THE DON’S FORBIDDEN MARRIAGE
The Don’s Forbidden Marriage – Chapter 5
©Joy Cindy
The Enemy Inside
THE DON’S FORBIDDEN MARRIAGE
Chapter Five: The Woman Who Was Supposed to Be Dead
Elena couldn’t move.
Her mother’s name seemed to echo through the room.
Alive.
It was impossible.
Her mother had died when Elena was a child.
There had been a funeral.
A coffin.
Tears.
Years of grief.
Years of memories.
“No.”
The word escaped her lips.
Alessandro watched her carefully.
“Elena—”
“No.”
She shook her head.
“My mother is dead.”
“That’s what you were told.”
“She died.”
“I know what you were told.”
Elena’s eyes filled with tears.
“Then why are you saying this?”
Alessandro didn’t answer.
She stepped toward him.
“Where is she?”
His silence made her chest tighten.
“Where is my mother?”
“Somewhere safe.”
Elena gave a broken laugh.
“Everyone in your world is somewhere safe.”
She looked toward Leo.
“Did you know?”
Leo lowered his eyes.
Elena’s expression changed.
“You knew.”
“Elena—”
“You knew my mother was alive?”
Leo stepped toward her.
“I found out recently.”
“How recently?”
He hesitated.
“Several months ago.”
Elena stared at him.
Several months.
He had known for several months.
And he had said nothing.
“Why?”
Leo’s voice became quiet.
“Because I didn’t know if it was true.”
She turned toward Alessandro.
“But you knew.”
“Yes.”
“How long?”
Alessandro remained silent.
Elena’s voice rose.
“How long, Alessandro?”
“Eight years.”
Her breath caught.
Eight years.
He had known for eight years.
The same amount of time he had known her brother was alive.
She stepped backward.
“Why?”
Alessandro’s expression hardened.
“Because your mother was in danger.”
“From whom?”
“Your father.”
Elena froze.
“What?”
Alessandro continued.
“Your mother discovered what your father had done.”
“What did he do?”
“Your father was working with a powerful organization.”
Leo looked at her.
“They were involved in things that went far beyond our families.”
Elena’s hands trembled.
“What kind of organization?”
Alessandro’s eyes became cold.
“The kind that doesn’t forgive betrayal.”
She shook her head.
“Why would my father work with them?”
“Power.”
“That doesn’t make sense.”
“It does when you understand your father.”
Elena looked away.
She wanted to deny everything.
She wanted to believe that her father was still the man she had known.
But too many secrets had been revealed in one night.
Too many lies.
“Where is my mother?”
Alessandro moved closer.
“I can take you to her.”
Elena looked at him sharply.
“When?”
“After the wedding.”
Her expression hardened.
“No.”
Alessandro’s jaw tightened.
“No?”
“I am not marrying you just to see my mother.”
“I didn’t say you had to.”
“Then why do you keep bringing up the wedding?”
“Because the people searching for you know about your mother.”
Elena stared at him.
“And?”
“And if they find you, they will use you to find her.”
She felt a chill.
“Why would they care about me?”
“Because you’re the only person who can bring her out of hiding.”
Elena looked at Leo.
“Is that true?”
Leo nodded slowly.
“Possibly.”
“Possibly?”
He looked uncomfortable.
“Your mother left something behind.”
“What?”
Neither man answered.
Elena’s patience broke.
“What did she leave?”
Alessandro reached into his jacket.
He pulled out a small silver pendant.
Elena’s breath stopped.
She knew it immediately.
She had seen it before.
It had belonged to her mother.
“Where did you get that?”
“Your mother gave it to me.”
Elena stared at him.
“When?”
“Eight years ago.”
She reached for it.
Alessandro placed it in her hand.
The pendant was cold.
Elena turned it over.
There was a tiny symbol engraved on the back.
A black rose.
She had seen that symbol before.
On the documents in her father’s office.
Her eyes widened.
“What is this?”
“Your mother said you would know.”
“I don’t.”
“Look closer.”
Elena examined the pendant.
Then she noticed something.
