Chapter 3 - The Secret Beneath Rosetti's FortuneClara spent the night awake.
Dante did not disturb her.
At dawn, she found him in his office.
A thick folder lay on his desk.
“My father?”
Dante nodded.
“His name was Michael Rosetti.”
Clara stared.
“No.”
“Yes.”
“Then why was Arthur raising me?”
“Because Michael was killed before you were born.”
“Killed by whom?”
Dante was silent.
“Dante.”
“My uncle.”
She froze.
“Enzo Rosetti.”
Dante nodded.
“My father's older brother.”
“What happened?”
“Money.”
“That's all?”
“No.”
He opened the folder.
Clara saw photographs.
Michael.
A young Dante.
A woman Clara had never seen.
And a newborn baby.
Her.
“My father had a legitimate freight company,” Dante said. “He refused to move illegal cargo for Enzo.”
“So Enzo killed him.”
“He tried.”
Clara's stomach tightened.
“And my mother?”
“Your mother disappeared.”
“Why?”
“She was supposed to testify.”
“Against Enzo?”
“Yes.”
“What happened to her?”
Dante looked at her.
“She was found dead three months after your birth.”
Clara closed her eyes.
“And Arthur?”
“He was Michael's accountant.”
“My father?”
“Arthur Higgins was your legal guardian.”
“Why would he take me?”
“Because Michael trusted him.”
A bitter laugh escaped Clara.
“He shouldn't have.”
“No.”
She looked at the documents.
“What was Michael hiding?”
“A ledger.”
“Where is it?”
“We don't know.”
Clara looked up.
“Then why marry me?”
Dante hesitated.
“Because I thought you had it.”
She stared.
The room went silent.
“You married me for a ledger?”
“At first.”
“At first?”
“I later realized someone had spent years watching you.”
“Who?”
“Enzo.”
Clara's skin prickled.
“My whole life?”
“Yes.”
“Why?”
“Because you are the last living person who can expose how this empire was built.”
She laughed.
“This is insane.”
“I know.”
“You expect me to believe my father was not my father, your father was my father, your uncle killed everyone, and I somehow inherited a secret ledger?”
“You don't have to believe it.”
“What do I have to do?”
“Stay alive.”
She stared at him.
Then asked softly,
“Did you choose me because you needed the ledger?”
Dante didn't answer immediately.
That hurt more than if he had said yes.
Finally, he said,
“I chose you because if I didn't, someone else would.”
Clara's eyes filled.
“And who was supposed to choose me?”
“Enzo.”
The answer chilled her.
Dante stepped closer.
“I don't know what Enzo wanted to do with you.”
“But you knew he was looking.”
“Yes.”
“And you married me to protect me.”
“Yes.”
She stared at him.
“You could have told me.”
“I wanted one thing in my life not to begin with a threat.”
Her heart broke a little.
Dante had protected her.
But he had also lied.
She stepped away.
“I need time.”
He nodded.
“You have it.”
Three days passed.
They barely spoke.
Then Clara discovered something in the mansion library.
A photograph.
Dante's father holding a baby.
The date was six months before Clara's birth.
Behind the photograph, someone had written:
THE GIRL MUST NEVER LEARN WHO SHE IS.
Clara turned the picture over.
A second note was hidden beneath it.
Because she carries the Rosetti blood.
Her breathing stopped.
She heard footsteps behind her.
Dante.
He saw the photograph.
His face went pale.
“Where did you find that?”
“Here.”
He took it.
Then looked toward the hallway.
“We need to leave.”
“Why?”
“Now.”
The lights went out.
A gunshot shattered the window.
Dante grabbed Clara and pulled her to the floor.
The mansion erupted in chaos.
Security shouted.
Doors slammed.
Another shot.
Clara clung to Dante.
He covered her body with his.
“Stay down.”
“Who is it?”
“Enzo.”
“How do you know?”
“Because only one man would come for that photograph.”
A shadow moved outside.
Then a voice echoed through the darkness.
“Hello, niece.”
Clara froze.
May you like
Dante's face turned murderous.
Enzo Rosetti had finally come home.
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