Chapter 7 - The Bloodline War
The silence in the study was deafening. I looked down at the man who commanded thousands of soldiers across the city, kneeling at my feet, weeping for the lost years of his daughter’s life.
The anger that had sustained me for seven years didn't vanish—it evolved. The real monsters weren't just standing in front of me. They were locked in the east wing of this very house.
"Where are they?" I asked, my voice dropping to a dangerous whisper.
Vincent looked up, his grey eyes flashing with a terrifying, cold fury. "In the guest house. I have them under guard."
"I want to see them."
Vincent stood up, wiping his eyes, his demeanor shifting back into the ruthless Don of the Moretti family. "I'll go with you."
We walked down the long, covered stone passageway connecting the main mansion to the east guest house. Two armed guards opened the heavy oak doors, revealing Eleanor and Sophia sitting on the velvet couches inside, looking disheveled and panicked.
When the door opened, Sophia stood up, clutching her silk robe. "Vincent! Thank God! You have to let us out of here! That crazy woman is trying to frame us—"
Sophia cut herself off when she saw me standing right beside Vincent.
"Hello, Sister," I said softly, stepping into the room.
Eleanor stood up, trying to maintain her aristocratic posture. "Claire. Don't do this. We are your family. Whatever lies you've told Vincent—"
"I didn't tell him any lies, Mother," I cut her off, walking slowly toward her. "I just showed him Emily's eyes."
Eleanor’s facade shattered. "She was a girl!" Eleanor shouted, her true colors bursting out. "A girl is worthless in the Moretti family! Sophia gave him a son! A male heir to protect our family’s standing and secure the business! If you had stayed, Vincent would have been ousted by his uncles! We saved his empire!"
"You didn't save anything!" Vincent’s voice thundered through the room, making both women flinch. "You committed treason against this family. You stole my daughter. You forged legal documents. And you made my life a living hell!"
"Vincent, please!" Sophia cried out, dropping to her knees and reaching for his hand. "I did it because I loved you! I loved you more than Claire ever did! She was always too soft, too pure for your world!"
"You didn't love me, Sophia. You loved the power," Vincent said with absolute disgust.
Suddenly, the house alarm blared. Red emergency lights began flashing down the corridor, and the sound of distant automatic gunfire rattled the heavy glass windows of the estate.
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Marco’s voice burst through Vincent’s earpiece radio. "Boss! We have a breach at the main gate! It's the Donati clan! They brought heavy weaponry! They’re pushing toward the main house!"
Vincent pulled a sleek black pistol from his shoulder holster, his eyes snapping to me. "Claire! Get to the safe room under the main house! NOW!"
