Chapter 2: The Man in the Photograph
Dante stared at the photograph until the noise of the ballroom seemed to disappear.
Victoria noticed.
“What is it?””
He locked the screen.
“Nothing.””
Her eyes narrowed.
“You're lying.””
Dante slipped the phone into his pocket.
“So are you.””
Behind him, Elena was still kneeling on the marble.
One of the security men approached.
“Boss?””
Dante didn't look away from Victoria.
“Get Elena somewhere safe.””
The guard nodded.
Victoria stepped forward.
“Dante, wait.””
He raised one finger.
She stopped.
“Don't touch her.””
Victoria's face hardened.
“I was trying to help.””
“You were trying to pull her off the floor.””
“She was making a scene.””
“She was terrified.””
“She's a maid.””
Dante's eyes sharpened.
“And you're my fiancée.””
Victoria hesitated.
He continued quietly.
“Neither title gives you permission to hurt people.””
Elena looked up at him.
For the first time that night, she seemed to breathe.
A security guard helped her stand.
Victoria watched.
“You're really going to do this in front of everyone?””
Dante glanced around.
Guests immediately looked away.
Nobody wanted to be caught watching.
“This isn't about them.””
“Then what is it about?””
Dante leaned closer.
“The photograph.””
Victoria's expression flickered.
“What photograph?””
“You tell me.””
“I don't know what you're talking about.””
Dante smiled faintly.
It wasn't warmth.
It was recognition.
“Interesting.””
“What?””
“I didn't say there was a photograph.””
Victoria went silent.
Dante walked past her.
She turned.
“Dante.””
He stopped.
“You can't accuse me of trying to kill you because a maid spilled two glasses.””
He looked over his shoulder.
“I didn't accuse you.””
“Then what are you doing?””
“Finding out why you panicked when I picked up that glass.””
Victoria's voice lowered.
“Because I love you.””
Dante's face remained unreadable.
“Then prove it.””
“How?””
“Drink it.””
Silence.
Victoria stared at the glass in his hand.
Her eyes dropped to the cloudy residue.
Dante extended it toward her.
“Go ahead.””
She didn't move.
“You said it was only water.””
“It is.””
“Then drink.””
Victoria's lips parted.
“I don't have to prove my love like this.””
Dante's voice was quiet.
“No.””
He lowered the glass.
“You just have to prove you aren't afraid of it.””
Victoria stepped backward.
Elena watched from near the service corridor.
Dante caught her gaze.
“Elena.””
She stiffened.
“Come here.””
The security guard guided her forward.
Victoria's expression turned cold.
“Why are you involving her?””
“Because she carried the glass.””
“She works for us.””
“She works for you?””
Victoria blinked.
“I meant the household.””
Dante studied her.
“You've been managing staff for six months.””
“Yes.””
“Then why did she look at you like she expected to die?””
Victoria had no answer.
Elena finally spoke.
“She told me not to tell anyone.””
Victoria snapped her head around.
“Enough.””
Dante raised his voice.
“Victoria.””
She stopped.
Elena's hands trembled.
Dante crouched slightly so he was eye level with her.
“What exactly did she tell you?””
Elena looked toward the ballroom doors.
“I can't.””
“You can.””
“She said if I talked…”
Her voice broke.
Dante waited.
Elena wiped her cheek.
“She said my little brother would disappear.””
Victoria stared at her.
“That is a lie.””
Elena recoiled.
Dante stepped between them.
“Don't.””
Victoria's eyes flashed.
“She is manipulating you.””
Dante's phone vibrated again.
He pulled it out.
Another message.
This time there was no photograph.
Just six words:
*ASK HER ABOUT MARCUS REED.*
Dante's breathing changed.
Elena noticed.
Victoria noticed too.
“Dante?”” Victoria whispered.
He looked at her.
“Who is Marcus Reed?””
Victoria's face lost every trace of color.
Dante's voice dropped.
“I'll ask again.””
Victoria swallowed.
“Who is Marcus Reed?””
She stared at him.
Then the ballroom doors opened.
A black-suited man stepped inside.
He walked directly toward Dante.
Dante's security team immediately reached for their weapons.
The stranger raised both hands.
“Easy.””
Dante recognized the voice.
His blood ran cold.
The man smiled.
“It's been a long time, little brother.””
May you like
Dante stopped breathing.
Marcus Reed was alive.
