Chapter 7 - The Twin Nobody Knew Existed
The truth was worse than they imagined.
Penelope had a twin sister.
A sister who had been raised inside another family.
A sister who had inherited the life Penelope never knew.
And that sister was now married to one of the most dangerous men in New York.
Her name was Victoria Hayes.
Dominic found her through private records.
She had been living under a different surname since childhood.
The reason was simple.
She had been hidden to protect the family secret.
But there was something else.
Victoria had the original inheritance.
Billions.
And control over accounts connected to the old Russo empire.
Victor wanted those accounts.
Dominic wanted the truth.
Penelope wanted her sister.
They found Victoria in Manhattan.
She opened the door.
And Penelope stopped cold.
They looked almost identical.
Not completely.
But enough.
Victoria stared back.
"Penelope."
She knew.
Their mother had left letters.
Their childhood had been separated on purpose.
Because one child was supposed to inherit wealth.
The other was supposed to inherit secrecy.
Victoria invited them inside.
"My mother told me never to look for you."
"Why?"
"Because if we found each other, people would come looking."
Dominic asked:
"People like Victor?"
Victoria nodded.
"He has been trying to reach me for years."
Penelope sat.
"My father?"
Victoria looked away.
"Thomas is not your biological father."
Silence.
"Then who is?"
Victoria answered:
"Dante Russo."
Dominic's face drained of color.
His father.
The revelation meant Penelope wasn't merely connected to the Russo family.
She was part of it.
Dominic stared at her.
"My father's daughter."
Penelope whispered:
"Apparently."
The implications were devastating.
Dominic stepped away.
She followed.
"Dominic."
He turned.
"I need a minute."
She nodded.
"I understand."
He left the room.
For the first time since meeting her, he didn't know how to look at her.
Not because she had changed.
Because the word family had suddenly become dangerous.
She wasn't just the secretary he had started falling for.
She was tied to the man he had spent years hating.
When he returned, Penelope was gone.
A note sat on the table.
I KNOW WHAT YOU NEED TO DO.
The note made him panic.
"Find her."
They searched.
Nothing.
Then his phone buzzed.
A message.
COME ALONE TO THE RIVER.
Dominic went.
Penelope stood near the water.
"You came."
"Of course."
"I couldn't let you choose between me and the truth."
"I already chose."
She looked surprised.
"What?"
"You."
Her eyes filled.
"But I'm your father's daughter."
"You're Penelope."
She shook her head.
"Maybe that's not enough."
Dominic stepped closer.
"It is for me."
She cried.
Then he held her.
For the first time, she stopped pretending she wasn't afraid.
The next morning, Victoria called.
"Victor has the final piece."
"What piece?"
"Our mother's recording."
They listened together.
Their mother's voice explained everything.
Dante Russo had not been the architect of the criminal empire.
He had inherited it.
The real architect was Isabella Russo.
And she had created the network to protect her family.
Then Victor betrayed her.
Victor had been manipulating Dante for years.
The crimes committed in Dante's name had often been Victor's doing.
The murders.
The financial fraud.
The disappearances.
All of it.
Dante had unknowingly been blamed for a machine he thought he controlled.
Penelope looked at Dominic.
"You have to decide whether you want to destroy the empire."
He stared at the recording.
"Yes."
"Even if it destroys your family name?"
"Yes."
May you like
She took his hand.
"Then I will help you."
