Chapter 10 - THE WOMAN BEHIND THE DRAGONA Secret Even Victor FearedThe truth came apart slowly.
Elena had spent twenty years protecting a secret she believed would destroy Alina.
Matteo's mother, Isabella Vescari, had ordered Gabriel killed.
Not Victor.
Not Adrian.
Isabella.
The reason was simple.
Gabriel had discovered something even worse than the ledger.
A hidden network.
A system of judges and investigators who could erase anyone from existence.
Isabella controlled it.
Victor inherited the empire.
But Isabella had built its most powerful machinery.
And when Gabriel tried to expose her, she ordered him killed.
"What happened to her?" Alina asked.
Elena looked at Matteo.
"She died."
"When?"
"Six months ago."
Matteo's expression changed.
"You never told me."
"I never knew."
Elena pulled a letter from her coat.
"She left this."
The envelope was addressed to Alina.
Inside was a key.
And one sentence.
The dragon always protects its heir.
Alina looked at Matteo.
He seemed confused.
"Your mother was obsessed with the idea that the family needed a successor."
Elena nodded.
"She believed you were too weak to lead."
Matteo's eyes hardened.
"She was right."
"No," Alina said.
He looked at her.
"You were eighteen."
"You weren't there."
"You were."
"I was there when Gabriel died."
Silence.
Matteo stepped toward the window.
"When my father told me Gabriel betrayed us, I believed him."
"What did you do?"
"Nothing."
That answer hurt more.
Alina whispered:
"You could've saved him."
"I know."
Matteo's voice cracked.
"I've spent twenty years trying to."
A phone rang.
Gabriel.
Alive.
His voice was weak.
"Alina."
She answered.
"What happened?"
"Come to the hospital."
"Why?"
"Because I remembered."
"What?"
"The night I disappeared."
Alina looked at Matteo.
Gabriel continued:
"Your father wasn't the man they were trying to kill."
Alina's breath stopped.
"Who was?"
A pause.
"You."
The line went dead.
At the hospital, Gabriel was pale but conscious.
He looked at Alina.
"I remembered the room."
"What room?"
"Your birth room."
He swallowed.
"Victor came in."
Alina listened.
"He held you."
Then Gabriel's face tightened.
"Isabella told him something."
"What?"
"That you weren't just Gabriel's daughter."
Alina waited.
Gabriel whispered:
"Your blood was different."
"What does that mean?"
He shook his head.
"I don't know."
Matteo asked:
"Different how?"
"Your grandmother had papers."
"What papers?"
"Genetic testing."
Alina stared.
"Why would they test a baby?"
Gabriel looked at her.
"Because Victor suspected you inherited something."
"What?"
He closed his eyes.
"I never found out."
Then the monitor began to beep.
Gabriel's heart rate dropped.
Doctors rushed in.
Alina backed away.
Matteo pulled her into the hallway.
A nurse burst through the doors.
"Mr. Vescari?"
Matteo turned.
"He's awake."
The nurse stared at him.
"No."
May you like
She looked toward the room.
"He was murdered."
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