Chapter 6 - THE WOMAN FROM HIS PAST
Three days later, a woman arrived at the penthouse.
Her name was Elena Marconi.
She was elegant, confident, and completely unafraid of Dominic.
Harper watched from the staircase.
Elena walked straight toward Dominic.
“You haven't changed.”
Dominic's expression was unreadable.
“You shouldn't be here.”
“I had no choice.”
Harper's stomach tightened.
Elena looked at her.
“So you're Harper.”
“Yes.”
Elena smiled sadly.
“I've heard a lot about you.”
“Likewise.”
Dominic stepped between them.
“Leave.”
Elena ignored him.
“You should know something.”
Harper waited.
“Dominic and I were supposed to marry.”
Harper felt as if the floor had shifted.
Dominic closed his eyes.
“Enough.”
Elena continued.
“He promised me.”
Harper looked at him.
“Did you?”
“It was before I met you.”
“That doesn't answer the question.”
“Yes.”
Harper nodded.
“Thank you.”
She walked away.
Dominic followed.
“Harper.”
“No.”
“Listen.”
“I don't want to.”
“You deserve the truth.”
She turned.
“Then tell me everything.”
Dominic finally did.
Elena had been part of his life before his father's death.
Their marriage had been arranged by two families.
Dominic ended it when he discovered Elena's father was secretly working with Carmine.
Elena had disappeared.
Now she had returned because she possessed evidence against Carmine.
Harper stared.
“So she isn't here for you.”
“No.”
“She wants protection.”
“Yes.”
Harper laughed.
“I feel ridiculous.”
“Why?”
“Because I was jealous.”
Dominic stepped closer.
“You had every right.”
“I hated her.”
“I know.”
“That's embarrassing.”
He smiled.
“I liked it.”
She hit his chest lightly.
“You're impossible.”
He caught her hand.
For a moment, the danger disappeared.
Then Elena entered again.
“We have a problem.”
Dominic turned.
“What?”
“Carmine knows about the safe.”
Dominic's face hardened.
“How?”
Elena looked toward Harper.
“Someone told him.”
Harper immediately understood.
“The traitor.”
Elena nodded.
“He isn't looking for the documents.”
Dominic's eyes narrowed.
“What does he want?”
“Her.”
Harper's blood ran cold.
“Me?”
“Yes.”
Elena looked at Dominic.
“Carmine believes Harper possesses something her father left behind.”
“I don't.”
“He does.”
Dominic stepped toward Harper.
“She's leaving tonight.”
Harper shook her head.
“No.”
“Harper.”
“If I run, they will chase me.”
“We can protect you.”
“That's exactly what my father tried to do.”
She looked at Dominic.
“And look where that got him.”
Dominic went silent.
Harper continued.
“I am done being the person everyone moves around like a chess piece.”
“What do you want?”
“I want to know what my father left.”
Elena looked at Dominic.
Then nodded.
“There is one more file.”
“What file?”
“A birth record.”
Harper frowned.
“My father had another child.”
Dominic froze.
“That's impossible.”
Elena shook her head.
“Not another child.”
She looked at Harper.
“A child connected to the Russo family.”
Silence filled the room.
Harper felt a strange fear rise inside her.
“What does that mean?”
Elena whispered:
“Your father believed the Russo heir was stolen from the family.”
Dominic's face became pale.
“My father had a son.”
Harper stared.
“You?”
“No.”
He looked at Elena.
“Then who?”
May you like
Elena's answer was barely audible.
“Someone who is alive.”
