Chapter 3 - Secrets in the Library
The revelation sent a shockwave through the Moretti household. Julian Vance was Dominic's former brother-in-law—a bitter, high-gambling black sheep of the Vance family who had blamed Dominic for his sister Elena's death and had been cut off from the Moretti estate's trust funds years ago.
By morning, the rain had ceased, leaving behind a thick fog that blanketed the Westchester estate.
Dominic sat in his library, surrounded by old leather-bound books and stacks of corporate financial reports. Sitting across from him was Sophia. At Dominic's request, she had brought down a small wooden box from her quarters—a box containing her late husband's personal belongings.
"You told me your husband passed away four years ago, Sophia," Dominic said gently, his tone conversational yet searching. "What was his name?"
"David," Sophia answered softly, touching the polished wood of the box. "David Carter. He was an architect. He died in an industrial accident at a construction site in Queens."
Dominic looked at her intently. "Which construction site?"
Sophia frowned slightly, surprised by the question. "The Hudson Bay Logistics warehouse project. Why?"
Dominic stood up and walked over to his grand oak desk. He picked up a thick manila folder and slid it across the table toward her. "Because Hudson Bay Logistics was owned by Julian Vance before I seized its assets three years ago. And David Carter wasn't just an architect, Sophia. He was the chief structural auditor who filed a whistleblower report against Julian for money laundering and unsafe building practices."
Sophia's breath hitched. She opened the folder with trembling hands, scanning through rows of official court documents, blueprints, and police reports.
"David... David didn't die in an accident?" she whispered, horror dawning in her eyes. "He was... he was killed?"
"Julian silenced him," Dominic said grimly, his voice filled with deep regret. "I investigated David's death four years ago, but Julian had paid off the local precinct to rule it an accidental fall from a scaffold. I couldn't prove it then. But when I took over Julian's logistics firm, I made sure a monthly stipend was anonymously paid to David's widow."
Sophia looked up, her brown eyes wide with shock. "The monthly scholarship fund... the one that pays for Lily's health insurance and our living allowance? That came from you?"
"I couldn't fix what my brother-in-law destroyed," Dominic said softly, walking around the desk to stand right beside her. "So I hired you as head housekeeper to ensure you and your daughter would always have a safe home under my roof. I thought Julian was gone for good. I didn't realize he would return to strike at my son to get revenge for losing his empire."
Tears streamed down Sophia's cheeks. For four years, she had believed she was alone in the world, fighting to support her toddler on a housekeeper's salary. She had no idea that the formidable, terrifying mob boss she worked for had been quietly shielding her and her child from the shadows all along.
"Mr. Moretti..." Sophia stammered, standing up. "I... I don't know what to say."
"Call me Dominic," he said quietly, reaching out to gently wipe a tear from her cheek. "You don't need to say anything, Sophia. Julian killed your husband, and yesterday he tried to kill my son. We are bound by the same tragedy. And I promise you on my life, he will never hurt anyone in this house again."
Before Sophia could answer, the library door burst open.
Lily ran into the room, wearing her little pink pajamas, holding a wooden toy car. "Mami! Ethan is awake! He wants to play with my cars!"
Dominic's cold, brooding face softened instantly into a warm smile. He dropped down on one knee, just as he had in the ballroom the day before, and extended a hand to the tiny girl.
"Good morning, Lily," Dominic said gently. "Did Ethan like your cars?"
Lily nodded enthusiastically, stepping closer to Dominic without a single trace of fear. She reached out her tiny hand and placed the wooden car directly into the palm of the feared mafia boss.
May you like
"Ethan says thank you for saving his cake," Lily said innocently. "He gave me a cookie."
Dominic looked down at the toy car in his hand, then up at Sophia, a rare, breathtaking warmth illuminating his dark eyes. "Then I suppose I owe you a cookie, too, little princess."
