Eliane's POV

I burst into Danté's office, my heart pounding in my chest like a wild drum.

The air was thick with tension, and I could feel the weight of secrets hanging in the atmosphere.

Suddenly, figures emerged from the shadows, their presence sending a chill down my spine, their muscular forms and intricate tattoos speaking volumes about their allegiance to him.

I locked eyes with Danté, his piercing gray eyes gaze capturing my every thought and emotion.

This familiar face… masculine body adorned with a tapestry of tattoos. His chiseled jawline that's always sharper than blade.

He's the epitome of hotness. With his tall and muscular frame, he stands up.

His dark, tousled hair falls effortlessly over his forehead, giving him a mysterious and irresistible look.

"Eliane," he slowly calls my name while smiling evilly. No it was just a soft smile but I perceived it that way, according to my thoughts of him now.

" I thought I had failed…the promise I made to you… 'I would chase you till the end of the world'.. " he quotes.

And if I didn't add, he's a man of quotes. All these qualities make me want him back but no that would be the worst mistake ever.

"I never knew you were so desperate to see me again." He smiled.

" I know what you do Danté… I know what you did to my father."

His eyes widen and his eyebrows shoot up in surprise.

*A day before*

As I stepped out of the bustling New York City streets and into the sleek glass doors of the newsroom, I couldn't help but feel a sense of anticipation.

The morning routine had become second nature to me—a quick stop at the coffee machine, a friendly greeting to my colleagues, and a glance at the headlines before diving into my work.

But today was different.

As I made my way to my office, I noticed a hushed tension in the air. The usual buzz of conversation seemed subdued, replaced by whispers and worried glances.

My curiosity piqued, and I had to quicken my pace.

Just as I reached my office door, my editor, Laura, appeared beside me, a grave expression etched on her face.

"Eliane, we have a serious problem. The mayor's office just released a statement regarding a potential scandal involving a high-ranking official," Laura said, her voice laced with concern.

My heart skipped a beat. The adrenaline surged through my veins, awakening my journalistic instincts.

I knew that this story had the potential to shake the city to its core. "Laura, we need to dig deep. We can't let this go unnoticed," I replied, my voice filled with determination.

We gathered our team, including Zayn, the skilled photographer, and together we dove headfirst into the investigation.

Phone calls were made, sources were contacted, and leads were pursued relentlessly.

My morning routine was quickly forgotten as the urgency of the situation consumed them.

Hours flew by in a whirlwind of interviews, research, and intense discussions.

My office became a command center, filled with stacks of documents and whiteboards covered in scribbled notes.

As the sun began to set, I and my team finally pieced together the puzzle. The story was ready to be told—the truth exposed.

And so, with a deep breath and a sense of purpose, I pressed the publish button, ready to share the urgent news.

___

I stood in the private parking lot waiting for Alex to come for me.

"How was your day, Elle?"

"Tiresome, Ally...tiresome." I sighed.

We use the nickname we have for each other rather than our full names. It sounds more romantic.

He smiles at me and keeps his eyes on the road.

"But you're happy to see me, right?" He glances at me, hoping to make me blush or feel butterflies in my stomach. But no,I didn't.

"Really?" I reply dryly.

He rolls his eyes and focuses on the traffic. We reached our house soon enough and I noticed a box on our doorstep.

It must have been from mom. She always sends me stuff on the first day of every month. She misses her little pookie bear.

But today is not the first. Maybe she's losing track of time and dates. She's getting old, after all.

I smiled at the package and turned to Alex, who had just locked the car and was

walking towards me.

"I think we should visit my mom this weekend." I suggested.

"Sure, she misses her little pookie bear." He wraps his arms around my waist from behind.

I tilted my head and met his gaze. His blue eyes were sparkling like sapphires. The ones I fell for.

"We'll definitely go. I'm her favorite son-in-law." He jokes and I find myself smiling.

He lets go of me and goes inside first. "I'm going to make us something to eat." He says and I nod.

I picked up the box and headed to our bedroom to open it. To my surprise, it contains a note and a USB drive.

"Why would mom send me this?" I muttered to myself.

I read the card and it shocked me. It said:

'The truth behind your past.'

What?

I started to doubt that this wasn't from mom. It had no address or signature. Mom always writes something.

I grabbed the USB drive and rushed to my study table, where my laptop was. I haven't used it for a while and I hope it still works.

I plugged it in quickly, because my curiosity was killing me.

___

Danté?

"My father?"

But why? And how?

"Elle, come out for dinner." I heard Alex yell from downstairs.

"Coming!" I yelled back.

I took out the USB drive 'cause I didn't want him to find anything about this especially when it's about my ex-boyfriend.

I slipped it into the drawer of my nightstand and made my way to the kitchen.

I couldn't stop thinking about what I just witnessed. I was scared. I began to shake then I spotted Alex looking at me.

Pull it together.

"It- it's nothing Ally, I'm just tired." I smiled then placed a fork full of the pasta into my mouth.

He nods then turns back to his plate.

My smile started to fade when the thoughts arrived again.

"What did you get this time?" He breaks the silence.