Chapter 2

Emily's POV

I released my hand from the doorknob and forced myself toward him, every step dragging me closer to the truth I had spent three years running from. Could he really know me? No. It wasn't possible. I had buried Emily Moretti beneath a stolen name, a new life, and three years of silence. I couldn't let all of it collapse now.

“I'm sorry, sir. My name is Eva Blackwood, not Emily Moretti,” I said, fighting to keep my voice from betraying me.

He tilted his head, a slow smile touching his lips as his gaze travelled over my face, lingering with an amusement I couldn't understand. His eyes dropped briefly to the glasses perched on my nose before returning to mine. 

“Sir, I—”

“Dante. Call me Dante, Emily.”

The words silenced me. I clenched my jaw. There was no point twisting the truth any further. He had already made up his mind, and no denial I offered would change it. Then he rose. My pulse quickened as he came toward me, forcing me to retreat one step after another until the wall stopped me. 

Dante stood before me, and up close, every detail of him seemed sharper. His dark hair was swept neatly away from his forehead, exposing a strong brow and defined cheekbones. His jaw was cleanly shaped beneath a faint shadow of stubble, while his black suit sat perfectly against his broad shoulders. But his eyes were what held my attention—dark, piercing, unrelenting. They studied me as though he were searching for the woman beneath the name I had stolen.

He leaned closer, lifting a hand toward my face. My body reacted before my mind could, and I caught his wrist. The smile on his lips deepened. 

“You're too fast for an ordinary person, Emily,” he murmured. I released him and tried to move away, but his arm came down beside me, cutting off my escape.

“For the last time, Mr. Dante, I am not Emily,” I said. “I was only protecting myself because you were getting too close to my face, and I don't like it.”

His gaze sharpened. Then his hand moved again. This time, instinct took over. I caught his wrist, twisted it, and sent him crashing to the floor. Silence followed. I stared at him, stunned by what I had just done, but then laughter erupted through the office. Dante laughed. Not anger. Not outrage. Laughter. I pressed my palm over my mouth.

 “I... I'm sorry, sir!” I stammered, rushing forward, but he was already standing. His laughter faded as his gaze locked onto mine.

“Thank you.”I stopped. “For proving me right.”

Before I could step away, his fingers closed around my wrist. He lifted my hand and turned it slightly beneath his gaze. 

“The mark.” My eyes dropped to my palm. “You can pretend all you want, Emily,” he said calmly, “but there is always something that gives you away.”

I tugged against his hold. “Let me go.”

“I gave you this mark, Emily. Remember? Fifteen years ago.”

He released me and walked back to his seat, but his eyes never left mine. That was when I knew I had to leave. He knew too much. And if Dante knew I was still alive, it was only a matter of time before my family discovered the truth.

“Mr. Dante, I'm sorry about what happened earlier. I promise it won't happen again. I will tender my resignation immediately,” I said, hoping this would finally end it.

His expression remained unreadable. He said nothing, and silence stretched between us before he finally spoke. 

“Resignation?”

Something in his voice tightened the knot in my stomach. I nodded. “Yes, sir. No matter how hard I try to explain that I'm not Emily, you refuse to accept it. And after what happened earlier, I think it's best that I walk away.”

“Sit down.”

I hesitated before pulling out the chair opposite him and sitting. Dante leaned back, his gaze fixed on me. The silence grew heavier by the second. I needed his answer. Once this was over, I could leave the city, disappear again, and make certain no one ever discovered that Emily Moretti had survived.

“You don't need to resign.”His voice cut through my thoughts. My brows drew together. “Why?”

A faint smile curved across his lips. He picked up his phone and held the screen toward me. The moment I saw the name, the air seemed to leave my lungs.

Luca Moretti.

My brother. I couldn't tear my eyes from the screen. My pulse hammered against my throat as I slowly looked at Dante.

“How?” I whispered.

“You see, Emily, you're not the only one who knows how to keep secrets.”

He lowered the phone, that smile remaining on his face. I narrowed my eyes. He hadn't shown me Luca's number without a purpose.

“What do you want?” I asked, forcing the words past my tightening throat.

He clasped his hands together, then pointed toward me. “You see why I like you? You're very smart.”

He reached for a brown envelope and placed it on the desk. My gaze dropped to it.

“What is this?”I reached for the envelope.

“A contract.” I looked up.

“Be my fake fiancée for two years.” For a second, I simply stared at him. Then laughter escaped me.

 “You're not serious.”

“I am, Emily. You will sign it now unless you want your dear family to discover that their precious dead daughter is still alive.”

My laughter vanished. The threat settled between us. He couldn't be serious. I had spent three years hiding. No one knew where I was.

“Is this some kind of joke? Where are the cameras?” I stood, glanced at the envelope, and turned toward the door.

“Very well, then. You leave me no choice.”

His voice stopped me, I turned.

Dante raised his phone and pressed the screen. A familiar voice came through the speaker. My breath caught.

Lucas.

I rushed toward him, reaching for the phone, my gaze darting to the screen. It was him. My eyes snapped back to Dante. That smile hadn't left his face.

“I'll sign it,” I whispered.

I snatched the envelope from the desk. I didn't read a single word. I grabbed the pen, signed my name, and tossed it back onto the desk before turning toward the door.

“Where are you going?”I stopped and slowly turned around. Dante's gaze settled on me.

“It seems you didn't read the contract, Emily.” I frowned. A soft tsk escaped him. “Now that we've signed it, you'll have to move in with me.”