I walked down.
He looked up immediately.
“You should be resting.””
“You should be answering questions.””
A faint smile touched his lips.
“There she is.””
“Don’t.””
The smile disappeared.
I pointed toward the envelope.
“I want the truth.””
Dante nodded.
“Fair.””
He opened it.
Inside were photographs.
Documents.
Messages.
I picked up the first picture.
My hands went cold.
It was Victoria.
With a man I didn’t recognize.
“When was this?””
“Two weeks before my wedding.””
I looked at him.
“You knew?””
“I suspected.””
“Then why marry her?””
“Because I needed access to information.””
I stared.
“You married my sister for information?””
“No.””
His voice softened.
“I married her because she agreed to protect you.””
I shook my head.
“That doesn’t make sense.””
“It will.””
He handed me another document.
A contract.
My eyes scanned the page.
Then stopped.
Victoria Carter.
Dante Moretti.
A marriage agreement.
No romance.
No promises.
No shared assets.
Nothing like a real marriage.
“This isn’t real.””
“No.””
“Then why did she send me that invitation?””
Dante looked away.
“Because she wanted you to hate me.””
The answer hurt.
“Why?””
“Because if you hated me, you would leave.””
“And you thought that was better?””
“Yes.””
I laughed quietly.
“You always decide everything for everyone.””
“I was trying to save you.””
“You broke me.””
His face tightened.
“I know.””
The honesty was worse than an excuse.
I looked away.
For years, I had imagined Dante would defend himself.
Instead, he stood there carrying every wound I gave him.
“I waited for you,” I whispered.
“I know.””
“I waited for you to come after me.””
His voice cracked slightly.
“I tried.””
I turned.
“What?””
“I went to Switzerland.””
My heart stopped.
“When?””
“Three days after you left.””
I stared.
“Then why didn’t I see you?””
“Because Victoria stopped me.””
My fingers tightened.
“She what?””
“She told me you hated me.””
I looked at the papers.
Then at the man in front of me.
A terrible thought formed.
“Dante…”
“What?””
“Did my sister know about Leo?””
Silence.
That was the answer.
I stepped back.
“She knew.””
Dante didn’t deny it.
“How long?””
“Since before you left.””
My chest tightened.
Three years.
My sister had known.
She knew I was pregnant.
She knew I disappeared.
She knew Dante had a son.
And she said nothing.
“Why?””
Dante’s expression darkened.
“Because Victoria wasn’t protecting you.””
A chill moved through me.
“What was she doing?””
Before he answered, my phone rang.
Unknown number.
I looked at the screen.
Dante immediately stood.
“Don’t answer.””
But I already had.
“Hello?””
A woman’s voice came through.
My blood froze.
“Hello, little sister.””
I couldn’t speak.
Because I knew that voice.
Victoria.
“Where are you?”” I whispered.
She laughed softly.
“That’s the wrong question.””
My grip tightened around the phone.
“Then what’s the right one?””
A pause.
Then:
“Ask Dante why he never told you who Leo’s real danger was.””
The call ended.
I looked at Dante.
May you like
And for the first time in three years…
I wondered if I had been protecting my son from the wrong person.
