Chapter 5 - The Betrayal Behind the Engagement Ring
Selene disappeared before anyone could confront her.
Her phone was off.
Her car was found near the marina.
Her private suite was empty.
But security discovered a hidden compartment beneath the vanity.
Inside were passports.
Three identities.
Bank records.
Photographs of Damian.
Photographs of me.
Photographs of Lily.
And one photograph of Gabriel.
On the back were five words.
THE CHILD WILL INHERIT EVERYTHING.
The truth emerged.
Selene had not fallen in love with Damian by accident.
She had been placed in his life years earlier.
She worked for a financial network that wanted control of Bellucci Maritime.
Her plan was simple.
Marry Damian.
Create a legal succession crisis.
Use Gabriel's disappearance as leverage.
And eliminate anyone who could expose the fraud.
But she hadn't expected Lily.
Because Lily was the legal heir to Gabriel's hidden trust.
A trust worth hundreds of millions.
Selene had been trying to locate the documents.
That's why she entered the restricted rooms.
That's why she manipulated access badges.
That's why she humiliated Lily at dinner.
The little girl sitting in that empty chair was not merely inconvenient.
She was the one person standing between Selene and a fortune.
Damian wanted to move Lily somewhere safe.
I refused.
“She stays with me.”
“She'll be safer elsewhere.”
“No.”
“Mara.”
“No.”
He stared at me.
“You trust me.”
“I do.”
“Then trust me with her safety.”
I shook my head.
“I trust you to protect the house. I trust you to find Selene. But Lily needs her mother.”
His expression softened.
“Then you stay too.”
I looked at him.
“What?”
“Both of you.”
He stepped closer.
“Whatever happens next, you're not handling it alone.”
For the first time in years, I let myself believe someone might mean it.
That night, Gabriel called.
Alive.
He said only one thing.
May you like
“Don't let Selene reach Lily.”
Then the call ended.
