Chapter 5 - The Woman He Divorced Was Worth More Than He Ever KnewThe lawsuit exploded across Chicago.
Sabrina claimed Elena had concealed children to gain leverage over Matteo.
She demanded financial compensation.
The media called Elena greedy.
Social media called her a manipulator.
Matteo went silent.
Then he did something everyone expected him not to do.
He defended her publicly.
“She never asked me for money.”
He stood in front of reporters.
“She never asked for my name.”
“She never asked me to return.”
“She raised three children without me.”
The reporters shouted questions.
Matteo continued.
“I was the one who failed to ask.”
The story went viral.
Then Elena revealed something that shocked everyone.
She wasn't poor.
She wasn't dependent on Matteo.
The Kane family had quietly built an international healthcare and technology foundation worth several hundred million dollars.
The media called her a hidden heiress.
Matteo stared at the documents.
“You never told me.”
“You never asked.”
He laughed.
“That's becoming a pattern.”
Elena smiled.
“You liked being the only billionaire in the room.”
“I still am.”
“No.”
She tapped the page.
“I'm richer.”
He stared.
Then laughed.
The tension between them finally broke.
That night, they talked for hours.
About the marriage.
The divorce.
Sabrina.
The children.
Everything.
“I was cruel,” Matteo admitted.
“Yes.”
“I was arrogant.”
“Yes.”
“I was stupid.”
“Very.”
He laughed.
“You're enjoying this.”
“A little.”
He reached for her hand.
“I’m sorry.”
She looked at him.
“I know.”
“Do you forgive me?”
“Not yet.”
He nodded.
“Fair.”
Then the children came downstairs.
Nico held a toy box.
“Dad?”
Matteo smiled.
“Yes?”
“Can we have breakfast for dinner?”
“Absolutely.”
Elena rolled her eyes.
“You're encouraging them.”
“They’re children.”
“They need vegetables.”
“Tomorrow.”
The children cheered.
Elena shook her head.
“Traitor.”
Matteo smiled.
It felt like home.
Then a call came.
The private investigator had found something.
Sabrina wasn't the mastermind.
She had been manipulated too.
Marcus Vale was using her.
But who controlled Marcus?
The investigator sent a photograph.
An older man.
William Salerno.
Matteo's uncle.
He had been presumed dead for six years.
But the photograph was recent.
Matteo stared.
His uncle was alive.
And he had been meeting Marcus.
The network wasn't about money.
It was about succession.
William wanted control of Salerno assets.
The children were useful because of inheritance clauses.
If Matteo died without recognized heirs, William inherited.
But once the triplets were known, the structure changed.
The children stood between William and billions.
Matteo looked at Elena.
“He wants them dead.”
She stared.
“That's what I've been afraid of.”
“Why didn't you tell me?”
“Because I thought I could protect them.”
He stepped closer.
“You don't have to do that alone anymore.”
She met his eyes.
“No.”
“We do it together.”
She nodded.
Then someone fired through the window.
Glass exploded.
Elena screamed.
Matteo tackled her.
Security grabbed the children.
Another shot.
Then silence.
Nico was crying.
Lia held Theo.
Matteo knelt.
“Look at me.”
They did.
“You're safe.”
Nico whispered:
“Are we going to die?”
Matteo's heart broke.
“No.”
May you like
He looked toward Elena.
“Not while I'm alive.”
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