A tiny line.
She pressed it.
The pendant opened.
Inside was a small photograph.
Elena’s breath caught.
It showed her mother.
But she wasn’t alone.
Beside her stood a man Elena had never seen before.
Alessandro looked at the photograph.
His face changed.
Elena noticed immediately.
“Who is he?”
Alessandro said nothing.
“Alessandro.”
His eyes remained fixed on the photograph.
Finally, he answered.
“My father.”
Elena looked at him.
“Your father?”
“Yes.”
“Why was my mother with your father?”
Alessandro’s expression became distant.
“Because they were in love.”
The words struck Elena like a shock.
She stared at him.
Her mother.
His father.
In love.
“That’s impossible.”
“It isn’t.”
“My parents were married.”
“Your mother was forced into that marriage.”
Elena’s eyes filled with tears.
“By whom?”
Alessandro looked at her.
“Your father.”
The room became silent.
Elena looked down at the photograph.
Her entire family history was changing before her eyes.
“My mother loved your father?”
“Yes.”
“Then why did she marry mine?”
“Because your father threatened her.”
“What did he threaten?”
Alessandro’s voice became cold.
“Your life.”
Elena froze.
“Me?”
“You were a child.”
He paused.
“Your father knew your mother would do anything to protect you.”
Elena looked at Leo.
“Did you know this?”
Leo shook his head.
“No.”
She looked back at Alessandro.
“Then why did your father die?”
Alessandro’s expression became dark.
“He was murdered.”
“By my father?”
“I don’t know.”
The answer surprised her.
“You don’t know?”
“No.”
“Then why do you hate my family?”
Alessandro stared at her.
“I don’t hate your family.”
Elena laughed bitterly.
“You forced me into a marriage contract.”
“I didn’t create the contract.”
“But you’re using it.”
“Because it’s the only thing keeping you alive.”
She stepped closer.
“And what happens after one year?”
Alessandro’s eyes met hers.
“You can leave.”
“Just like that?”
“Yes.”
“Then why do I feel like there is something you’re not telling me?”
His expression changed.
For the first time, Alessandro looked almost tired.
“There is.”
“What?”
He looked toward the window.
Then back at her.
“The contract was never supposed to be for you.”
Elena froze.
“What does that mean?”
Alessandro’s voice was quiet.
“Your mother was supposed to marry my father.”
Elena stared at him.
“But she didn’t.”
“No.”
“Then who changed the contract?”
Alessandro’s eyes darkened.
“Your father.”
Elena’s heart began to race.
“Why?”
“Because after my father died, your father changed the agreement.”
She shook her head.
“To marry me to you?”
“Yes.”
“Why?”
Alessandro stepped closer.
His gaze held hers.
“Because he knew one day I would come for the truth.”
Elena’s breath caught.
“And he thought marrying me to you would stop you?”
“No.”
Alessandro’s expression became unreadable.
“He thought marrying you to me would give him control over me.”
Elena stared at him.
“Did it?”
For a long moment, Alessandro said nothing.
Then he looked at her.
“No.”
His voice was quiet.
“It gave me you.”
Elena’s heart skipped.
The room seemed to grow smaller.
Alessandro stepped closer.
She could feel the warmth of him now.
“Elena—”
A phone rang.
The moment shattered.
Alessandro answered.
“Speak.”
His expression changed.
Elena watched the coldness return to his eyes.
“What?”
He listened.
Then slowly looked at her.
“Where?”
A pause.
“Keep her there.”
He ended the call.
Elena’s stomach tightened.
“What happened?”
Alessandro looked at her.
His voice was low.
“Your mother has been found.”
Elena’s breath caught.
“Where?”
Alessandro stepped toward her.
“At the place where your father buried the truth.”
She stared at him.
“Take me to her.”
His eyes darkened.
“I will.”
“Now.”
“No.”
“Why?”
Alessandro looked toward the windows.
Because somewhere beyond the mansion, the enemy was already moving.
“Because if we go there tonight…”
He looked back at Elena.
“They will be waiting for us.”
