Victoria stood there quietly staring at Kelvin. To her, maybe he was right; she blamed herself for allowing Dante back in her life. Now he lay there because of her, but he was stubborn. He dragged her out of the wedding only for him to end up unconscious.

“Are you here to mock me?” Victoria’s voice shook as she looked at Kelvin.

“No, Victoria, I'm not here to mock you. Dante was once my friend. Even though we both love the same woman, I know the Moretti family more than you.” Kelvin walked closer; he tried hugging her, but she flinched.

“So it’s still him?” He asked, his face embittered.

“This is not the time to talk about this now.”

“Then when Victoria comes back to me, you don’t have to be here. I can protect you. There's no power struggle in the Valens.”

“Kelvin, please stop,” she sobbed helplessly.

“Stop? Victoria, I gave you everything. What about your dad's business?” Kelvin asked.

“I was on my way to talk to my dad about our wedding before I got kidnapped. Please give me time, Kelvin.”

“Victoria, it’s you I want. I can give you everything any woman would dream of.” Kelvin tried holding her hand again.

“I’m still alive.”

The cold voice brought Victoria back.

“Omg!!”

“Dante, you’re awake!” She ran over to his side, completely ignoring Kelvin, whose face darkened.

“I’m not even dead yet, and you dare to chase my woman.” Dante's cold voice scolded.

The door opened, and Felix walked in.

“How did you get in?” Felix barked at him as he eyed the guards outside, who shrank under his gaze.

“Let him be,” Dante muttered. “He’s probably here to see the woman he loves beside me. Maybe after today he’ll be convinced to leave us alone.

“Please lie down; don’t speak too much.” Victoria pressed him back to the bed, worry written all over Victoria face. “The doctor said you lost a lot of blood. I was scared you wouldn’t wake up on time.”

She bit her lips nervously, making Dante's lip curve up into a smile. That same behavior of hers whenever she was nervous, she would bite her lower lip.

“Vicky, how could I bear to lie unconscious and let you worry about me?” he teased.

“It seems you’re alive; there’s no need for me to be here.” Kelvin hissed as he strode towards the door.

“Kelvin, wait!” Victoria called as she made to stand up.

“Let him go, Vicky.” Dante held her hands.

“Remember who took a bullet for you.”

Kelvin turned back one last time before he finally left the ward.

Felix stood there the entire time, his eyes on his boss. He knew Dante wasn’t feeling any better because even the doctor said he needed blood and his face was pale, but being the Don he was, he could wake up, perhaps for fear of Victoria leaving him.

Just like his aunt had said, the Moretti men only survived if they had something to fight for.

“Where’s my brother?”

“Boss, we are still searching for him. We have our men everywhere he could go .”

“Victoria, can you excuse us?” Felix asked.

She exchanged glances with Dante but got up, allowing them to discuss.

“Your aunt was here.” Felix said as soon as the door slammed shut.

Dante tried sitting up but felt dizzy.

“Boss!!” Felix rushed over. “Let me call the doctor.”

Quickly dialing the doctor.

“That woman, she's ruthless; nothing could slip past her.”

“What if she helps Enzo and she has set her eyes on Victoria?” Felix added.

“I know I must go see the council; we need more people on our side in case she decides to side with Enzo.” Dante whispered.

“Boss, won’t you let her go?”

“Don’t ever ask that question again.” Dante face darkened; he couldn’t bear the thought of it. “As long as she’s willing, I would go against everyone for her. I mean it this time.”

Just then the doctor walked in.

After checking his vitals. “It’s a miracle you woke up early. I was estimating a week or a month.”

“You don’t know my boss; even in death I’m not sure his spirit can rest.” Felix joked.

“But he needs blood, and his blood group is O negative. I've already sent out a message to our other branch unless he would be experiencing dizziness and fainting.” The doctor said.

“Do your best and get the blood before the end of today. My boss can’t remain in the hospital before news of his condition spreads, and all of his enemies could use this opportunity to attack.”

“We will try our best.” The doctor answered. “Let me give him something to help with the dizziness for now.”

…

Kelvin drove straight to Mr. Hale's company. As he caked down from the car, Mr. Hale came rushing to greet him.

“Have you seen her?” He asked. “That unfilliar child of mine.”

“I’m not sure she’s coming back,” Kelvin broke the news.

“She chose him over me. I mean nothing to her.”

“Calm down, don't say that women have no choice; just give her what she wants.”

“Do you actually care, or is it just because of our collaboration?” Kelvin hissed at him clearly. Angry, he entered his car and drove to one of the villas in town.

He dialed a number as he drove

“Are you free?”

The voice at the other end was excited. “Yes, I’m always free for you.”

“Come down to the villa.” Kelvin cold tone was devoid of any emotion.

Amelia squeaked as the line dropped.

“What happened? Why the sudden glow?” Her girls teased her.

“It’s nothing,” she said, blushing.

“But I have to go catch you girls later.” She quickly booked her Bolt while she touched up her makeup.

Once she was inside the car, she quickly texted her mother, telling her about her plan to meet with Kelvin.

Her mother, being the selfish queen she was, had given her a stupid idea that could get her a ticket into the Valens family.

She already envisioned being the lady while Victoria, with her poor thug boyfriend, would have to look up to her, or so she thought.

Unknown to her, paparazzi followed behind her because someone had suspected she was the girl who caused the fight between the ruthless and cold don of the Moretti family and the infamous young master of the Valens family.

Unknown to Amelia, the paparazzi weren’t the only ones following her.

A man in a dark grey sedan had been tracking her movements for weeks.

Not because of Kelvin.

Not because of the Valens family.

But because of a case he never let go.

Five years ago, a young model’s career was destroyed overnight.

A scandal that pushed her out of the spotlight, humiliated her, and forced her into hiding.

Victoria Hale.

And the one who framed her?

Amelia Hale.

He finally had Amelia on camera, exposed in a new scandal. sneaking into Kelvin Valens’ private villa, flirting with her sister’s fiancé like it was nothing.

He clicked another photo, zooming in on Amelia’s smug smile.

Then he opened a folder on his tablet.

Inside were old files:

– Victoria’s modelling contract

– The fake drug accusation

– Amelia’s anonymous tip to the tabloids

– A report about Victoria’s mother’s mysterious death

Back then, no one listened to him.

The case was buried.

But now?

This new footage connected everything.

He exhaled sharply.

“At last… the truth is coming out.”

He typed a message to an unknown contact saved only as:

“For V.”

Attached the photos.

Attached the files.

Pressed send.

A soft ding confirmed the message delivered.

Then he smirked to himself.

“Victoria… I told you I’d protect you. Even from the shadows.”

The car rolled slowly after Amelia’s bolt.

Because tonight wasn’t just about a scandal.

It was the beginning of a reckoning.