Chapter 1: The Photograph That Changed Everything
“Victor, protect my daughter from Leon.””
I read the words again, my fingers trembling around the photograph.
For five years, I had believed my father was dead. I had attended his funeral, watched his coffin disappear beneath the earth, and spent countless nights wondering whether I could have done something differently that rainy evening.
Now Victor Romano was telling me that everything I believed was a lie.
Behind us, three hundred wealthy guests were scrambling toward the ballroom exits. Crystal chandeliers trembled as people knocked into tables. Somewhere, a woman was crying.
And Leon Mercer was still holding a gun.
“Put it down, Leon,” Victor ordered.
Leon laughed.
“You're still giving orders? Look around you, Victor. Your own security team has chosen a side.””
Dmitri pressed his weapon against Victor's chest.
“Don't make this difficult,” he said.
Victor looked at the man who had guarded him for twelve years.
“I paid for your daughter's surgery, Dmitri. I stood beside you when your wife died. Is this how you repay me?””
Dmitri's jaw tightened.
“Don't bring my family into this.””
“You brought them into it when you accepted Leon's money.””
Clara Whitmore stepped forward, holding her diamond engagement ring between two fingers.
“Enough, Victor. You're making this uglier than it needs to be.””
Victor stared at her.
“Was any of it real?””
Clara's expression remained cold.
“Your money was real. Your influence was real. Everything else was business.””
I felt sick.
The woman had been wearing a white diamond necklace that probably cost more than my mother's apartment. She had smiled for photographs beside Victor less than an hour earlier.
Now she was watching him prepare to die.
Leon extended his hand toward Dmitri.
“Take the photograph.””
Dmitri moved toward me.
I instinctively stepped behind Victor.
“Don't touch her,” Victor warned.
Leon tilted his head.
“Still playing the hero? That's interesting, considering what happened to her father.””
My heart slammed against my ribs.
“What happened to him?”” I demanded.
Leon looked directly at me.
“Your father was a very stubborn man, Lena. He believed loyalty was more important than money.””
“What did you do to him?””
“Nothing he didn't bring upon himself.””
Victor suddenly lunged forward.
Dmitri struck him across the shoulder with his weapon, forcing him to his knees.
“Stay down!””
I screamed and grabbed a fallen champagne bottle from the floor.
It was ridiculous. I knew that.
I was a waitress holding an empty bottle against three armed men.
But I wasn't going to watch another person die because of Leon Mercer.
“Back away from him!”” I shouted.
Leon turned toward me.
“You really are your father's daughter.””
Before I could answer, the ballroom doors burst open.
A dozen uniformed police officers rushed inside.
“DROP YOUR WEAPONS!””
For one brief second, I thought we were saved.
Then Leon smiled.
He slowly lowered his gun and placed it on the floor.
Dmitri did the same.
Clara began crying.
“Oh, thank God,” she whispered.
“I was terrified.””
Victor looked confused.
“What's going on?””
The lead officer approached with his weapon raised.
“Victor Romano, you're under arrest for attempted murder, illegal weapons possession, and conspiracy.””
I stared at him.
“What?””
Leon adjusted his jacket.
“Thank goodness you're here, Officer. This man just threatened everyone in the room.””
Victor slowly stood.
“Are you insane? They tried to kill me!””
The officer ignored him.
Then another officer approached me.
“Lena Hart?””
My stomach dropped.
“How do you know my name?””
He held up a photograph.
It showed me standing outside the Grandeur Hotel earlier that evening.
Beneath it was a printed document with my signature.
“You're being detained for the attempted poisoning of Victor Romano.””
“That isn't mine!””
The officer twisted my arm behind my back.
I looked at Victor desperately.
“Tell them! You know I saved you!””
But Victor wasn't looking at me.
He was staring at the document in the officer's hand.
His face had gone completely pale.
Because beneath my forged signature was a second name.
*Daniel Hart.*
May you like
My father's name.
And according to the document, my father had been working with Leon Mercer the entire time.
