Chapter 6 - The Rival Who Refused to Take AdvantageThe city expected war.
Instead, Clarissa announced reform.
Marone Holdings would retain legitimate businesses.
Illegal operations would be dissolved.
Worker protections would become mandatory.
Port safety would be independent.
No family member could override emergency regulations.
Dante opposed her.
Marco opposed her more loudly.
Silas supported her quietly.
That made him dangerous.
One evening, Clarissa returned to her office and found a box on her desk.
Inside was her mother's wedding ring.
She had lost it three years earlier.
Her hands trembled.
A note accompanied it.
Your husband's people found it in a storage unit.
They planned to use it against you.
I thought you should have it back.
No signature.
She knew.
Silas.
She called him.
“Where did you get it?”
“It doesn't matter.”
“It matters to me.”
He sighed.
“Marco had it.”
“You took it.”
“Yes.”
“Why?”
“Because I knew what it meant.”
She stared at the ring.
“My mother gave me this.”
“I know.”
“How?”
“I asked.”
“To whom?”
“Your father.”
She froze.
“My father is dead.”
“I know.”
“You spoke to him?”
“Three years before he died.”
Silas's voice softened.
“He told me to protect you if your husband ever turned against you.”
Her throat tightened.
“He knew.”
“He suspected.”
“Why didn't he tell me?”
“Because he believed you would stay with Dante if you knew the truth.”
She laughed sadly.
“Everyone thought I was fragile.”
Silas answered:
“They were wrong.”
That night, Clarissa went to Silas's house.
He opened the door.
She held out the ring.
“Thank you.”
He nodded.
She didn't leave.
Silas waited.
“You can come in.”
She did.
They sat by the fireplace.
For the first time, they talked without discussing business.
Silas told her about his brother.
About the company he lost.
About the night Dante's father manipulated a port deal that caused the company to collapse.
Clarissa told him about her first year of marriage.
The way Dante used to hold her hand beneath restaurant tables.
The way they danced in their kitchen.
The way he once promised that his empire would never be more important than she was.
“I believed him,” she whispered.
Silas looked at her.
“Of course you did.”
“Why?”
“Because you loved him.”
Tears filled her eyes.
“And now?”
Silas said nothing.
She looked at him.
“I don't know what I feel.”
He moved closer.
“Then don't name it.”
She laughed softly.
“That sounds unlike you.”
“I've done enough damage by making decisions too quickly.”
Clarissa looked at him.
“Have you ever loved someone?”
He hesitated.
“Yes.”
“Did you lose her?”
“She left because she was afraid of the life around me.”
“Do you still think about her?”
“No.”
Clarissa understood.
“You've moved on.”
“No.”
He looked at her.
“She died.”
Clarissa's eyes softened.
“I’m sorry.”
Silas nodded.
“That was a long time ago.”
She placed her hand over his.
This time, neither pulled away.
But before anything could happen, her phone rang.
An alarm.
Marone Tower had been breached.
Clarissa stood.
Silas was already moving.
They arrived within minutes.
Marco had disappeared.
Dante was missing.
And a message waited on the central screen.
THE EMPIRE ENDS WITH THE WOMAN WHO THINKS SHE CONTROLS IT.
Clarissa stared.
Silas stood beside her.
“You're the target.”
“No.”
May you like
She looked at the message.
“We both are.”
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