The Letter Bianca Hid
Chapter 03 - The Letter Bianca Hid
Leah locked herself in the ladies' room for almost ten minutes before opening the envelope. Her mother's handwriting was uneven, hurried, and unmistakable. The letter was only two pages long, but the first sentence made Leah sit down.
If you are reading this, Bianca kept her promise.
Leah read the sentence three times.
Her mother wrote about a woman named Sofia, about a debt that had never been financial, and about a night when someone from the Raviieri family came to their apartment asking for documents. She never explained everything. Instead, she wrote that Leah must never confuse protection with ownership.
At the bottom was one line that made Leah's hands shake.
Dante does not know what Bianca promised me.
Leah folded the letter.
She wanted to leave.
She also wanted answers.
When she returned to the ballroom, Dante was waiting beside the staircase.
“Where were you?”
“Reading something.”
“From Adrian?”
“Yes.”
His eyes hardened.
“Give it to me.”
“No.”
The answer surprised both of them.
Dante took one slow breath.
“Leah.”
“No.”
She had spent twelve years obeying him in ways she had never admitted. That single refusal felt enormous.
Dante stepped closer.
“You don't understand what you're holding.”
“Then explain it.”
“I can't.”
“That's not good enough anymore.”
Something in his face broke.
Only for a second.
Then it disappeared.
“I never wanted you involved.”
“You've been involved in my life since I was thirteen.”
“That isn't what I mean.”
“What do you mean?”
He looked toward the ballroom.
“Someone has been looking for those records for years.”
Leah's pulse quickened.
“Who?”
Dante didn't answer.
A man in a tuxedo passed behind them, smiling politely.
Dante waited until he was gone.
“Go home with Elena.”
“No.”
“Leah.”
“No.”
She had never seen him so frustrated.
Then Elena appeared.
“Dante.”
He turned.
Elena held out her phone.
“Your security team just found someone inside the service corridor.”
Dante's expression changed instantly.
“Who?”
“They don't know.”
Leah felt cold.
“Was it a guest?”
Elena shook her head.
“No. It was someone who knew exactly where the cameras didn't reach.”
Dante looked at Leah.
For the first time, his protective instinct was no longer subtle.
“Stay beside me.”
She almost laughed.
“Now you want me beside you?”
His answer was so quiet she almost missed it.
“I've always wanted you there.”
May you like
Before Leah could respond, every light in the ballroom went out.
And somewhere in the darkness, a woman screamed her name.
