The night was eerily quiet, the silence only broken by the soft rustle of the curtains in Amelia's bedroom. Her thoughts raced as she stared at the letter she had hidden beneath her pillow. Liliana's betrayal wasn't just a problem for Dante; it was a threat to her entire existence. Eva's words echoed in her mind: "If you want to survive in his world, you need to start thinking like him."
Determined to stop feeling like a pawn, Amelia reached for her phone. Her fingers hovered over the screen before dialing the number of a trusted private investigator Eva had recommended.
"This is Amelia Moretti," she said, her voice low. "I need information, everything you can find on Liliana Russo. Discreetly."
The investigator's response was simple. "Understood. Give me 48 hours."
Amelia hung up and exhaled deeply. She wasn't sure what she hoped to find, but she knew she couldn't just stand by while Liliana circled like a vulture.
**************
Two days later, the Morettis hosted a grand charity event at one of Dante's luxurious properties. The room buzzed with chatter, laughter, and clinking glasses, but Amelia couldn't shake the feeling of being watched.
Dante, ever the perfect host, stood by her side, his hand resting protectively on her lower back. "Smile, cara," he murmured. "Tonight, we show the world we're untouchable."
She forced a smile, but her heart was heavy with unease. Across the room, she spotted Liliana, dressed in a stunning black gown that screamed confidence and malice.
"I'll be back," Amelia whispered to Dante.
"Don't wander too far," he warned, his eyes narrowing.
She nodded but stepped away, needing a moment to clear her head. As she wandered into a quieter part of the venue, a figure emerged from the shadows.
"Mrs. Moretti," Viktor greeted her with a sly grin.
Amelia's breath hitched. "What do you want?"
"I thought we could talk. Away from prying eyes," he said, stepping closer.
Before she could respond, chaos erupted. A loud bang echoed through the hall, followed by panicked screams. Amelia turned toward the commotion, only to feel Viktor's hand on her arm.
"This way," he said urgently, pulling her into a side corridor.
Back in the main hall, Dante's instincts kicked in. His men had already formed a protective barrier around him, but his eyes searched desperately for Amelia.
"Where is she?" he barked at Luca.
"She was heading toward the east wing," Luca replied, his voice tight with urgency.
Dante didn't hesitate. Gun in hand, he stormed through the chaos, his mind racing with dark possibilities.
He found Amelia moments later, standing in the corridor with Viktor and two unknown men. His blood boiled at the sight of Viktor touching her.
"Let her go," Dante growled, his voice low and deadly.
Viktor smirked but released Amelia. "Relax, Moretti. I was just keeping her safe."
"From what?" Dante asked, stepping closer.
Viktor's grin widened. "The same danger that's after you. But don't worry, your precious wife is unharmed… for now."
Amelia grabbed Dante's arm, her eyes wide with fear. "Dante, what's going on?"
Dante didn't answer. Instead, he raised his gun and aimed it at Viktor's head.
"You have five seconds to explain why you're here," Dante said coldly.
"Liliana sends her regards," Viktor replied smugly. "And a message: She knows your weakness, and she plans to exploit it."
Later that night, back at the mansion, Dante was locked in his study, strategizing with Luca and Marco. Amelia, however, couldn't sleep.
She paced the room, replaying the evening's events in her mind. Viktor's words haunted her: "She knows your weakness."
Driven by curiosity and dread, she ventured into Dante's study. The room was dimly lit, but the drawer she had seen him lock earlier was slightly ajar.
Amelia hesitated before pulling it open. Inside, she found files dossiers on Liliana, Viktor, and a network of associates. One file caught her eye: "Project Achilles."
Flipping it open, she found photos of herself. Notes scribbled in Dante's handwriting detailed her daily movements, interactions, and vulnerabilities. Her heart sank as she read the final line: "Her loyalty is her greatest strength and her greatest liability."
The realization hit her like a thunderbolt. Dante wasn't just protecting her; he was preparing for the possibility that she might betray him.
The next morning dawned gray and heavy, the atmosphere mirroring Amelia's turmoil. She sat in the kitchen, staring blankly at a cup of untouched coffee, her mind replaying the events of the night before.
Dante walked in, his movements sharp and deliberate. He was in his element commanding, cold, and unreadable. Amelia had always known his world was built on lies and shadows, but now, it felt as though she had been swallowed whole by it.
