THE DON’S FORBIDDEN MARRIAGE
The Don’s Forbidden Marriage – Chapter 16
©Joy Cindy
The Truth Behind the Screen
The chapel erupted.
Voices rose from every corner.
Council members stood from their seats.
Some demanded answers.
Others moved toward the doors.
But the doors remained locked.
Elena stared at the screen.
Her father’s face filled the room.
His voice echoed through the chapel.
«“If you are watching this, Elena… Alessandro betrayed us all.”»
The recording continued.
«“Eight years ago, he knew about Vittorio’s plan. He knew his father would disappear. And he chose silence.”»
Elena slowly turned toward Alessandro.
He stood beside her.
His expression was calm.
Too calm.
“Is it true?” she asked.
“No.”
The answer came immediately.
But Elena looked back at the screen.
Her father continued.
«“Ask him what happened at the old bridge.”»
Alessandro’s face changed.
Only slightly.
But Elena noticed.
“What old bridge?”
He didn’t answer.
“Alessandro.”
His jaw tightened.
“It was eight years ago.”
“That isn’t an answer.”
“I know.”
“Then tell me.”
The council members grew quiet.
Everyone was listening.
Vittorio stood near the altar.
A faint smile appeared on his face.
“Tell her,” he said.
Alessandro looked at him.
“You planned this.”
“Of course.”
“You edited the recording.”
“Maybe.”
Elena stepped between them.
“Stop.”
Both men looked at her.
“I asked a question.”
Alessandro’s eyes met hers.
“The old bridge was where I met Vittorio.”
“Why?”
“He told me he had proof that my father was betraying the family.”
“And you believed him?”
“For one night.”
Elena frowned.
“One night?”
“I was sixteen.”
“You keep saying that.”
“Because it matters.”
“Does it?”
“Yes.”
His voice became stronger.
“I was young. I thought I understood the people around me. I thought I could discover the truth without anyone getting hurt.”
Elena stared at him.
“And what happened?”
“Vittorio used me.”
The chapel became silent.
“He asked me to bring my father to the bridge.”
Elena’s heart tightened.
“Did you?”
“No.”
“Then why is your father missing?”
Alessandro looked toward his father.
“Because someone else brought him.”
Elena followed his gaze.
Alessandro’s father stood near the wall.
His expression was dark.
“Who?” she asked.
He answered quietly.
“Your father.”
Elena turned toward the screen.
Her father’s recorded image continued speaking.
«“Alessandro will tell you that I betrayed him. He will say I worked with Vittorio. But ask yourself this—who became Don after his father disappeared?”»
The recording stopped.
The chapel filled with whispers.
Elena looked at Alessandro.
“You became Don.”
“Yes.”
“Did you want the position?”
“No.”
“Then why did you accept it?”
“Because the family needed someone.”
“Or because you planned it?”
His expression hardened.
“You think I planned my father’s disappearance?”
“I don’t know what to think.”
The words hurt him.
She saw it.
But he did not look away.
“Then ask me anything,” he said.
Elena stepped closer.
“Did you know Vittorio planned the attack?”
“No.”
“Did you know my father was involved?”
“Not until later.”
“Did you hide evidence?”
“Yes.”
The room went silent.
Elena stared at him.
“What?”
“I hid evidence.”
“Why?”
“Because it could have started a war.”
“What evidence?”
“A letter.”
“From who?”
“My father.”
Elena looked toward Alessandro’s father.
He frowned.
“I never wrote a letter.”
Alessandro’s eyes narrowed.
“You did.”
“No.”
“You sent it through Marco.”
The older man’s expression changed.
“Marco?”
“Yes.”
“He never gave it to me.”
Alessandro stared at him.
“What?”
“Marco was working for Vittorio.”
The truth settled heavily in the room.
Alessandro looked toward the floor.
“So the letter was false.”
“Maybe,” his father said.
Elena frowned.
“What did it say?”
Alessandro removed a folded paper from inside his jacket.
“I kept a copy.”
He handed it to her.
Elena opened it.
The handwriting was old.
At the bottom was Alessandro’s father’s name.
The letter said:
Trust no one. The council has chosen a new heir. Protect Elena.
Elena read it again.
Then she looked up.
“Why did it mention me?”
Alessandro’s father moved closer.
“I didn’t write that.”
“Then who did?”
Vittorio laughed.
Everyone turned.
“You’re asking the wrong question.”
Alessandro stepped toward him.
“Enough.”
Vittorio raised his hands.
“You want the truth? Fine.”
He pointed to Elena.
“The letter was written because she was always part of the plan.”
Elena’s heart began to race.
“What plan?”
“The council wanted an heir who carried both family bloodlines.”
“I never agreed to that.”
“You were a child.”
“That doesn’t make it right.”
Vittorio smiled.
“Right and wrong have never mattered to the council.”
Alessandro moved in front of Elena.
“Stay away from her.”
Vittorio looked amused.
“Still protecting her.”
“She doesn’t belong to you.”
“No.”
Vittorio’s eyes moved to Elena.
“She belongs to the council.”
Elena stepped around Alessandro.
“No.”
Vittorio’s smile faded.
“I don’t belong to anyone.”
The council members began whispering again.
An older man stood.
“The heir must choose.”
Elena looked at him.
“Choose what?”
“The future of the council.”
“I don’t want the council.”
“You cannot refuse.”
“Watch me.”
The man’s expression hardened.
“The old laws are clear.”
“Old laws don’t own me.”
The room fell silent.
Then a woman stepped forward.
Signora Bellini.
“You speak like your mother.”
Elena turned.
“You knew her?”
