THE MAFIA’S HIDDEN PRINCESS RETURNS のすべてのチャプター: チャプター 11 - チャプター 20

“Hey,” she said, trying to sound normal. “How’s Boston?”“Exhausting. These meetings are killing me.” He sounded tired. And something else—guilty, maybe? “How are you? What did you do last night?”Last night, when she’d been in another man’s bed. Last night, when she’d discovered what it felt like to be wanted.“Nothing much,” Elena lied smoothly. “Watched a movie. Went to bed early.”“Good. You should rest. You’ve seemed stressed lately.”Stressed. That was one word for it.“Marcus,” Elena heard herself say. “Do you love me?”Silence on the other end. Long enough that Elena’s heart started to pound.“Of course I do,” Marcus said finally. But his voice was flat, automatic. The answer you give because it’s expected, not because it’s true. “Why would you ask that?”“Just wondering.” Elena’s voice stayed steady somehow. “When are you coming home?”“Thursday, like I said. Maybe Friday if these meetings run long.” A pause. “I should go. Conference call in five minutes.”“Okay.”“Elena?”“Y

Elena said nothing, just watched and waited. The recording device in her purse was running. Every word was being captured.“I’m sure you’re a lovely person,” Isabelle continued, her voice dripping with false sympathy. “And I’m sure Marcus cares for you in his way. But darling, you must know—you were never more than a placeholder. A substitute until I could come back.”The words should have hurt. A week ago, they would have destroyed Elena.But now? Now she just felt cold.“What do you want, Isabelle?”“I want you to make this easy. For everyone involved.” Isabelle’s eyes glittered. “Agree to a quiet divorce. No fuss, no drama, no taking Marcus for everything he’s worth. Just walk away gracefully, and I promise you’ll be compensated for your… service.”“My service,” Elena repeated flatly.“Five years of playing house. That deserves something, doesn’t it?” Isabelle pulled out an envelope and slid it across the coffee table. “Here’s my offer. Two hundred thousand dollars. Cash. You sign

“Why?” Elena’s voice cracked. “Why do you care so much about a stranger?”Dante was quiet for a long moment, studying their joined hands. When he spoke, his voice was soft but certain.“You’re not a stranger to me. Not really.” He looked up, meeting her eyes. “I recognized something in you that night at the ball. Something broken and brave and beautiful, all at once. Someone who’d been hurt but hadn’t let it destroy her core. I knew—” He paused. “I knew I wanted to protect that. Protect you.”“That sounds like a savior complex.”“Maybe.” A small smile tugged at his mouth. “Or maybe I just know what it’s like to be underestimated by people who should value you. And maybe I want to be there when you prove them all wrong.”The pie arrived, breaking the moment. Elena picked at hers with her fork, not really tasting it.“I have a plan,” she said finally. “I’m gathering evidence. Building a case. When Isabelle and Marcus make their move, I’ll be ready. I’ll document everything, and then I’l

“Elena,” Isabelle purred, standing up. “So glad you could make it. I was worried you’d be difficult.”“You didn’t give me much choice.” Elena’s voice was steady.“True. But you made the smart decision. I appreciate that.” Isabelle gestured to the men. “I believe you’ve met my friends? They’re very eager to get to know you better.”The men smiled—predatory, knowing. They’d been promised something, Elena realized. Money, or favors, or just the thrill of destroying a woman who’d gotten in Isabelle’s way.“What exactly is supposed to happen here?” Elena asked, staying by the door.“Oh, didn’t I explain?” Isabelle’s smile was all teeth. “You’re going to spend time with each of these gentlemen. Private time. And our photographer friend is going to document every moment. By the end of the evening, we’ll have all the evidence Marcus needs to divorce you for adultery. You’ll walk away with nothing, and I’ll finally have what’s mine.”“You mean Marcus.”“I mean everything. Marcus, his money, hi

After the call ended, Elena sat on the bed, her hands shaking. Her family was coming. After five years of estrangement, they were coming to New York.To protect her. To stand with her. To make sure Marcus paid.She should have felt relieved. Instead, she felt terrified.Because once her family arrived, there would be no more hiding. No more pretending to be normal Elena Frost. She’d have to be Elena Accardi again—daughter of a don, sister to five dangerous men, part of a world she’d tried so hard to escape.A knock on the door startled her.“Elena?” Dante’s voice. “Victoria’s here.”Elena opened the door to find her best friend standing in the hallway, arms full of bags, eyes red from crying.“You stupid, brave, reckless idiot,” Victoria sobbed, dropping the bags and pulling Elena into a crushing hug. “You could have been killed last night. You could have—”“I’m fine, Vic. I’m okay.”“You’re not okay. You’re—” Victoria pulled back, studying Elena’s face. “You called your family, didn’