The Black Wolf’s Betrayal

PART 3 — THE BLACK WOLF BEGS

At 8:45 the following morning, my office door opened without a knock.

Dante walked inside.

He wore the same charcoal-gray suit from the previous day, but the confidence was gone. His eyes were bloodshot, and his normally perfect hair looked as though he hadn’t slept.

“Get your people out,” he ordered.

I didn’t look up from my laptop.

“Good morning to you too.”

“Bella, we need to talk.”

“We talked yesterday.”

“This is serious.”

“So was your affair. So was your attempt to steal my company. Yet you seemed perfectly comfortable doing both.”

He walked toward my desk and placed a thick envelope in front of me.

“These are the divorce papers.”

I finally looked up.

For nine years, I had secretly hoped Dante would one day choose me over his business, his pride, and his dangerous world.

Now he was offering me divorce papers as though he were doing me a favor.

I opened the envelope.

There was a settlement proposal inside.

Five million dollars.

In exchange, I would surrender my claims to several shared assets and sign a confidentiality agreement.

I stared at the amount.

“Is this supposed to be a joke?”

“It’s generous.”

I laughed.

“You think five million dollars can compensate me for nine years of marriage?”

“You’ll have financial security.”

“I already have financial security, Dante. I own a hotel empire.”

His expression tightened.

“Don’t make this ugly.”

I pushed the papers back toward him.

“You came to my hotel with your mistress, tried to steal my property, and lied to my face. You made it ugly.”

He leaned against the desk.

“Vanessa means nothing to me.”

“Then why did you tell her we were divorced?”

He looked away.

“She was confused about our situation.”

“Our situation?”

I stood up.

“Let me make it simple. You have a wife. You had a mistress. You attempted to steal your wife’s business. And now you’re offering her money to disappear quietly.”

He rubbed his forehead.

“Bella, I made a mistake.”

“How many mistakes?”

He looked at me.

“What?”

“How many times did you lie? How many times did you meet her? How many times did you use our money to buy her gifts while telling me you were working?”

He didn’t answer.

That silence told me everything.

Then his phone rang again.

This time, he ignored it.

I walked to the window overlooking the Chicago River.

“Do you remember our fifth anniversary?” I asked.

He remained silent.

“You promised we’d spend the evening together. I waited until midnight. You never came.”

“Bella—”

“That same night, I discovered you had purchased an apartment for another woman.”

His face changed.

“You knew?”

“I knew enough to start asking questions.”

I turned around.

“And for the last six months, my lawyers have been reviewing every financial transaction connected to your companies.”

Dante went completely still.

I placed another folder on the desk.

“These are records of payments made through a subsidiary of Moretti Holdings. Some were transferred to Vanessa. Others went to shell companies connected to your business partners.”

His eyes moved across the documents.

“Where did you get these?”

“Your accountant wasn’t nearly as loyal as you thought.”

For the first time, Dante looked genuinely frightened.

Then he lowered his voice.

“What do you want, Bella?”

I looked at the man I had once loved more than anything.

“I want my freedom. I want my company protected. And I want you to stop pretending that being the Black Wolf gives you the right to destroy everyone around you.”

He swallowed.

“Can we fix this?”

I shook my head.

“No.”

He stepped closer.

“I love you.”

The words sounded almost painful coming from him.

I smiled sadly.

“You loved having a wife who waited for you. You loved having someone who protected your secrets and defended your reputation. But you never loved me enough to respect me.”

His phone began ringing again.

This time, he answered.

“What is it?”

A long silence followed.

Then his face drained of color.

“Who authorized that?”

He listened for another moment before slowly lowering the phone.

I raised an eyebrow.

“Another problem?”

He looked at me.

“The board has called an emergency meeting. They’ve discovered the unauthorized transfers. They’re questioning my position as chairman.”

I nodded.

“That’s unfortunate.”

“Bella, you need to tell them this is a private misunderstanding.”

I stared at him.

“Why would I protect you from the consequences of your own actions?”

He reached for my hand.

I stepped away.

“Don’t.”

For several seconds, neither of us moved.

Then I picked up the divorce papers and placed them inside the folder.

“I’ll have my lawyers prepare a proper agreement. Until then, you have no permission to access my properties, accounts, or businesses.”

Dante’s voice dropped to a whisper.

“You’re really leaving me?”

I looked at him one last time.

“No, Dante. You left me a long time ago. I’m simply no longer waiting for you to come back.”

He walked out without another word.

But just as the door closed, Olivia rushed into my office.

“Mrs. Moretti, there’s someone downstairs asking to see you.”

“Who?”

She hesitated.

“Vanessa Reed.”

I frowned.

“Didn’t Dante take her with him yesterday?”

“Apparently not. She says she has evidence that could destroy Mr. Moretti.”

I slowly closed my laptop.

“Send her up.”

Because if Vanessa had come back, I suspected the affair was only the beginning of Dante’s secrets.