Chapter 6 - The Woman Who Claimed to Be Damian’s Father’s Widow Revealed That the Real War Had Only Just BegunDamian didn't tell anyone about the call.
Not Victor.
Not Isabella.
Not even Martha.
He told himself it was because he needed certainty.
The truth was simpler.
He was afraid.
Martha saw it.
“You're hiding something.”
Damian looked at her.
“No.”
She smiled.
“You're terrible at lying.”
He almost laughed.
“I learned from professionals.”
“What did you learn?”
“How to look calm while everything is collapsing.”
She touched his arm.
“You don't have to do that with me.”
He wanted to believe her.
Then the woman appeared.
Her name was Celeste Falcone.
She claimed to be his father's second wife.
She had been living in Montreal for twenty years.
She brought documents.
Photographs.
A marriage certificate.
And one letter.
Damian's father's handwriting.
Celeste, if Isabella escapes, keep Damian away from the truth.
Damian stared.
“Why?”
Celeste smiled sadly.
“Because your father feared what you'd become.”
Martha asked:
“What truth?”
Celeste looked at Damian.
“He wasn't your biological father.”
Silence.
Damian froze.
“What?”
“Your biological father was Edward Bellini.”
Martha gasped.
Her brother's father.
Her father.
Damian looked at her.
Celeste continued:
“Your mother had an affair with Edward.”
Martha shook her head.
“No.”
Celeste nodded.
“Your families were connected long before you knew.”
Damian couldn't breathe.
He looked at Martha.
That meant—
They might be related.
Celeste watched his face.
“You understand now.”
Martha stepped backward.
“No.”
Damian caught her hand.
“Wait.”
“No.”
“I don't believe her.”
“How do you know?”
“I don't.”
That was the hardest truth he'd ever spoken.
They went to Isabella.
She looked at them.
One glance told her Celeste had spoken.
“Is it true?”
Damian asked.
Isabella cried.
“Yes.”
Martha closed her eyes.
“My father?”
“Yes.”
“Your father was married to him?”
“No.”
“What does that make us?”
Isabella shook her head.
“Nothing.”
“What?”
“Edward was not your biological father, Martha.”
Silence.
Celeste had lied.
Damian stared.
“Then why?”
Isabella looked at her.
“Because Celeste is trying to destroy you.”
Martha whispered:
“Why?”
“Because she wants the Falcone inheritance.”
She handed Damian a DNA report.
His father was his biological father.
Martha's father was not.
Celeste had manufactured the story to separate them.
Damian stared at the report.
“What does she want?”
“To make you believe you're alone.”
Martha looked at him.
“We're not.”
“No.”
They embraced.
For the first time in days, Damian felt something close to peace.
Then Isabella whispered:
“There is one person who can prove everything.”
“Who?”
“Your father's lawyer.”
“Where?”
“Dead.”
Martha frowned.
“Then how?”
Isabella smiled faintly.
“His daughter.”
They found her in Vermont.
Her name was Eleanor Price.
She had inherited everything.
Letters.
Files.
A complete record of the original Falcone estate.
Eleanor opened the door.
“You're late.”
Damian frowned.
“Late for what?”
She handed him a file.
“For the truth.”
Inside was a confession.
Celeste had murdered Damian's father.
Not Gabriel.
Not Isabella.
Celeste.
She wanted control of the inheritance.
Gabriel had helped.
Victor had discovered the truth and joined Isabella.
Andrew had uncovered the evidence.
That was why he died.
Everything came full circle.
Damian looked at Martha.
“It's over.”
She shook her head.
“No.”
“What?”
“There is one more page.”
She pointed to the file.
A photograph.
Andrew.
Damian.
And a child.
A little girl.
Martha.
Her brother had known both of them as children.
He had been protecting their future.
Damian held the photograph.
“He knew we'd meet.”
Martha smiled sadly.
“Maybe.”
“Or maybe he just knew we needed each other.”
They returned to Boston.
The empire was gone.
The investigation was underway.
Damian sold the remaining properties.
Paid victims.
Turned over records.
And closed the final private club.
On the last night, Martha stood beside him in the empty ballroom.
“You're really doing it.”
“Yes.”
“You're giving it all away.”
“Yes.”
“What will you do?”
Damian looked at her.
“Whatever you want.”
She smiled.
“That's new.”
“It is.”
Then he took out a ring.
Martha stared.
“Damian.”
“I don't have an empire anymore.”
“Good.”
“I don't have much money.”
“Also good.”
“I don't have a family without secrets.”
“Better.”
He smiled.
“But I have you.”
Martha's eyes filled.
“I love you.”
She kissed him.
“I love you too.”
He held out the ring.
“Marry me.”
She nodded.
“Yes.”
Then every light in the ballroom turned on.
Victor stood at the back.
Isabella was beside him.
Paul, Damian's attorney, clapped.
Martha laughed.
“You planned this?”
Damian smiled.
“No.”
Paul shouted:
“She did!”
Martha looked at Isabella.
“Thank you.”
Isabella smiled.
“For my son.”
The lights dimmed.
Music began.
And for one beautiful moment, everything was perfect.
Then a gunshot shattered the window.
Everyone dropped.
Damian looked toward the glass.
A red laser dot moved across the floor.
May you like
Martha grabbed his hand.
The war wasn't over.
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