Dominic’s mother, Vivienne Moretti, looked at the four boys and stopped smiling.

Sloane stepped around her.

“Dominic, everyone is waiting.

What happened?”

“Close the door.”

Vivienne’s eyes moved to the envelopes in his hand.

“Give those to me.”

Elena pulled her sons behind her.

“You recognize them.”

“I recognize my family’s property.”

Dominic held the newest photograph against his chest.

“This was taken twenty minutes ago.

Explain how it carries Father’s seal.”

Vivienne extended her hand.

“You are upset.

Let me handle it.”

“No.”

Her fingers remained in the air.

Sloane quietly closed the door.

“Perhaps someone should answer him.”

Vivienne turned.

“This is a private family matter.”

“So was the proposal you arranged for tonight,” Sloane replied.

“I think that makes me private enough.”

“Not anymore,” Dominic said.

Sloane’s face tightened, but she nodded once.

“I assumed as much.”

Elena touched Luca’s shoulder.

“We’re leaving.”

Dominic blocked the corridor, not Elena.

“My driver will take you somewhere secure.”

“I trusted a Moretti driver once,” Elena said.

“He delivered me to your father.”

Vivienne’s bracelet struck the marble counter.

Dominic looked at her.

“How did you know she met him?”

“I didn’t.”

“You just reacted.”

“That proves nothing.”

Leo tugged Elena’s hand.

“Mom, is that Dad’s mother?”

The room became silent.

Vivienne stared at the child.

“What did you call him?”

Elena bent quickly.

“Leo, stay with your brothers.”

Dominic crouched beside the boys.

“You haven’t done anything wrong.

None of you.”

Matteo pointed at Vivienne.

“She looks angry at us.”

“No,” Dominic said.

“She’s afraid of what I’m going to learn.”

Vivienne’s mouth hardened.

“Six years away, and Elena returns with four children on the night of your engagement.

Surely you are not this foolish.”

“I didn’t return for him,” Elena said.

“I came for a wedding.”

“With four convenient little copies of my son?”

“Mother.”

“She wants money, Dominic.”

Elena’s hand flew to her purse.

She pulled out a folded document and pushed it toward him.

“What is that?” Dominic asked.

“A letter surrendering every claim to Moretti money.

Your father made me sign it before he let me leave Boston.”

Dominic unfolded it.

Elena’s signature appeared beneath a witness line.

The witness was Vivienne Moretti.

Sloane leaned closer.

“That is your signature.”

Vivienne snatched for the page.

Dominic caught her wrist before she reached it.

“You were there.”

“Your father was protecting you.”

“From my own children?”

“From scandal.

From a woman who refused to understand the dangers around this family.”

Elena’s voice shook.

“You watched him tell me Dominic wanted nothing to do with us.”

“I watched my husband clean up your mistake.”

Dominic released Vivienne as though her skin burned him.

Sloane took out her phone.

“I’m calling my driver.

Mine doesn’t work for the Morettis.”

Vivienne stepped toward her.

“Put that away.”

“Why?”

“Because if this becomes public, your father will end our companies’ agreement.”

“Then he can end it.”

Vivienne’s composure cracked.

“You ungrateful little fool.”

Sloane lifted the phone.

“My driver is at the side entrance.

Elena and the children can leave without being seen.”

Dominic handed Elena the document.

“Go with her.

I’ll follow.”

“No,” Elena said.

“You still don’t understand.

The person taking those photographs knew our hotel, our room number, and the boys’ school in Vermont.”

Vivienne’s eyes flicked toward the door.

Dominic saw it.

“What is at the hotel?”

“Nothing.”

Sloane’s phone rang before anyone moved.

She answered and listened for three seconds.

“What?” Dominic asked.

Sloane lowered the phone.

“My driver says two men are outside Elena’s room.

They showed the hotel manager a court order authorizing them to take the boys.”

Elena gripped all four children.

Vivienne picked up her purse.

May you like

I Arrived at My Son’s House on New Year’s Eve and Found My 16-Year-Old G…

I Arrived at My Son’s House on New Year’s Eve and Found My 16-Year-Old Grandson by the Gate, Barefoot and Wearing Only a T-Shirt,…

#Chapter 1: The Girl Who Wasn’t Afraid of Me

#Chapter 1: The Girl Who Wasn’t Afraid of Me

The instant my husband stood up and reached for his coat, the smile on m…

The instant my husband stood up and reached for his coat, the smile on my face disappeared.

“You wanted proof?” she said to Dominic.

“You are about to discover the law does not consider those children yours.”