Chapter 10 - What Dante’s Father Hid
Dante turned toward Daniel.
“Tell me.”
Daniel looked twenty years older.
Clara stood between them.
“No more omissions.”
Daniel sat.
“Sofia Moretti discovered Valmont before Vincenzo did.”
Dante's mother had died when he was fourteen.
Car accident.
Another death that suddenly seemed suspicious.
“She contacted me,” Daniel continued. “I helped her trace the accounts.”
“What happened?”
“She wanted to expose Alexander Vale.”
Dante's jaw tightened.
“And?”
“Vincenzo stopped her.”
Dante stared.
“My father?”
“He believed exposure would start a war.”
“So he silenced her?”
“No.”
Daniel swallowed.
“He moved her evidence.”
“Where?”
“To me.”
Clara understood.
“And Julian thought Sofia still had it.”
Daniel nodded.
“The car crash was meant to frighten her.”
Dante's face emptied.
“It killed her.”
“Yes.”
“Who ordered it?”
“Alexander Vale.”
Dante looked away.
Clara touched his arm.
He did not move.
Daniel continued.
“Vincenzo blamed himself. That's why he spent the rest of his life trying to dismantle Valmont quietly.”
Dante whispered, “And my father hid all of this from me.”
“Yes.”
Clara understood Dante's anger because it mirrored hers.
Two sons and daughters inheriting secrets disguised as protection.
She took his hand.
He looked at her.
No words.
Later, they found Sofia's original evidence in Daniel's archives.
It proved Alexander Vale had corrupted the trust.
That gave Margaret legal grounds to dissolve it.
But one requirement remained.
The Moretti key.
Dante possessed it unknowingly.
His father's wedding ring.
Inside the band was a microscopic identification code.
Dante removed it from a safe.
Clara read the inscription.
Not romantic words.
Numbers.
A trust account.
They now had Bennett and Moretti.
They needed Valenti.
Elena arrived carrying a necklace.
“My mother gave me this when I turned eighteen.”
Inside the pendant was another code.
Three keys.
Margaret could dissolve Valmont.
They arranged the filing.
Federal authorities were contacted through independent counsel.
Everything was ready.
Then Dante said, “Wait.”
Clara looked at him.
“What?”
“If we dissolve Valmont now, Julian loses control.”
“Yes.”
“And disappears.”
She understood.
“You want him exposed first.”
“I want evidence that puts him away.”
Clara agreed.
They created one final trap.
A fake announcement: Dante and Elena would proceed with the marriage.
The ceremony would activate Valmont.
Julian could not resist.
The news spread.
Markets reacted.
Thomas contacted Clara within an hour.
She answered.
“Clara, you need to stop him.”
She almost admired the performance.
“Why?”
“Dante is using you.”
“Probably.”
Thomas hesitated.
“You sound strange.”
“I've had a strange week.”
He arranged a meeting.
Clara wore red.
Again.
This time by choice.
Thomas arrived at the same hotel where everything began.
He sat across from her.
“You look different.”
“I know more.”
“About?”
“Dante.”
Thomas relaxed.
Good.
Clara leaned closer.
“I want out.”
He studied her.
“Can you help me?”
“Yes.”
“What do you need?”
“The real Valmont documents.”
Thomas smiled.
Finally.
“We knew you'd understand eventually.”
Clara forced herself not to react.
“We?”
Thomas reached into his coat.
A key card.
“Tomorrow night. Come alone.”
“To where?”
“You'll see.”
He stood.
Clara looked at the card.
No address.
Only a number.
Of course.
Thomas walked away.
Dante emerged from the adjoining room.
“You were convincing.”
“I've had excellent teachers.”
He sat opposite her.
For a moment, they were back where they started.
Wrong woman.
Wrong meeting.
Red dress.
Except now nothing felt wrong.
Dante looked at her.
“When this ends…”
Clara waited.
He stopped.
“What?”
“Nothing.”
“No. You don't get to become mysterious now.”
He smiled.
“When this ends, I'd like to take you to dinner.”
She stared.
“This isn't dinner?”
“No contracts.”
“Promising.”
“No armed guards at the table.”
“Very promising.”
“No arranged bride.”
Clara smiled.
“I'll check my calendar.”
He reached for her hand.
Her phone buzzed.
Marcus.
Clara answered.
His voice was urgent.
“The wedding announcement triggered something.”
“What?”
“Someone accessed Vincenzo's sealed records.”
“Who?”
“We don't know.”
Dante stood.
Marcus continued.
“There was another document.”
Clara's pulse accelerated.
“What document?”
“A second marriage agreement.”
Dante frowned.
“Between whom?”
Marcus hesitated.
Then said, “Dante, your father signed it.”
“With Elena?”
“No.”
Clara looked at Dante.
May you like
Marcus spoke the other name.
“Clara Bennett.”
