CHAPTER 3:The Empire Built on Lies
Teresa's funeral lasted twenty-three minutes.
No tears.
No speeches.
Only fear.
Every member of the Romano family understood one thing.
Someone was eliminating witnesses.
That evening Alessandro walked into my father's workshop for the first time since I left.
No bodyguards.
No lawyers.
No pride.
He stood silently while I polished an antique engagement ring.
Finally he spoke.
"I never cheated."
I kept working.
"I don't believe you."
"You shouldn't."
He pulled a flash drive from his pocket.
"Believe this."
Together we watched security footage from the birthday dinner.
The camera hidden above the ballroom entrance revealed something no guest had seen.
Seconds before Alessandro entered with Camila...
Ruggero's head of security had positioned two snipers across the street.
Camila had not been escorted into the ballroom.
She had been shielded.
Alessandro hadn't humiliated me for pleasure.
He had sacrificed our marriage to keep me out of Ruggero's investigation.
"If you had known," Alessandro whispered, "Ruggero would have killed you too."
I looked at him for a long time.
Then asked the only question that mattered.
"Why didn't you trust me?"
For the first time in years...
Alessandro had no answer.
Three nights later, Ruggero struck first.
The Bellini jewelry workshop exploded.
Only ashes remained.
Fortunately...
We had left fifteen minutes earlier.
Now there was no turning back.
May you like
We would either expose Ruggero...
Or die trying.
