Chapter 7 - THE LIE THAT COULD HAVE DESTROYED THEM
For ten seconds, nobody breathed.
Elena stared at the photograph.
Dominic stared at Elena.
Vanessa covered her mouth.
Then Dominic did something nobody expected.
He laughed.
Not because it was funny.
Because the claim was absurd enough to break the tension.
“No.”
Harold smiled.
“You seem certain.”
“I am.”
“How?”
Dominic looked at the date.
Then at Elena.
“My father was in federal custody for three months before her birth.”
Harold's smile disappeared slightly.
Marco immediately understood.
Alexander Vale had spent part of the previous year detained during an investigation.
The timeline didn't work.
Elena's heart pounded.
“Then why does this say—”
“Because someone wanted us to believe it.”
Dominic's voice hardened.
Harold said nothing.
Elena looked at him.
“You knew this was false.”
He smiled again.
“I knew it was useful.”
Dominic's expression turned murderous.
A lie designed to do what?
Make Dominic distrust Elena?
Destroy whatever was developing between them?
Turn family against family?
Marco searched deeper.
The photograph had been altered.
The original handwritten label beneath the forged line remained faintly visible.
BIOLOGICAL FATHER: UNKNOWN.
Elena exhaled.
Then immediately felt ridiculous.
Why had relief come so fast?
She looked at Dominic.
He was looking at her too.
Vanessa noticed.
Her face changed.
That explained the answer neither of them had been willing to name.
There was already something between Dominic and Elena.
Small.
Dangerous.
Growing.
Harold saw it too.
“Interesting.”
Dominic ignored him.
“Take him.”
Marco handcuffed Harold.
But Harold laughed.
“You think this ends because you arrested me?”
“No.”
Dominic stepped closer.
“It ends because you're going to tell me where Kane is.”
Harold's smile remained.
“You still don't understand Elias.”
“Enlighten me.”
“He doesn't work for people.”
“Then what does he want?”
“Revenge.”
“For what?”
Harold looked at Dominic.
“For being the son Alexander chose.”
Dominic frowned.
“What does that mean?”
Harold said nothing else.
Federal agents were contacted quietly.
Dominic had influence, but he wasn't going to bury this inside his own organization.
Too many lies had already survived because powerful men believed they could solve everything privately.
Vanessa remained in the office after her father was removed.
She looked at Elena.
“I don't expect forgiveness.”
“Good.”
Vanessa flinched.
Elena continued:
“You can be sorry without expecting me to make you feel better.”
Vanessa nodded.
Tears slipped down her face.
“I hated you.”
“I noticed.”
“I thought you were trying to get close to Dominic.”
Elena looked toward him.
“He's my employer.”
Dominic raised an eyebrow.
“Technically.”
Vanessa laughed bitterly.
“You still don't see it.”
Elena frowned.
“See what?”
Vanessa looked at Dominic.
Then back at Elena.
“He notices you.”
Dominic's expression hardened.
“Vanessa.”
“No.”
She wiped her face.
“Maybe somebody should finally tell the truth in this family.”
Elena's pulse jumped.
Vanessa continued.
“He hasn't noticed anyone in years.”
Dominic said nothing.
That silence answered too much.
Vanessa took off her engagement ring.
She placed it on the desk.
“This was over before tonight.”
Dominic looked at the ring.
“Yes.”
The word was quiet.
Final.
Vanessa nodded.
Then looked at Elena.
“I am sorry.”
Elena didn't forgive her.
Not yet.
Maybe never.
But she believed that part.
After Vanessa left with Hannah under protective escort, Dominic and Elena stood alone near the hallway.
“You okay?” he asked.
“No.”
“Same.”
She looked at him.
“Were you relieved?”
He knew exactly what she meant.
“When Harold said the DNA claim was false?”
“Yes.”
Dominic didn't lie.
“Very.”
Elena looked away.
Heat rose into her face despite everything.
“That seems inappropriate.”
“Probably.”
“Your fiancée just left.”
“Former fiancée.”
“Dominic.”
“I know.”
He stepped closer.
Not touching.
Just close enough that she could feel the tension.
“I won't make this harder for you.”
“Good.”
“But I'm done pretending I don't notice you.”
Her heart kicked.
“You barely know me.”
“I know you nearly froze because sixty people were too cowardly to open a door.”
“That isn't exactly romantic.”
“No.”
His voice softened.
“I know you still protected Vanessa tonight after what she did.”
“I didn't protect her.”
“You came because Hannah needed help.”
Elena said nothing.
“I know you're angry with your parents and still terrified for your father.”
Still silence.
“I know you call me Mr. Vale when you're annoyed.”
She almost smiled.
“And Dominic when you're scared.”
That startled her.
He had noticed.
Too much.
His phone rang.
Marco.
Dominic answered.
“What?”
Marco's face appeared on video.
“We found Kane.”
Dominic's expression sharpened.
“Where?”
“Old Vale mining property south of Aspen.”
“Is he alone?”
“No.”
Marco hesitated.
“He has Frank Brooks.”
Elena's blood went cold.
Her father had been transported from the private clinic during the chaos.
Security believed federal medical staff had taken custody.
They were wrong.
Kane had him.
Marco continued.
“And Sebastian.”
Dominic's jaw tightened.
“Anyone else?”
“One woman.”
Laura.
Elena closed her eyes.
Her entire family.
Marco sent an image.
Kane stood inside an abandoned mining office.
Behind him, three hostages.
On the wall was the missing red ledger.
May you like
And beneath it, written in black paint:
CHRISTMAS ENDS WHERE ALEXANDER VALE'S EMPIRE BEGAN.
