Chapter 7 - THE WOMAN FROM HIS PAST
Isabella Russo arrived at the Moretti estate the following afternoon.
She looked older than Dante remembered.
Stronger.
Less willing to smile.
Dante met her in the study.
“Isabella.”
She nodded.
“Dante.”
They had once planned to marry.
Before an argument.
Before a scandal.
Before Isabella disappeared without explanation.
Dante gestured toward a chair.
“Why are you here?”
Isabella sat.
“Because Vanessa Bennett is about to marry you.”
He waited.
“And because the last time she decided a woman was standing in her way, I nearly died.”
Dante went still.
Isabella explained.
Six years earlier, Vanessa had confronted her at the private club.
Vanessa had been obsessed with Dante.
She believed Isabella was preventing a relationship that was supposed to belong to her.
During the confrontation, Vanessa pushed Isabella.
Isabella fell.
She suffered a serious head injury.
Richard Bennett paid to bury the incident.
Dante stared.
“Why didn't you tell me?”
Isabella's expression hardened.
“Because your father told me to disappear.”
Dante froze.
“My father?”
She nodded.
“He said the Bennetts were too valuable to offend.”
Dante's stomach tightened.
His father had died four years earlier.
But even from the grave, the old man's decisions continued poisoning his life.
Isabella leaned forward.
“Elena Carter saw what happened.”
Dante nodded.
“She tried to help me.”
Isabella's eyes filled.
“She was the only person who did.”
Dante looked away.
Then Isabella said something that made him stop breathing.
“Vanessa knows Elena has the recording.”
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Dante turned.
“And she's been trying to destroy her credibility before Elena can testify.”
