Chapter 6 - THE SECRET INSIDE HIS FATHER'S SAFE
Dante had never been afraid to open his father's safe.
Until the morning Sophia disappeared.
Anthony Romano's private study had remained locked for twelve years.
Dante entered with Leo and placed the old key into the safe's mechanism.
Inside were property deeds, old contracts, several photographs, and a sealed envelope.
On the front was written:
FOR DANTE — WHEN THE CONTI CHILD RETURNS.
His hands tightened.
He opened it.
The letter was dated two months before Anthony's death.
Son,
If Sophia ever comes into your life, understand that her presence is not accidental.
I made a promise to her mother.
I failed to save Clara.
I will not fail her daughter.
Dante stopped reading.
The room felt suddenly smaller.
Leo watched him carefully.
"Boss?"
Dante continued.
There is money held in trust for Sophia. But the fortune is the least important part of what belongs to her.
She also possesses the legal right to challenge the Conti family's ownership of several properties acquired through fraud.
Some of those properties are now connected to our companies.
Dante lowered the letter.
"My father built part of our business on stolen assets."
Leo said nothing.
Dante read the final paragraph.
If she asks for what is hers, give it to her.
If doing so costs the Romano family everything, pay the price.
Dante closed his eyes.
All these years, he'd believed his father had left him an empire.
Now he realized Anthony had also left him a debt.
His phone rang.
Rebecca Sloan, the family attorney.
"Dante, I've reviewed the old records."
"What did you find?"
"Your father established a protected trust for Sophia. It was never disclosed to the current Conti administrators."
"How much?"
"Forty-eight million dollars, plus disputed ownership interests."
Dante leaned against the desk.
"Who else knows?"
"Someone has been attempting to access it for months."
"Who?"
Rebecca hesitated.
"Isabella Conti."
Dante's jaw tightened.
"Freeze every transfer connected to the trust."
"Already requested."
Rebecca continued.
"But there's something worse."
Dante waited.
"The Conti trust administrators filed a petition three weeks ago claiming Sophia Bennett died in childhood."
He stared.
"She's alive."
"Exactly."
"And they know that?"
"Someone submitted a current photograph of her as supporting evidence for a different identity claim."
Dante felt cold.
The image had been taken inside his house.
Sophia stood in the garden beside the fountain.
She was wearing the blue sweater he'd given her.
At the bottom of the submission appeared an authorized contact.
ISABELLA CONTI.
Dante finally understood.
Isabella hadn't come to his estate looking for protection.
May you like
She had come looking for Sophia.
And the bedroom had been part of her plan.
