Chapter 4 - The Daughter Nobody Knew ExistedSienna hated the Valente estate.
It was too grand.
Too quiet.
Too full of portraits.
Every photograph reminded her that she had inherited a family she had never known.
Nico found her standing before one portrait.
"That's your father."
She looked.
A young man smiled beside a woman.
"Did you know him?"
"Yes."
"What was he like?"
"Funny."
Sienna smiled faintly.
"I thought everyone in your family looked angry."
Nico laughed.
"Your father wasn't."
He paused.
"Until they took him."
Sienna touched the photograph.
"What happened?"
"He tried to leave."
"Why?"
"Because he loved your mother."
"And?"
"My father wouldn't allow it."
The story unfolded.
Luca Valente had tried to escape.
Victor helped him.
Then betrayed him.
Luca died protecting Claire.
Nico had been twenty-one.
He promised to protect Claire's daughter.
He never knew where she was.
Until months ago.
Sienna stared.
"You found me."
"Yes."
"Then why didn't you come?"
"Because someone was watching."
"Who?"
"I thought it was Victor."
"It was."
Nico looked at her.
"Then why hire me at the restaurant?"
She smiled.
"You're asking?"
"Yes."
"I needed money."
He laughed.
"Fair."
Their relationship changed.
Slowly.
Sienna became less afraid.
Nico became less distant.
They ate breakfast together.
Worked together.
Argued.
She teased him.
He pretended to hate it.
One evening, she asked:
"Why do you always watch me?"
He answered:
"Because I spent years trying to find someone I didn't know how to name."
Her heart skipped.
"What do you mean?"
"You."
She looked at him.
"I don't know what to do with that."
"Neither do I."
He kissed her.
Once.
Gently.
Then stepped back.
"If you don't want this—"
She pulled him closer.
"I do."
The relationship became secret at first.
Then it became impossible to hide.
But Victor knew.
He attacked again.
This time, he kidnapped Daniel.
Sienna wanted to trade the ledger.
Nico refused.
She went anyway.
She walked into the warehouse carrying the ledger.
Victor smiled.
"You came."
"Let my brother go."
Victor held Daniel's arm.
"You have no idea what this book means."
"Neither do you."
Victor laughed.
"You think your father died for nothing?"
Sienna stepped closer.
"He died protecting my mother."
"Yes."
"And Nico."
Victor looked at her.
"Your father believed Nico could become better than all of us."
Sienna's eyes filled.
Victor continued:
"And he was right."
Then Nico entered.
Victor raised his weapon.
Sienna moved.
The gunshot missed.
Daniel tackled Victor.
Security stormed the warehouse.
Victor escaped.
The ledger survived.
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But now he knew Sienna would never surrender.
Neither would Nico.
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