Chapter 6

The winter Mafia Council convened that day.

Isabella was still recovering from a lung infection and physical trauma caused by severe hypothermia, an IV taped to the back of her hand.

"Your body cannot take this right now." Julian held the handles of her wheelchair, his eyes full of worry. "I've prepared a written objection. I can attend on your behalf."

"No." Isabella pulled the IV from her hand and let blood well through the skin. "If the Council rules while I'm absent, the Moretti port and a century of this family's work will be permanently absorbed into De Luca control today. I have to go myself."

The Elders and stewards of the five families filled the seats along both sides of the long table in the Council hall.

At the front, Bianca displayed the edited clinic video and the document Matteo had personally signed declaring Isabella mentally unstable.

"Elders, you can all see Miss Isabella's mental state for yourselves." Bianca's tone was earnest. "For the stability of this family, replacing the heir is the only option."

Matteo sat at the head, his face dark. He knew perfectly well that Isabella had nearly died in that cold room, and he knew perfectly well the circumstances under which that document had been signed, and he still pushed the transfer agreement across to Isabella as she came through the door.

He bent close and spoke into her ear, his low voice carrying equal parts restrained pleading and temptation. "Sign it, Bella. Sign, and we'll go home. I'll restore the guest room exactly the way you liked it three years ago. We can start over."

Isabella looked up, and a faint, mocking smile touched her pale face. "Matteo, before I sign, will you give me a little time?"

Matteo avoided her eyes, his gaze flickering. "We can talk privately after the Council."

He did not want the truth. He only wanted her to give in.

Isabella stopped looking at him and set the pen down gently.

The next second, she raised her hand and slammed a series of damning documents onto the center of the Mafia Council's round table!

"Document one. The clinic's complete surveillance timeline and nurses' shift roster, proving that the so-called psychological breakdown was induced and fabricated!"

"Document two. A declaration that the Moretti neutral estate trust is now in force! As of today, every port and account under the Moretti name has been placed in an international trust. Without my personal authorization, no one may inherit any of it or retitle a single asset!"

"Document three. Dissolution of the alliance between the Moretti and De Luca families!"

"Document four. The silver christening medallion. And the medical report documenting the miscarriage I suffered in captivity three years ago!"

The bloodstained medical report landed last. Matteo's pupils constricted. His hands shook as he picked up the miscarriage report from three years earlier, then looked at the silver medallion engraved with the pet name. He went rigid, as if struck by lightning!

He finally understood who the medallion he had hung around Leo's neck truly belonged to!

"Bella... this... this is..." Matteo's face was bloodless. He reached out with a shaking hand to take hers.

Isabella pulled away from his touch in disgust and looked at him as if he were a corpse.

She raised her hand and pressed play on the chip from her father's rosary.

The amplifier crackled first with the payment reconciliation for the port routes, proving that Isabella had never betrayed the family. Then Matteo's unmistakable, merciless voice from the afternoon that had decided her fate rang through the Council hall.

"Stop the ransom. She chose to betray us. Let her die there."

The words hit the hall like an explosion!

The chamber fell deathly silent. The Elders stared at Matteo in shock, while Bianca's face went ashen.

Matteo went ashen, as though he had plunged into ice. He swayed so violently he could barely remain upright. He stared at Isabella, his lips opening and closing, but no sound came out.

Isabella slowly drew the wedding ring off her ring finger and set it down gently beside the signet ring that marked his authority as head of the family. It landed with a small, clear chime.

"Matteo De Luca." Her voice was perfectly calm, yet powerful enough to tear everything apart. "Now, can we talk?"

At that exact moment, a sharp crack split the air!

Every light in the hall went out at once, and the whole chamber dropped into darkness.