Chapter 8

8

Dante stood in the middle of the Moretti hall, holding the black diamond bracelet box.

“Aviana.” For the first time, he said my name clearly. “I admit I underestimated you.”

I looked at him.

“Only underestimated?”

His face stiffened.

“I came to take you home.” Dante held the box out to me. “The wedding can happen as planned. Harbor Club, Pier 7, and Marcelli’s medical network can all be written into the prenup.”

I smiled.

“You’re not here to apologize. You’re here to keep yourself alive.”

Dante’s fingers tightened.

“My father is still in the hospital. Marcelli cargo is stuck at the port. The East Coast line can’t break. If you come back to me, it’s good for both families.”

“So now you finally remember I’m useful.”

He was silent for a second.

High heels sounded outside.

When Isabella rushed in, she was still wearing her party gown. Foundation covered half the slap mark on her face, but the other half was still clearly red under the lights.

She saw the box in Dante’s hand, and her voice sharpened.

“You’re using that to win her back?”

Dante turned, his eyes cold.

“What are you doing here?”

Isabella gave a laugh.

“You said that was for the future Mrs. Marcelli. You let me wear your necklace, wear the wedding dress she never got, and live in the top-floor suite at Harbor Club. Now that Moretti is here, you push me aside?”

Dante lowered his voice.

“Shut up.”

“Why should I shut up?” Isabella stepped up to him. Tears fell from her eyes, but every word was cruel. “Last night, you said Ava was only a tool you used to train your patience. Now she’s Aviana Moretti, and suddenly you remember she’s your fiancée?”

Dante’s face turned ugly.

Isabella stared at him.

“You don’t love her. You only realized that marrying me gives you one Vitale route, but marrying her brings Moretti’s medical fund, port guarantees, and Ghost Surgeon back to Marcelli.”

The hall went quiet.

Dante grabbed her wrist.

“Enough.”

Isabella winced from the pain, but she laughed.

“Did I hit the truth?”

Dante shoved her away.

“If you hadn’t insisted on provoking her, I wouldn’t be in this position.”

Isabella stumbled back, her face changing completely.

“You’re greedy, and now you blame me?”

I walked over.

When Dante saw me approach, hope lit in his eyes.

I did not take his bracelet.

“Register it.”

The lawyer stepped forward.

“The Marcelli family’s black diamond bracelet is officially returned by Aviana Moretti. She rejects the marriage agreement, rejects settlement, and refuses to restore medical access or port guarantees.”

Dante’s face sank.

“Aviana, do you have to make this final?”

“Final?” I looked at him. “When you used me for practice, did you give me a chance to leave?”

His mouth opened.

I did not let him speak.

“You allowed Isabella to call me doctor girl, so I made sure your father could not afford me.”

“You thought Harbor Club was your property, so I made sure you learned that without my guarantee, it can’t move one crate through the port.”

“You said I couldn’t leave you.”

I stepped closer and kept my voice low.

“Dante, I once gave you a chance to keep me. That doesn’t mean I couldn’t walk away.”

For the first time, Dante did not answer at once.

I turned and went upstairs.

Lorenzo’s voice sounded behind me.

“Do you need me to deal with them?”

I stopped on the stairs.

“No.”

“Let them go back to Harbor Club and look around.”

Dante frowned.

“What does that mean?”

I looked back at him.

“Didn’t you say it was your empire?”

“Then go back and see how much of that empire is left.”