Chapter 26: Unraveling the Lies

As Dominic entered the next room, the door clicked shut behind him, and an unsettling weight settled in my chest. The oppressive silence was thick with the unspoken truths that lingered between us. My heart raced, pounding in my ears, while my mind swirled with countless unanswered questions. 

I struggled to comprehend the recent events. Thomas had departed, yet his words reverberated in my mind—the debts, the past—everything Dominic had tried to protect me from. This was more than just business or family disputes; there was a deeper, darker truth lurking beneath the surface. 

I approached the window, my reflection staring back at me like a stranger. The city lay before me—silent, cold, and indifferent, mirroring the world I found myself trapped in. 

I could no longer remain in the shadows. I refused to wait for Dominic to determine when it was “safe” to reveal the truth. I needed answers, and I was done allowing him to dictate the narrative. 

My phone buzzed in my pocket, interrupting my thoughts. I looked at the screen—an unknown number. With hesitation, I answered. 

“Elena.” 

The voice on the line was unmistakable. It was Dominic. 

I pressed the phone closer to my ear, trying to calm my racing heart. “What’s happening, Dominic? Who was that man? What debt are you referring to?” 

He hesitated, the silence stretching uncomfortably as if he was carefully choosing his words. “I’ll explain everything. But not over the phone.” His voice was strained and controlled, yet an urgency I hadn’t heard before underlined his words. 

I swallowed hard, frustration bubbling within me. “Then when? When will you tell me? I’m tired of waiting, Dominic. I have a stake in this too. My family is involved. My life—my future—is intertwined with whatever game you’re playing, and I deserve to know the truth.”

He took a sharp breath, followed by the sound of his footsteps pacing. "You’re right," he murmured, more to himself than to me. "But I can’t explain this over the phone. You need to come see me. We have to talk in person." 

I tightened my jaw, the urge to decline rising within me. Yet, there was a note of urgency in his voice that drew me in. Whatever he was about to reveal was significant. It was evident that I wouldn’t find the answers I sought unless I went to him. 

"Alright," I replied, my voice calm despite the turmoil inside. "I’ll come." 

He let out a breath, sounding relieved. "I’ll send someone to pick you up. Just be ready." 

The call ended abruptly before I could say anything more, leaving me staring at my reflection once again. What secrets was he keeping? And why had it taken him so long to confess that he had something important to share? 

I couldn’t afford to linger on those thoughts. I needed to leave quickly. Whatever he was planning was reaching a critical point, and I had to brace myself for what was about to happen. 

I snatched my coat from the chair and headed for the door, my mind racing. This was it—the pivotal moment. There would be no turning back from here. 

The ride to Dominic’s mansion felt like a blur. The city lights zipped past, dazzling me with their harsh glow, but my mind was elsewhere. I had no clue what awaited me, but I sensed it wouldn’t be straightforward. This was no longer just a family dispute; it had escalated into something much more perilous and intimate. 

As the car approached the gates of his estate, I felt a shift in the atmosphere. It was as if I was entering another realm. Everything here exuded sleekness, chill, and power. The gates opened slowly, the metal groaning as if reluctant to let me through.

The moment I stepped out of the car, I felt the weight of the mansion looming over me, the shadows swallowing me whole. I didn’t even have to ring the doorbell; the door opened almost immediately, revealing a man in a black suit. Without a word, he motioned for me to follow him.

I hesitated for a moment, but there was no turning back. I walked inside, the grand foyer swallowing me in its cold, sterile elegance. The marble floors gleamed beneath my feet, the chandeliers overhead casting their harsh light on the polished surfaces. Every inch of this place reeked of wealth and power—but beneath that, I could feel the tension. The secrets. The lies.

I followed the man down a long corridor, the sound of our footsteps echoing off the walls. Finally, we reached a heavy, oak door. The man opened it without knocking, revealing Dominic standing by a large window, his back to me.

For a moment, I just stood there, watching him. The man who had been both my enemy and my obsession. The man who had brought so much destruction into my life. I still wasn’t sure if I could trust him, but I had no choice. If I wanted answers, this was the only way.

“Dominic,” I said, my voice cool but controlled.

At first, he didn’t look back, but I noticed the tension in his shoulders. "Elena," he finally spoke, his tone heavy with an unidentifiable weight. "I asked you to come alone." 

"I had no other option," I countered, stepping further into the room. "You wouldn’t share the details over the phone, so here I am. Now, you need to explain what’s happening." 

He turned to face me slowly, his face a mask of unreadable emotions. "This is more complicated than you realize, Elena. I’ll do my best to clarify, but it won’t be easy." 

I crossed my arms, fixing him with a determined stare. "Make it easier." 

Dominic took a deep breath, rubbing his hand over his face as if trying to organize his thoughts. "When I was a child, my family meant everything to me. My father built this empire from scratch, and I learned from him every day. But he kept secrets from me—about his past, about my mother, and about your family." 

I froze in shock. My family? What connection could there be between my family and Dominic’s mother? The woman whose death had ignited everything—the catalyst for the feud between our families. The reason I had been pulled into this chaotic world in the first place. 

Dominic stepped closer, his eyes locked onto mine with intensity. "My father made a pact with your mother. A pact that was meant to secure our futures. But somewhere along the line, it all fell apart. My mother died, and your family? Your father took to the media with his falsehoods, blaming my father for it all." 

The atmosphere in the room grew colder, the air thick with tension. I struggled to grasp the enormity of his words. "So… you’re implying my father is to blame for your mother’s death?" 

He nodded slowly, his voice thick with emotion. "It was never meant to end this way. But the lies… they’ve dictated everything. Now, it’s time to confront the truth." 

My heart raced as the reality of the situation sank in. The truth. The deceptions. The obligations. And the twisted game we were both ensnared in.

I opened my mouth to speak, but before I could, the sound of footsteps echoed down the hallway, loud and urgent.

The door burst open.

And then, everything went dark.