Chapter 4 - THE CRACK IN THE FORTRESS
Back at the Lake Forest mansion, the illusion of perfection had officially shattered.
Vincent paced the grand living room like a caged beast.
He had spent thirty-six hours tearing through his own security networks, private jets, and credit card logs.
Nothing.
I had vanished into thin air.
The front double doors flew open.
Vanessa Reed stepped inside, holding a stack of corporate spreadsheets.
“Mr. Moretti, the quarterly audit reports require your immediate signature,” Vanessa said smoothly, walking toward him with her familiar, calculated grace.
“The board meeting is scheduled for—”
“Shut up, Vanessa,” Vincent snarled, not even turning around.
Vanessa stopped dead in her tracks.
Her professional mask slipped for a fraction of a second.
“Sir?”
Vincent spun around.
His gray eyes were bloodshot, burning with a lethal fury that made even Vanessa shrink backward.
“Did you know?” Vincent demanded, stepping toward her.
“Know what, Mr. Moretti?” she stammered.
“About the accident.”
Vanessa blinked innocently.
“Oh... Mrs. Moretti’s little fender-bender? Yes, she called during your briefing. As per your standing instructions, I managed the schedule to protect your focus.”
“She was eight weeks pregnant, Vanessa!” Vincent roared, slamming his palm against the marble mantelpiece.
The sound echoed through the silent mansion like a gunshot.
Vanessa went entirely white.
“She... she lost the baby?” Vanessa whispered, genuine shock flickering across her face.
“She lost our child,” Vincent ground out, his voice shaking with suppressed rage.
“And while she was bleeding on an operating table alone, you lied to my face about a routine checkup to keep me in the hospital corridor with you.”
“Mr. Moretti, I had no idea—!”
“You knew everything!” Vincent grabbed her by the shoulders, shaking her with enough force to rattle her teeth.
“You manage every second of my life! You review every incoming call!”
“You deliberately kept me away from my wife when she needed me most!”
“Why?!”
Tears sprang to Vanessa’s eyes—whether out of fear or calculation, it was impossible to tell.
“Because she didn't belong in your world!” Vanessa sobbed hysterically.
“She was weak! She was holding you back from what we could build together!”
“We?!” Vincent’s voice cracked in sheer disbelief.
He shoved her away from him so violently she stumbled and fell hard against the coffee table.
“You were an employee, Vanessa.”
“A schedule manager.”
“Nothing more.”
“Pack your things,” Vincent commanded, pointing a trembling finger toward the front door.
“You are fired, blacklisted, and if you ever breathe near me again, I will personally ensure you never work in this city.”
Vanessa scrambled to her feet, clutching her bruised arm, glaring at him with sudden, venomous hatred.
“You think she’ll forgive you once she calms down?!” Vanessa screamed as she backed toward the door.
“She left her ring, Vincent!”
“She hates you!”
“Get out!” Vincent bellowed.
May you like
The heavy oak doors slammed shut behind her.
Left alone in the echoing mansion, the mafia boss sank slowly onto the velvet sofa, burying his face in his hands as the crushing weight of his sins finally caved in on him.
