The Empire Outside the Door
Chapter 12 - The Empire Outside the Door
Inside the mansion, a doctor examined Elena’s bruise and confirmed she needed rest but no hospital stay. Lily ate soup in the kitchen because she refused to leave Elena alone. The wedding flowers remained in the foyer, bright and useless.
Vanessa sat in a chair near the entry table under security watch.
Her ring remained several feet away.
She asked to speak to Dante privately.
He refused.
“Anything you say is heard by witnesses.”
For years, Dante had demanded private rooms because secrecy gave him leverage. Tonight, he chose witnesses because secrecy had protected the wrong person. Samuel recorded the inventory of Vanessa’s documents. A female security officer remained nearby. Every order was repeated clearly.
Dante did not want revenge disguised as justice. He wanted a record no one could rewrite tomorrow.
Vanessa’s eyes filled, but he could no longer tell whether the tears came from regret or defeat.
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Dante had built his reputation on being feared everywhere.
He began to wonder what it meant that his daughter had been afraid inside his own home.
