Chapter 8 - The Last Enemy Came Wearing a White Dress
The baby was due in six weeks when a woman arrived at the estate.
She introduced herself as Olivia Grant.
A wealthy donor.
She claimed she wanted to fund Matteo's new legal shipping company.
Matteo refused.
But Olivia did not leave.
She waited.
She smiled.
She watched.
Elena noticed her staring at the nursery.
Something about her felt wrong.
One evening, Elena found a photograph in the library.
Olivia.
Standing beside Richard Hale.
She confronted Matteo.
He immediately ordered security to find her.
But Olivia had already disappeared.
The next night, the nursery alarm went off.
Elena ran upstairs.
The room was empty.
On the crib was a note.
You stole a life from me.
Now I'll take yours.
Matteo went pale.
“Get Elena out.”
Men moved immediately.
But Elena refused.
“No.”
“This isn't a debate.”
“She wants me frightened.”
“She already succeeded.”
“No.”
Elena touched his face.
“She wants you angry.”
Matteo stared.
“And you're not going to give her that.”
They discovered Olivia was Hale's sister.
She blamed Matteo for her brother's imprisonment.
But there was another truth.
Hale had used her too.
She had been carrying his money for years.
Now she wanted revenge.
Olivia took Elena from the estate during a staged security evacuation.
She brought her to an old church.
Elena was terrified.
Her pregnancy made everything harder.
Olivia pointed a gun.
“You took everything.”
“I didn't take anything from you.”
“My brother lost everything because of you.”
“He lost it because he chose corruption.”
Olivia cried.
“I have nothing.”
Elena softened.
“You still have a choice.”
Olivia lowered the gun.
Then a shot rang out.
Matteo appeared.
Olivia turned.
Another shot.
Elena screamed.
Matteo stumbled.
He had been hit.
But he remained standing.
He looked at Elena.
“Are you okay?”
She nodded.
He smiled.
“Good.”
Olivia dropped the weapon.
Police stormed in.
The crisis ended.
Matteo was taken to the hospital.
The bullet had missed his heart by inches.
Elena waited outside surgery.
Again.
The same hallway.
The same fear.
Different reason.
When Matteo woke, Elena was beside him.
“You are banned from getting shot.”
He smiled weakly.
“I'll try.”
She kissed his forehead.
“You scared me.”
“I know.”
“You promised I'd never face fear alone.”
“You didn't.”
She looked at him.
“You faced it with me.”
He squeezed her hand.
“Always.”
Six weeks later, their daughter was born.
A healthy baby girl.
They named her Sofia Elena Rossi.
Matteo cried when he held her.
Not quietly.
Not discreetly.
He cried openly.
Marco turned away to hide his own tears.
Dante laughed.
Isabella took a photograph.
Elena watched them all.
The house that once smelled like blood now smelled like baby powder and coffee.
The silent corridors echoed with laughter.
Flowers filled the garden.
May you like
The east wing was no longer forbidden.
And the man who once believed weakness was death now carried his daughter through the halls every morning.
