chapter 5

Chapter Five: Mrs. Moretti

By the time Elena returned to the bedroom, the reality of what she had done had finally begun to settle over her. She had signed a marriage contract with a man she had met less than twenty-four hours ago, a man whose name was feared throughout the city and whose world seemed to be built on secrets she could barely begin to understand.

Yet the strangest part was that she didn't regret it.

Not completely.

If marrying Damian could give her even the smallest chance of finding her father, then she was willing to take that risk.

A knock interrupted her thoughts.

She turned toward the door and found a woman standing there with several garment bags hanging from her arm.

"Mr. Moretti asked me to bring these for you."

Elena frowned. "I don't need new clothes."

The woman smiled politely. "He said you would."

She placed the bags on the bed before leaving.

Elena opened the first one and found an elegant black dress inside, followed by several others in different styles. Everything was clearly expensive, far more expensive than anything she would normally wear.

She touched the fabric before shaking her head.

"He's unbelievable."

She had barely finished changing when another knock came.

This time, Damian entered without waiting for permission.

Elena immediately turned toward him.

"Do you always enter people's rooms like that?"

"You're my wife now."

"Contract wife."

His eyes moved over her for a brief moment before returning to her face.

"Still my wife."

She crossed her arms.

"What do you want?"

"We're having dinner."

"I'm not hungry."

"You haven't eaten since last night."

Elena opened her mouth to argue, but her stomach betrayed her with a quiet growl.

Damian's lips curved slightly.

She glared at him.

"Don't."

"I didn't say anything."

"You didn't have to."

He stepped aside and gestured toward the hallway.

"Come."

She followed him reluctantly.

The dining room was enormous, with a long table that could easily accommodate twenty people, although only two places had been prepared. Elena sat opposite Damian, feeling strangely uncomfortable in the silence surrounding them.

For several minutes, neither of them spoke.

Finally, Elena asked, "Do you always eat in silence?"

"Usually."

"How romantic."

Damian looked at her.

"You expected candlelight?"

"No. I expected conversation."

"You married the wrong man."

Despite herself, Elena smiled.

It disappeared quickly when she remembered who he was.

"Damian."

"Hm?"

"Why did you really choose me?"

His expression became serious.

"I already told you."

"No. You gave me an answer that sounded convenient."

He placed his fork down.

"What do you want me to say?"

"The truth."

His eyes remained on hers for several seconds.

"The truth is that your father left something unfinished."

"What?"

"I can't tell you yet."

Elena sighed.

"Again?"

"You'll learn."

"Learn what?"

"That patience keeps people alive in my world."

Before she could answer, one of Damian's men entered the room.

He leaned down and whispered something into Damian's ear.

The change in Damian's expression was immediate.

"What happened?" Elena asked.

"Nothing you need to worry about."

"That means something happened."

Damian stood.

"Stay here."

She watched him walk away.

A few minutes later, Elena heard raised voices from the hallway.

She couldn't understand the words, but Damian's tone was unmistakably angry.

Curiosity overcame her.

She quietly left the dining room and followed the voices.

When she reached the hallway, she saw Damian standing with three men.

One of them held a photograph.

Damian took it from him.

His eyes darkened as he looked at it.

Elena stepped closer.

"What is that?"

Everyone turned toward her.

Damian immediately folded the photograph in his hand.

"Go back to the dining room."

"Who is in the picture?"

"Elena."

Something in his voice made her stop.

She had never heard him sound like that before.

Not angry.

Not cold.

Afraid.

She looked at the photograph again.

"Is that my father?"

Damian said nothing.

Elena's heart began pounding.

"Damian, answer me."

He slowly walked toward her.

"Your father isn't the only person from your past who has returned."

Her face went pale.

"Who else?"

Damian stopped in front of her.

Then he handed her the photograph.

Elena looked down.

The moment she recognized the man standing beside her father, the world seemed to stop.

She knew him.

She had trusted him.

She had loved him.

And according to the photograph, he had been connected to her father long before she ever met him.

Adrian Blake was lying to her from the beginning.