Chapter 11 - Dante Moretti Chose Her in Front of Everyone
By morning, the wedding had become a trap.
Dante knew it.
Rizzo knew Dante knew it.
Neither side canceled.
Sophia called that idiotic.
Dante called it strategy.
Isabella called both men emotionally damaged.
She might have been correct.
The wedding ceremony was postponed without public explanation, but the reception remained scheduled as a foundation event.
Guests arrived believing Isabella and Alexander had privately married earlier.
Meanwhile, security quietly searched every vendor, vehicle and employee.
Sophia stood beside Dante in the ballroom.
Reporters noticed immediately.
Whispers moved across the room.
Dante had one hand lightly against the small of her back.
“You’re doing that intentionally.”
“Yes.”
“To create gossip?”
“To end uncertainty.”
Sophia turned.
“What uncertainty?”
He looked directly at the cameras.
Then at her.
“Whether I’m ashamed to stand beside you.”
Her chest tightened.
A reporter called his name.
“Mr. Moretti, is Sophia Bennett under investigation regarding foundation funds?”
Dante stopped.
The room quieted.
Sophia touched his sleeve.
“You don't have to—”
He walked toward the microphones.
“No.”
One word.
Every camera focused.
“Sophia Bennett has never stolen from the Moretti Foundation.”
Another reporter shouted.
“Then why are her father’s records connected to yours?”
“Because Thomas Bennett discovered theft from the foundation decades ago.”
Murmurs spread.
Sophia stared.
Dante continued.
“His records may be the reason we can finally identify the people responsible.”
A journalist raised her voice.
“What about your personal relationship?”
Dante looked toward Sophia.
She expected him to ignore it.
Instead:
“That's personal.”
“Are you together?”
Dante's eyes stayed on hers.
“Yes.”
Sophia forgot how to breathe.
The room exploded.
Questions.
Cameras.
Flashes.
Dante returned to her side.
“You could have warned me.”
“You might have said no.”
“I still might.”
“No, you won't.”
She narrowed her eyes.
“Confidence is unattractive.”
“You kissed my poster.”
“Ancient history.”
“Four days.”
“Ancient.”
Then Luca appeared.
“Rizzo is here.”
Dante's expression transformed.
Vincent Rizzo entered through the ballroom doors wearing a tuxedo.
Calm.
Smiling.
As though he were simply another donor.
Security moved.
Dante stopped them.
“Let him in.”
Sophia whispered, “Why?”
“Because men like Rizzo become careless when they believe they control the room.”
Rizzo approached.
“Sophia.”
She said nothing.
He smiled.
“You look like your father.”
“That isn't an insult.”
“It wasn't meant as one.”
Dante stepped slightly in front of her.
Rizzo laughed.
“There it is.”
“What?”
“The weakness Carlo always said you'd never allow yourself.”
Dante's eyes hardened.
“You think caring makes me weak?”
“I think it makes you predictable.”
Rizzo lifted his glass.
“To Thomas Bennett. A loyal accountant who should have minded his own business.”
Sophia moved before Dante could stop her.
“My father beat you.”
Rizzo's smile faded.
“He died.”
“And twenty years later, you’re still terrified of what he saved.”
Silence.
Sophia continued.
“That means he won.”
Rizzo's eyes became cold.
Then his smile returned.
“Ask Dante how long people who matter to him usually survive.”
Dante stepped forward.
Sophia caught his arm.
“No.”
Rizzo walked away.
Luca approached moments later.
“We searched him. Nothing.”
Sophia watched Rizzo cross the ballroom.
“He wanted to provoke Dante.”
“Yes.”
“Why?”
She looked around.
Rizzo wasn't the danger.
He was the distraction.
Sophia scanned the room.
Waiters.
Guests.
Security.
Then she saw Alexander near the service corridor.
Isabella saw him too.
Her face went white.
Alexander disappeared through the door.
Sophia followed.
Dante caught up.
They entered the corridor.
Empty.
At the end, an elevator opened.
Inside stood Alexander.
He looked exhausted.
“I'm not working for Rizzo.”
Dante moved toward him.
“Then explain.”
Alexander held up a flash drive.
“I was trying to get this.”
“What is it?”
“Everything Rizzo has on the Morettis.”
Isabella appeared behind them.
Alexander's face broke.
“Bella.”
She said nothing.
He extended the drive.
“I lied about my family. Not about loving you.”
Dante took the device.
Before anyone could speak, fire alarms activated.
Again.
But this time smoke entered the corridor.
Real smoke.
Luca shouted over the radio.
“Evacuate now!”
Guests began moving.
Sophia turned.
Rizzo had disappeared.
Dante grabbed her hand.
“Stay with me.”
They reached the stairwell.
Then Sophia realized Isabella was no longer behind them.
She looked back.
“Dante.”
He saw it too.
Isabella was gone.
May you like
And so was Alexander.
---
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