"Did you sleep?" he asked, his voice clipped.
"Did you?" she countered, her tone icy.
Their eyes met, a silent battle of wills. Finally, she rose, pulling the file from behind her. She slammed it onto the counter.
"Explain this," Amelia demanded, her voice trembling with both anger and betrayal.
Dante's jaw tightened. He glanced at the file but didn't touch it. "You've been snooping where you shouldn't."
"Snooping?" she hissed, incredulous. "This is my life you've been cataloging like some experiment! My movements, my interactions... even my vulnerabilities. Do you think I'm your enemy, Dante?"
His silence was louder than any response.
The file wasn't the only thing haunting Dante. Over the past week, he had begun receiving anonymous envelopes inside were photographs of Amelia. In some, she was at the market; in others, she was speaking to a man he didn't recognize.
The most recent package arrived that morning. Inside was a photo of Amelia sitting on a park bench, her head bent close to the man as though they were sharing a secret. Beneath it, a note read:
"Trust no one. Especially her."
The doubt festered like a wound. Who was this man? And why had Amelia never mentioned him?
Dante clenched his fists as he stared at the photo. Luca entered the room, immediately sensing his boss's dark mood.
"Is there a problem?" Luca asked cautiously.
Dante tossed the envelope onto the desk. "Find out who this man is and why he's meeting with my wife."
Luca hesitated. "Do you think Amelia would.. "
"Just do it," Dante snapped.
Amelia wasn't blind to Dante's growing coldness. His once-protective glances now felt like surveillance, and his touches carried an edge of suspicion.
That evening, she confronted Eva. "I feel like I'm losing him," Amelia admitted, her voice cracking.
Eva arched a brow. "You're in love with the devil's son, Amelia. Did you think it would be easy?"
Amelia exhaled, her frustration mounting. "He's been different lately. Distant. Angry. It's like he's waiting for me to betray him."
Eva studied her for a moment. "Then don't give him a reason to doubt you. Be honest. Tell him everything your fears, your plans. That's the only way you'll survive this."
Luca's investigation yielded results faster than expected. The man in the photos was no stranger to Dante's world. He was an undercover informant, a mole planted by Liliana.
But the twist came when Luca discovered something else: the informant wasn't meeting with Amelia to conspire against Dante. He was blackmailing her.
When Dante confronted Amelia that night, he held up the photos, his expression hard and unforgiving. "Explain this," he demanded.
Amelia's face paled as she recognized the pictures. She realized there was no point in lying.
"He approached me weeks ago," she admitted. "He said he had evidence that could destroy you. He threatened to go public unless I helped him."
"And you didn't think to tell me?" Dante's voice was a dangerous growl.
"I didn't want to add to your problems!" she cried. "I thought I could handle it on my own."
Dante's hand slammed onto the table, making Amelia flinch. "You don't get to make that decision, Amelia. Not in my world."
Tears streamed down her face, but she held her ground. "I wasn't trying to betray you, Dante. I was trying to protect you."
As the tension between them reached its breaking point, an emergency call from Marco interrupted their argument.
"It's Liliana," Marco reported. "She's taken over the southern docks and is moving shipments under your name. The authorities are already sniffing around."
Dante's fury erupted like a storm. He turned to Amelia, his eyes blazing. "I hope for your sake, Liliana isn't counting on your help."
"Dante, stop!" Amelia shouted. "I'm not her pawn!"
"Then prove it," he hissed, grabbing his gun. "You're coming with me. Let's see where your loyalties truly lie."
At the docks, chaos reigned. Liliana stood amidst her men, a picture of ruthless confidence.
"Dante," she greeted with a mocking smile. "I was wondering when you'd show up."
Dante's grip on his gun tightened. "You've crossed the line, Liliana."
Her gaze shifted to Amelia, who stood just behind Dante. "And you brought your pretty little wife. How charming."
"Leave her out of this," Dante snarled.
Liliana's laughter echoed across the docks. "Oh, Dante. You're so predictable. Always so protective of your weakness."
In the next moment, gunfire erupted, and chaos descended.
As Dante shielded Amelia, she realized something chilling: Liliana didn't just want power she wanted Dante to doubt everything, including his own wife.