Chapter 3 - THE ENGAGEMENT THAT WAS NEVER ABOUT LOVE
Dante Moretti had never wanted to marry Vanessa Bennett.
He had agreed to a proposed engagement because Richard Bennett controlled a medical logistics company that could provide legitimate infrastructure for Moretti Global's planned expansion.
It was supposed to be a business alliance.
Public.
Temporary.
And subject to final approval after due diligence.
Vanessa had treated it as a wedding from the moment the ring appeared.
Dante had allowed that misunderstanding to continue.
He was beginning to understand the cost.
At midnight, he summoned his attorney, Julian Price.
They met in his private office.
Julian spread the financial documents across the desk.
“There's a problem.”
Dante gave him a cold look.
“Only one?”
Julian ignored the remark.
“Bennett Biomedical acquired a patent portfolio eleven years ago. The assignment lists Margaret Carter as the inventor.”
“And?”
“The signature transferring ownership may have been forged.”
Dante went still.
Julian continued.
“The notary who supposedly witnessed the assignment died six months before the document was signed.”
Silence.
Dante leaned back.
“That's not a clerical error.”
“No.”
“Who authorized the transaction?”
“Richard Bennett.”
Dante stared at the papers.
Then asked the question that mattered.
“Did he know Margaret Carter was Elena's mother?”
Julian hesitated.
“Almost certainly.”
Dante stood.
The office suddenly felt too small.
He remembered Richard insisting that Elena be assigned to the engagement reception.
Remembered Vanessa's satisfaction when Elena approached with champagne.
Remembered the tear.
This had not been accidental humiliation.
It had been deliberate.
Dante took out his phone.
He called Richard Bennett.
The older man answered cheerfully.
“Dante! Wonderful evening, wasn't it?”
“Where are you?”
“At home. Why?”
“The engagement is suspended.”
Silence.
Then Richard laughed.
“Surely we can discuss—”
“We will. With attorneys present.”
“Dante, you're making a serious mistake.”
“No,” Dante replied. “I made one when I trusted you.”
He ended the call.
Julian watched him.
“You realize this could destroy the merger.”
Dante looked at the photograph of Elena's mother.
“Then the merger was never worth making.”
Across the city, Richard Bennett lowered his phone.
Vanessa stood beside the fireplace.
“What happened?”
Richard's expression was cold.
“Moretti found the Carter documents.”
Vanessa went pale.
“That's impossible.”
“Apparently not.”
“What do we do?”
Richard walked toward the window.
“Exactly what we should have done eleven years ago.”
Vanessa stared.
“Which is?”
May you like
Richard turned.
“We make sure Margaret Carter never tells her story.”
