Chapter 30: The Secret He Buried

Elena Vitiello POV

"What is he talking about?"

My voice barely sounded like my own.

The ruined dining room felt smaller.

Colder.

The air suddenly difficult to breathe.

Because Dante Moretti looked afraid.

Not angry.

Not dangerous.

Afraid.

And I had never seen that before.

"Elena," Dante said carefully.

"Don't listen to him."

"Why?"

"Because Lorenzo weaponizes truth."

"Truth is still truth," Lorenzo replied calmly.

"Not when it's twisted."

"Then untwist it."

Silence.

Heavy silence.

"Dante."

I took a step forward.

"What is he talking about?"

"Not here."

"Now."

"Elena—"

"Now."

The word echoed through the ruined mansion.

Nobody moved.

Nobody interrupted.

Even the agents stayed silent.

Because everyone understood something important had just happened.

Lorenzo smiled softly.

"You should tell her."

"Shut up."

"You should have told her years ago."

"Shut up."

"You stole that choice from her."

"Enough!"

The explosion of anger shook the room.

Everyone froze.

Dante rarely lost control.

Seeing it happen was unsettling.

Lorenzo looked pleased.

"There he is."

"Still hiding from consequences."

"Dante."

I didn't raise my voice.

I didn't need to.

He immediately looked at me.

"Tell me."

The silence lasted forever.

Then he closed his eyes.

And finally spoke.

"Your father didn't die in an accident."

The world stopped.

"What?"

"The car crash."

"It wasn't random."

"No."

My knees nearly gave out.

Because every child grows up with certain truths.

Things they never question.

Things they build their lives around.

My parents dying in a tragic accident was one of those truths.

"No."

"Elena—"

"No."

"It's true."

"You're lying."

"I wish I was."

My chest tightened painfully.

"Then tell me what happened."

Dante looked away.

That was answer enough.

"Dante."

"My father ordered it."

Silence.

Complete silence.

The entire room vanished.

The agents.

Marco.

Lorenzo.

Everything.

Only those words remained.

My father.

Ordered it.

"No."

"Elena—"

"No."

"I didn't know."

"Stop talking."

"I was seventeen."

"Stop talking."

"I found out years later."

"STOP TALKING!"

My scream echoed through the mansion.

The pain finally breaking free.

"You knew?"

"Yes."

"How long?"

"Three years."

"Three years?"

"Yes."

"Three years you knew your family murdered my father?"

"Elena—"

"Three years?"

His silence destroyed whatever hope remained.

Because he couldn't deny it.

Because it was true.

"Why?"

The word came out broken.

"Why didn't you tell me?"

Dante looked devastated.

Actually devastated.

"Because I was a coward."

"No."

"Yes."

"You were selfish."

The words hit.

Hard.

"You knew I'd leave."

"Probably."

"Definitely."

"Yes."

"So you lied."

"Yes."

"Every day."

"Yes."

"Every time you looked at me."

"Yes."

"Every time you kissed me."

Dante closed his eyes.

"Yes."

The truth was unbearable.

Years.

Years of lies.

Years of pretending.

Years of stolen choices.

"You don't get to love me," I whispered.

"Not after this."

The words visibly shattered him.

Good.

No.

Nothing felt good.

Everything hurt.

"I know."

"No, you don't."

"I do."

"You have no idea."

Tears burned down my face.

Hot.

Uncontrollable.

Humiliating.

"My entire life—"

"I know."

"You don't."

"Elena."

"No!"

I stepped backward.

Away from him.

Away from everyone.

Away from the truth.

"You let me marry into the family that killed my father."

The room fell silent again.

Because nobody could argue with that.

Not even Dante.

"I know."

"Stop saying that."

"It's true."

"I hate you."

The words escaped before I could stop them.

Dante flinched.

Like I'd physically struck him.

Good.

Maybe now he understood.

Maybe now he finally understood how betrayal felt.

Across the room, Lorenzo quietly applauded.

"Beautiful."

"Uncle," Dante said.

His voice became deadly.

"One more word."

"Or what?"

"I'll kill you."

For the first time that night...

Lorenzo stopped smiling.

"Still emotional."

"Still breathing."

"Not for long."

The threat wasn't empty.

Everyone knew it.

"You wanted her to know," Dante continued.

"Congratulations."

"She knows."

"And now?"

"Now we finish this."

Something changed in the room.

Something dangerous.

Lorenzo noticed it too.

"Ah."

"There it is."

"What?" Marco asked quietly.

"The moment Dante stops protecting the family name."

Lorenzo slowly stood.

"The moment he chooses her over blood."

The words hung in the air.

And suddenly I understood.

This wasn't about the drive.

It wasn't about money.

It wasn't even about revenge.

Lorenzo wanted this.

He wanted Dante broken.

Wanted him forced to choose.

Family.

Or me.

And for the first time...

Dante made his choice without hesitation.

"Arrest him."

The agents immediately moved.

Weapons raised.

Handcuffs ready.

Lorenzo didn't resist.

Didn't run.

Didn't fight.

He simply looked at me.

Then smiled one final time.

"Check the last folder on the drive, Elena."

"Don't," Dante warned.

"Why?" Lorenzo asked softly.

"Afraid she'll learn the rest?"

The room froze.

Again.

"The rest?" I whispered.

Lorenzo's smile widened.

"Ask him about your mother."

And suddenly I realized the nightmare wasn't over.