Dominic locked the door before Vivienne reached it.

“What did you do?”

She faced him.

“I protected this family before you were old enough to understand what protection costs.”

“You had papers prepared to take four children?”

“I had papers prepared to stop an unstable woman from using them against you.”

Elena pushed the boys behind Sloane.

“You have never spoken to me in six years.”

“I know enough.”

“No,” Elena said.

“You know where my sons sleep.

That is not the same thing.”

Sloane dialed her driver.

“Take the car to the kitchen entrance.

Tell security no one approaches it without my permission.”

Vivienne laughed softly.

“Your permission carries less weight than you think.”

“It carried enough to record the last four minutes.”

Vivienne’s eyes dropped to Sloane’s phone.

Dominic opened the door.

“Sloane, take Elena and the boys.

Use the service elevator.”

“Where are you going?” Elena asked.

“To stop those men.”

“Dominic, wait.”

He turned, and Elena held out the newest photograph.

“Look at the corner.”

A reflection appeared in the restaurant’s glass door.

The photographer wore a Moretti Security badge.

Dominic called his operations chief.

“Hale, suspend every employee assigned to my mother.”

Vivienne moved closer.

“If you do that, I will freeze your access to every company account before you reach the hotel.”

“Do it.”

“You will lose the board.”

“I have already lost six years.”

For the first time, Vivienne stepped back.

Sloane led the children toward the service corridor.

Matteo stopped beside Dominic.

“Are you coming?”

“I promise.”

“Mom says promises are expensive.”

Dominic looked at Elena.

“She learned that from you?” he asked.

“No,” Elena said.

“I learned it from your family.”

The words struck harder than Vivienne’s threats.

Dominic bent until he was level with Matteo.

“Then I’ll pay for this one with actions.”

At Sloane’s family townhouse, Elena settled the boys in an upstairs sitting room with sandwiches and a film.

Sloane returned carrying blankets.

“You don’t have to help me,” Elena said.

“I know.”

“You were supposed to become engaged tonight.”

“To a man who touched the ring box as if it contained a tax bill.”

Despite herself, Elena gave a broken laugh.

Sloane placed a blanket over Leo.

“Dominic never loved me.

I knew that.

I only didn’t know whom he still loved.”

Elena stared through the doorway.

“Love did not stop him from believing I abandoned him.”

“He was lied to.”

“So was I.”

Dominic entered, followed by his attorney, Miriam Cole.

His cream jacket was gone, and one cuff hung open.

“The court order was fraudulent,” Miriam said.

“The hotel refused entry.”

Elena pressed a hand to the wall.

Dominic moved toward her.

“They’re safe.”

“For tonight.”

“Yes.

For tonight.”

Miriam placed a sealed test kit on the table.

“We need independent DNA samples.

If Vivienne challenges paternity, we answer before she controls the question.”

Elena looked at Dominic.

“Do you need a test?”

“I need evidence no court can ignore.”

Her eyes filled.

“Your father said you knew I was pregnant.

He showed me a letter with your signature.”

“I never wrote it.”

“He made me read every word aloud.”

“What did it say?”

“That you could not risk having children with someone like me.”

Dominic gripped the back of a chair.

Elena continued, her voice breaking.

“It said you would marry someone suitable and that I should disappear while I still had the chance.”

“I searched for you.”

“Not long enough.”

Dominic’s hand dropped.

Luca stood in the doorway.

“Mom cried whenever we asked about our dad.”

Elena covered her mouth.

Dominic knelt, but Luca did not come closer.

“Did you know about us?” the boy asked.

“No.”

“Would you have wanted us?”

Dominic’s voice failed.

He held out both hands.

“All four of you,” he managed.

“Every day.

Every Christmas.

Every ordinary Tuesday.”

Luca walked into his arms.

Dominic’s shoulders shook as the other three boys joined them.

Sloane turned away and wiped her cheek.

Miriam’s phone rang.

“The laboratory courier has arrived.”

The samples were collected under video supervision.

An hour later, Dominic’s phone received an email from the Moretti family laboratory.

Miriam read the result twice.

“This says there is no biological match.”

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Luca slowly released Dominic’s hand.

From the doorway, Vivienne said, “Now perhaps you’ll believe me.”