Chapter 9 - THE TRUTH ABOUT DARIO
Dario had been planning to undermine Elio for months.
He believed Elio's marriage to me had weakened him.
Made him sentimental.
Distracted.
Vulnerable.
He had approached the Santoro family.
Offered information.
Promised access.
And tried to use my father's business connections to gain influence.
But Dario had made one mistake.
He underestimated me.
The evidence I'd helped uncover revealed more than financial misconduct.
It showed a plan to isolate me from Elio.
To make him believe I was disloyal.
To turn our marriage into a weakness he could exploit.
When Elio learned the full extent, he was furious.
Not because Dario had challenged his power.
But because he'd tried to use me.
That evening, Elio found me in the library.
I was reading about Renaissance fresco restoration.
He sat across from me.
For a long time, neither spoke.
Then he said:
“I'm sorry.”
I looked up.
“For what?”
He swallowed.
“For the way I spoke about you before the wedding.”
My heart tightened.
Elio continued.
“I treated you like part of a transaction.”
I looked down.
“Yes.”
He nodded.
“I can't undo that.”
I swallowed.
“No.”
He leaned forward.
“But I want you to know something.”
I looked at him.
“I was wrong.”
His voice was quiet.
“I didn't know you.”
For a moment, neither spoke.
Then I whispered:
“You never tried.”
Elio closed his eyes.
“I know.”
I studied him.
Then asked:
“Why are you telling me now?”
He looked at me.
“Because I don't want you to spend the rest of your life believing I still see you that way.”
My eyes filled.
For the first time, I believed his apology.
May you like
Not because it was perfect.
But because he wasn't asking me to make him feel better.
