Chapter 104: The Secret Is Out
Dante’s POV
Love.
A word I had not thought about in years. A concept I had buried alongside Esme. An emotion I had convinced myself I was incapable of feeling again.
Gianna looked up at me from across the table, and for a second it felt like everything around us faded. A charged moment passed between us, filled with everything we were not saying.
I cleared my throat. My voice came out rough.
“We have, intense feelings for each other.”
Safe enough. Not a lie, but not the whole truth either.
She cleared her throat and set her wine glass down, her fingers trembling slightly even though she tried to hide it. Her eyes slid toward Arielle, then back to me. She looked nervous, unsure if she should speak.
“You’re dad is right,” she began, her voice soft. “We, um…”
Before she could finish, Selene’s voice cut through the moment.
She said it under her breath, but everyone at the table heard it..
Arielle turned to her aunt, her brows pulling together.
“Aunt Selene, why would you say that?”
She set her wine glass down so hard the base rattled against the table. Then she leaned forward, her posture loose from the alcohol.
“Because all of this looks like one of your dad’s business arrangements, Arielle,” she muttered. “He does not love her. He cannot, not this fast. Your father deals in power, not feelings. And I doubt she actually cares for him. She is probably just here for the money, the power, the lifestyle, the name.”
I lifted a hand to stop her.
“Selene. Do not.”
She ignored me again. 1
I started to move toward her, but Gianna placed her hand on my arm and stopped me.
Then she got up from her chair, her back straight, her chin lifted.
“Selene, right?”
“That is right.” Selene pointed toward her, tapping the table for emphasis. “The woman of this family. The one you are trying to replace.”
Her stare dragged over Gianna’s body from head to toe in a condescending way.
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Chapter 104. The Secret Is Out
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Gianna gave her a small, sweet smile, but I could see the fire underneath.
“We did not start well,” Glanna began. “And I can see you care a lot about this family. About Arielle. About Dante.” She took a breath. “I understand your concerns. Truly. If I were you, I would probably feel the same. But I am here for the right reasons. I am not trying to replace anyone or tear anything apart.”
Selene’s expression tightened even more, as if Gianna’s calm tone annoyed her.
“How noble,” she muttered. She leaned back in her chair, her voice dripping with sarcasm. “A touching speech. But men like Dante do not get married for love. There is always a reason. A deal. A benefit. Something to gain.”
Her head tilted slightly.
“So tell me, what exactly does a little girl like you bring to the table? What makes you important enough to be a De Luca?”
“That is enough.”
My voice boomed through the room. I slammed my hand down on the table.
The sound echoed.
Arielle flinched.
Even Selene jerked back.
Bruno and two other guards ran into the dining room. Their faces were alert, ready for trouble. They looked around, trying to figure out what was happening.
I held up a hand, asking them to step back.
Then I turned back to Selene. My eyes burned into hers.
“My reason for getting married is none of your business,” I said, my voice low. “Whatever Gianna and I share stays between us. You do not get a say.”
Selene leaned back as if she were done, but then she shifted forward again, her eyes bright with a vindictive thought.
“Dante introduced you as Gianna. Is that right?”
Her voice sounded too casual.
Gianna gave a slow nod, her shoulders slightly tense.
“Yes.”
“Gianna who?” Selene pushed. “What is your last name, dear?”
My heart stopped. Every part of me screamed to cut this off.
I moved to stop it, but Gianna answered first.
“Giovanni.”
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The word fell like a bomb.
Selene’s face drained, then filled with color again, rising fast. Her mouth hung open for a second before she spoke again.
“Giovanni?” Her voice went up, almost a scream. “As in Lorenzo Giovanni? The Lorenzo Giovanni?”
Gianna lifted her chin even though her eyes showed fear creeping in.
“Yes. My father does have a reputation for…”
Selene shot to her feet so fast her chair toppled backward with a crash.
“Dante!”
My name ripped from her throat like a wound reopening.
“You traitor. How could you? How could you even think about marrying the daughter of the man who killed your wife. My sister. The mother of your child?”
Gianna’s face emptied of all color. Her hand covered her mouth as if she needed help breathing.
“My father, did what?” Her voice was thin, breaking apart.
Selene whipped around to face her, pure hate on her face.
“Do not sit there and play innocent, you little bitch.” She pointed at Gianna with a shaking finger. “You and your psycho father killed my sister.”
“Dad?”
Arielle’s voice came out small, shaking. Tears gathered instantly.
“Her father killed Mom? Is that true?”
Her voice went up higher with each word.
“No. No, no, no.”
I stood quickly, palms open toward her.
“Princess, please. I can explain. Just…”
“Answer the question.” Arielle’s voice cracked. Tears started falling. “Did her father kill Mom? Yes or no?”
I opened my mouth. Nothing came out.
That was answer enough.
“Oh my God.” Arielle put her hand over her mouth. Her whole body started shaking. “This can’t be happening.”
Gianna was shaking her head. Back and forth, back and forth. Tears ran down her face.
“No, this can’t be right.” Her voice was so small. “My father would not, he could not.”
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Chapter 104: The Secret Is Out
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“Don’t you dare.”
Selene screamed and came around the table toward Gianna.
“You probably helped him plan it. Celebrated when she died so you could take her place. And now you will pay. Blood for blood.”
Gianna staggered back and hit the wall.
Before I could make sense of what was happening, Selene lunged.
I grabbed her around the waist before she reached Gianna. Her nails scraped the air in front of her, trying to get
to her.
“Murderer. Murderer.” Selene kept screaming. She fought like an animal. “She killed Esme. She killed
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“Selene, stop this madness.”
Her fists slammed against my chest again and again.
“You are marrying her? You have lost your mind.”
I held her with all my strength. I looked right into her wild, crying face.
“Gianna is not a murderer. She had nothing to do with it.”
“Stop it. Both of you, stop it.”
Arielle was screaming now. Her hands covered her ears. Tears poured down her cheeks.
“Please stop. Please.”
Selene kept fighting. Her fists hit my chest over and over.
“Like hell she did not. How could you even think of marrying her?”
my sister.
Gianna pressed herself flat to the wall, crying quietly, her hands trembling as she tried to breathe. She looked completely shattered, as if her world had just broken open.
I wanted to go to her. I wanted to pull her close. But Selene was fighting like she would tear Gianna apart if I let
- go.
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