“Yes.”
“Then tell me the truth.”
Bellini looked at Alessandro.
“Tell her about the bridge.”
Alessandro’s expression became tense.
Elena crossed her arms.
“What happened there?”
He looked at her.
Then he spoke.
“Vittorio brought me to the bridge because he wanted me to choose.”
“Choose what?”
“My father or the family.”
Elena frowned.
“What does that mean?”
“He told me my father planned to leave.”
“Was that true?”
“No.”
“Then what did you do?”
“I refused.”
Vittorio smiled.
“Not completely.”
Alessandro looked at him.
“Stop.”
“You didn’t tell her everything.”
Elena stepped closer.
“What else?”
Vittorio’s smile grew.
“Alessandro made a deal.”
The chapel became silent.
Elena looked at Alessandro.
“What deal?”
He didn’t answer.
Her voice became sharp.
“Tell me.”
Alessandro closed his eyes briefly.
Then opened them.
“I agreed to give Vittorio information.”
“What information?”
“The location of the council records.”
Elena froze.
“Why?”
“Because he promised to leave my father alone.”
“And did he?”
“No.”
“Then you helped him.”
“I was trying to save my father.”
“You gave him information.”
“Yes.”
“Information that helped him?”
“Yes.”
Elena stepped back.
The room felt colder.
“You lied to me.”
“I didn’t know how to tell you.”
“You promised no more secrets.”
“I know.”
“You promised.”
“I know.”
Vittorio laughed.
“The Don always keeps promises when they are easy.”
Alessandro turned toward him.
“You manipulated a child.”
“And you became exactly what I expected.”
The words echoed.
Elena looked at Alessandro.
She remembered every time he had protected her.
Every time he had warned her.
Every time he had chosen silence.
She didn’t know which parts were true.
Then her mother stepped forward.
“Enough.”
Everyone turned.
She walked toward the altar.
“I was there.”
Elena stared at her.
“At the bridge?”
“Yes.”
“Why?”
“Because I followed your father.”
Her father’s recording was still paused on the screen.
Her mother looked at it.
“He lied.”
Elena’s heart tightened.
“What?”
“Alessandro did make a deal.”
Alessandro looked down.
“But he never intended to help Vittorio.”
“Then why did he give him the location?” Elena asked.
“Because I told him to.”
The chapel went silent.
Elena stared at her mother.
“You?”
“Yes.”
“Why?”
“Because I knew the records had already been moved.”
Alessandro looked at her.
“You knew?”
“I was trying to protect you.”
His expression changed.
“You used me.”
“I saved your father.”
“You used me to mislead Vittorio.”
“I had no choice.”
Alessandro laughed bitterly.
“Everyone says that.”
Elena looked between them.
“So Alessandro gave Vittorio false information?”
Her mother nodded.
“And Vittorio believed it.”
“For a while.”
“What happened?”
“He discovered the truth.”
“And then?”
“He attacked.”
Elena’s mother lowered her gaze.
“Your father helped him.”
The chapel filled with shocked voices.
Elena stared at the screen.
Her father had blamed Alessandro.
But her mother was saying he had been involved.
“Why would he do that?” Elena asked.
“Because Vittorio promised him power.”
“And my father believed him?”
“Yes.”
Elena looked down.
The truth was painful.
But it was clearer.
Alessandro had made mistakes.
He had hidden things.
But he had not planned the attack.
Then the chapel doors opened.
Everyone turned.
A guard entered.
“Don Romano.”
Alessandro faced him.
“What?”
“We found something.”
The guard held up a small device.
“A second recording.”
Vittorio’s smile disappeared.
Elena noticed.
“What is it?” she asked.
The guard placed the device on the altar.
Alessandro pressed play.
A voice filled the chapel.
Vittorio.
“If the girl becomes heir, she must choose me.”
Another voice answered.
Elena’s father.
“And if she refuses?”
Vittorio laughed.
“Then we make her believe Alessandro betrayed her.”
The recording stopped.
The chapel became completely silent.
Elena turned toward Vittorio.
His smile was gone.
“You planned all of this.”
He looked at her.
“I planned what was necessary.”
“You used my family.”
“I built your future.”
“You destroyed it.”
Vittorio stepped forward.
“You still don’t understand.”
He pointed toward the council.
“They will never let you leave.”
Elena looked around.
The council members were watching.
Some looked ashamed.
Others looked afraid.
Then the old council leader spoke.
“The heir must choose.”
Elena looked at him.
“I already have.”
“Choose carefully.”
She turned toward Alessandro.
He stood silently.
He did not reach for her.
He did not tell her what to do.
He waited.
Elena faced the council.
“I choose freedom.”
The room erupted.
Several council members protested.
“That is not an option!”
“It is now,” Elena said.
The lights suddenly went out.
A loud alarm sounded.
Then a voice came through the speakers.
“Attention.”
Everyone froze.
It was Marco.
“Elena has chosen.”
The emergency lights flashed red.
The chapel doors locked again.
Then Marco’s voice continued:
“And now the final trial begins.”
A hidden wall opened behind the altar.
Inside was a narrow passage.
At the end stood two doors.
One was marked with a black rose.
The other carried the Romano symbol.
Above them were the words:
CHOOSE ONE. SAVE ONE.
Elena stared at the doors.
“What does that mean?”
Marco laughed through the speakers.
“Behind one door is your mother.”
Elena’s breath caught.
“And behind the other…”
The voice paused.
“Is Alessandro.”
The room became silent.
Elena looked at the two doors.
Then at Alessandro.
For the first time, the choice was no longer about family power.
It was about who would survive.
