Chapter 10: The Woman Who Never Died
Chapter 10: The Woman Who Never Died
The office fell completely silent.
No one moved.
No one breathed.
Aria stared at Dante's phone as if it had become a ghost.
One name echoed through her mind.
Evelyn.
The nanny who had tucked her into bed.
The woman who had secretly taught her to read fairy tales after Edward Sterling banned "childish fantasies."
The only person who had ever kissed her forehead and whispered,
"You deserve to be loved."
According to every official record...
Evelyn Carter had disappeared fourteen years ago.
Aria stepped forward with trembling legs.
"Dante..."
Her voice barely existed.
"Please..."
He looked into her eyes.
Without asking another question, he placed the phone in her hand.
"Go ahead."
She swallowed.
"H-Hello?"
Several seconds passed.
Then came the gentle voice she had dreamed of hearing for half her life.
"My sweet girl."
Aria burst into tears.
"Evelyn..."
"You... you're alive."
"I am."
"I've missed you every single day."
Aria covered her mouth to stop herself from sobbing.
"They told me you abandoned me."
"I never did."
"They said you stole money."
"I didn't."
"They said you ran away."
"I was forced to."
Her heart shattered all over again.
Dante and Luca exchanged silent glances.
Neither interrupted.
Every word mattered.
Every answer could change everything.
Aria struggled to speak.
"Why didn't you come back?"
A long silence followed.
Then Evelyn answered softly.
"Because if I had..."
"...you would have died."
The room seemed to shrink around Aria.
"What?"
"Edward knew I had discovered the truth."
"He ordered people to kill me."
"I escaped."
"But I couldn't take you."
"I tried."
"I failed."
A tear rolled down Evelyn's cheek on the other end of the line.
"I've hated myself every day since."
Dante finally spoke.
"Where are you?"
"I can't tell you."
"You expect us to trust you?"
"No."
"I expect you to trust the evidence."
Evelyn's voice became firmer.
"The diary is only part of the story."
"The bank box contains the rest."
"But Edward already knows you're looking for it."
Luca frowned.
"How?"
"He has someone inside your organization."
The room became deadly quiet.
Someone inside the Rossi family.
Again.
Dante walked toward the window overlooking downtown Boston.
"You said bring the key."
"Yes."
"Where?"
"Union Trust Bank."
"Tomorrow."
"Nine o'clock."
"Come with only Aria."
Luca immediately shook his head.
"It's a trap."
Evelyn answered before Dante could.
"I know it sounds like one."
"But if you bring soldiers..."
"You'll never see me."
The call disconnected.
No one spoke for nearly a minute.
Finally, Luca broke the silence.
"We can't risk it."
Dante remained looking out the window.
"We don't have a choice."
The next morning...
Boston woke beneath heavy clouds.
Rain threatened once again.
At precisely 8:40 a.m., a black Rolls-Royce Phantom pulled away from Rossi Holdings.
Inside sat only Dante and Aria.
Or so it appeared.
Unseen by anyone outside...
Six unmarked Rossi surveillance vehicles followed several blocks behind.
Luca wasn't taking chances.
Union Trust Bank occupied one of the oldest buildings in the financial district.
Granite columns rose above polished marble steps.
Private security guarded every entrance.
Dante opened Aria's door.
"You stay beside me."
She nodded.
"I will."
For the first time since their wedding...
She reached for his hand.
Not because she was afraid of him.
Because she was afraid without him.
Dante looked down.
Their fingers intertwined naturally.
He said nothing.
But he didn't let go.
Inside the bank...
A private manager escorted them to the underground vault.
"Safe Deposit Box 217?"
The elderly manager checked the records.
"Of course."
He inserted one key.
Aria inserted the silver key Father Gabriel had given her.
Both locks clicked open.
The heavy steel box slowly slid outward.
Inside...
There wasn't money.
There weren't jewels.
There wasn't a will.
There was only a single leather envelope.
And an old VHS cassette.
Dante frowned.
"A videotape?"
The envelope bore Elizabeth's handwriting.
For my daughter.
Aria carefully opened it.
Inside was a birth certificate.
She unfolded it slowly.
Her hands began shaking.
Father's Name:
Blank.
Mother's Name:
Elizabeth Harper.
Not Elizabeth Sterling.
Place of Birth:
Rossi Memorial Hospital.
Dante stared at the document.
"That's impossible."
The hospital belonged to his family.
Before anyone could process what they had found...
The bank lights suddenly went out.
Emergency alarms screamed.
Customers panicked upstairs.
The vault doors slammed shut automatically.
The building entered lockdown.
Luca's frantic voice crackled through Dante's hidden earpiece.
"Boss!"
"We've got multiple armed men entering the bank!"
"They're dressed as federal agents!"
Dante instantly drew his pistol.
He pushed Aria behind the thick steel deposit boxes.
Footsteps echoed from the far end of the vault.
Slow.
Deliberate.
Then a familiar voice drifted through the darkness.
"Well done, Dante."
"You found the right box."
A man stepped into the emergency lights.
Perfect gray suit.
Silver hair.
Cold blue eyes.
He smiled as though greeting old friends.
Edward Sterling.
Aria's face turned white.
"You..."
Edward's smile widened.
"My darling daughter."
He glanced toward the birth certificate.
"I suppose it's finally time..."
His eyes shifted to Dante.
"...for both of you to learn why Elizabeth lied."
He slowly reached inside his coat.
Dante aimed his pistol directly at his forehead.
"Don't."
Edward stopped.
Then...
He laughed.
"You still think I'm the villain."
His smile disappeared.
"But you've been hunting the wrong monster."
Behind Edward...
Another voice echoed from the darkness.
Deep.
Calm.
Commanding.
"He's right."
A tall man stepped out of the shadows wearing black leather gloves.
Every armed intruder immediately lowered their weapons in respect.
Even Edward Sterling turned toward him.
The stranger's icy blue eyes settled on Aria.
Then he spoke the words that made everyone's blood run cold.
"Welcome home..."
May you like
"...Princess."
End of Chapter 10
