Chapter 11: The Woman Who Betrayed Me
I couldn’t breathe.
Sofia was alive.
The woman I thought had betrayed me was standing beside the man hunting my family.
But the look on her face wasn’t victory.
It was fear.
“Turn it up.””
Dante’s voice was cold.
The guard increased the volume.
Marco leaned toward the camera.
“Dante.””
His smile was almost friendly.
“Still protecting what isn’t yours?””
Dante stepped closer to the screen.
“Where is she?””
Marco laughed.
“You always were impatient.””
Then he looked directly at me.
And somehow, even through a screen, I felt his attention.
“Alina.””
My body froze.
“You finally know who you are.””
I held Leo tighter.
Marco smiled.
“Your mother spent years hiding you.””
“Where is Sofia?”” Dante demanded.
Marco ignored him.
“Do you know what your mother did?””
I didn’t answer.
“She stole something from me.””
My eyes narrowed.
“What?””
“The truth.””
The room went silent.
Marco continued.
“She discovered what your grandmother built. She discovered what your bloodline meant.””
Rafael stepped forward.
“Don’t listen to him.””
Marco smiled.
“Still pretending you’re the hero, Rafael?””
My father’s expression changed.
“You killed people to protect yourself.””
“And you lied to your daughter for twenty-seven years.””
That hurt.
Because it was true.
Marco looked back at me.
“Everyone around you has lied.””
I said nothing.
Because I didn’t know who to trust anymore.
“My mother didn’t lie.””
Marco smiled.
“She protected you.””
A pause.
“From the truth.””
I felt Leo move against me.
The baby was restless.
As if he sensed the tension.
Marco noticed.
“Even the child knows.””
Dante’s expression turned dangerous.
“Don’t mention my son.””
Marco laughed.
“There he is.””
The calm mask disappeared.
The anger underneath appeared.
“The man who thinks he can save everyone.””
The screen flickered.
Then Sofia appeared closer.
Her face was wet with tears.
“Alina…”
My heart broke.
“Sofia?””
She looked at me.
“I’m sorry.””
I stepped closer.
“Why?””
Her lips trembled.
“Because he had my daughter.””
Silence.
“I thought I could help him without hurting you.””
“You could have told me.””
“I tried.””
I looked confused.
“When?””
“Every time I asked about your mother.””
I froze.
“What?””
Sofia looked down.
“I was trying to find out if you knew anything. I was trying to protect you.””
Marco grabbed her shoulder.
She flinched.
Dante immediately noticed.
“She’s being forced.””
Marco smiled.
“Always so confident.””
Then he looked at me.
“Come with me, Alina.””
Nobody moved.
“Why would I?””
“Because I can tell you who your mother really was.””
I felt my heart pull.
The one thing I wanted most.
Answers.
Marco continued.
“She wasn’t just protecting Dante.””
He leaned closer.
“She was protecting you from him.””
The room became silent.
I looked at Dante.
His expression changed.
Not anger.
Pain.
Because there was something he wasn’t telling me.
“What is he talking about?””
Dante didn’t answer.
That scared me.
Marco smiled.
“There it is.””
“What?””
“The moment you realize everyone has a secret.””
The screen went black.
The room stayed silent.
Then Rafael spoke.
“He’s trying to separate us.””
I looked at Dante.
“Is he telling the truth?””
Dante looked away.
“Alina…”
“No.””
My voice shook.
“I need the truth.””
A long silence.
Then Dante finally said:
“Your mother didn’t fear Marco.””
I waited.
“She feared what I would become if I lost control.””
I stared.
“What does that mean?””
Before Dante could answer, the mansion lights suddenly went out.
Everyone moved instantly.
Guards shouted.
A crash came from upstairs.
Then a voice echoed through the darkness.
Not from the screen.
Not from a phone.
From inside the house.
“Alina.””
My blood froze.
Because I knew that voice.
I had heard it before.
In my childhood memories.
The man with the dragon symbol.
The man my mother begged.
May you like
The man who was never supposed to return.
“Come find out why your mother lied to you.””
