Chapter 2 - Dante Realized His Wife Had Been Investigating His Family Behind His Back—and Someone Wanted Her DeadThe audit Elena had been conducting was not a normal financial review.
The Marino Foundation had dozens of charitable programs.
Housing.
Scholarships.
Medical grants.
But millions of dollars had been disappearing through shell organizations.
Elena had noticed because one payment went to a company that claimed to provide restoration supplies.
The company had no warehouse.
No employees.
No website.
Only an account.
The money went overseas.
Then returned through a second company.
Then vanished.
She had spent months tracing the pattern.
Dante knew nothing.
That was what frightened him.
Not that Elena had investigated his empire.
That she had done it alone.
“I don't understand why you didn't tell me.”
She sat across from him.
“Because I thought you'd shut it down.”
“Why?”
“Because you're Dante.”
He stared.
“You believe I'd protect corruption?”
“No.”
She looked down.
“I believe you'd protect your family.”
He didn't deny it.
The audit connected to his father.
A dead man who had supposedly left the family legitimate.
But Elena found payments dated after his death.
Dante examined them.
“This isn't possible.”
“That's what I thought.”
They hired an independent forensic accountant.
The results were disturbing.
Someone had been using the Marino Foundation to launder money for nearly a decade.
The person with access to everything was Dante's uncle.
Victor Marino.
Dante had always trusted him.
He had been the man who raised Dante after his father's death.
Now the evidence pointed directly toward him.
Dante confronted Victor.
“You've been stealing from the foundation.”
Victor smiled.
“Careful.”
“Answer me.”
“You're believing a woman you've known for eighteen months over family you've known your entire life?”
Dante's expression hardened.
“Yes.”
Victor's smile vanished.
“Then you've become weak.”
“No.”
Dante stepped closer.
“I've become selective.”
The investigation continued.
Meanwhile, Elena's confidence began to change.
Dante noticed.
She started wearing brighter colors.
She laughed more.
She stopped hiding behind oversized sweaters.
She looked at herself in the mirror differently.
He loved watching it happen.
One morning, he found her standing in front of the bedroom mirror.
“What are you doing?”
“Trying to decide whether this dress makes me look ridiculous.”
“You look beautiful.”
“You're required to say that.”
“No.”
He approached.
“I'd say it if I weren't married to you.”
She smiled.
“That's not how marriage works.”
“Apparently I missed the manual.”
She laughed.
He kissed her forehead.
Then the phone rang.
Vincent.
The news was bad.
An important witness had disappeared.
The audit had been compromised.
And someone had accessed Elena's medical records.
Dante's blood went cold.
“Why?”
Marcus explained.
“Somebody searched her history.”
“Why would they care about medical records?”
“Because of the pregnancy.”
Dante froze.
“What pregnancy?”
Marcus hesitated.
“Your wife was at the doctor last week.”
Dante looked toward Elena.
She was holding the phone.
Her face had gone pale.
“Dante.”
He turned.
“I'm pregnant.”
He stopped.
For a moment, all the violence and danger disappeared.
He simply stared at her.
“Pregnant?”
She nodded.
“We're having a baby.”
His eyes filled.
He pulled her into his arms.
She laughed.
“You're crushing me.”
“I don't care.”
She smiled against his chest.
“I love you.”
He whispered,
“I love you too.”
Then his phone rang again.
The baby's existence had already been leaked.
May you like
Someone knew.
And the person who knew wanted something from them.
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