THE DON’S FORBIDDEN MARRIAGE
The Don’s Forbidden Marriage – Chapter 10
©Joy Cindy
The Enemy’s Offer
The road to the monastery was silent.
Rain pressed against the windows of the black car, turning the distant lights into blurred shadows.
Elena sat beside Alessandro in the back seat.
His hand rested near hers, but he did not touch her.
For once, he gave her space.
Across from them sat Alessandro’s father. Leo was in the front seat, speaking quietly to one of the guards.
Vittorio had been left behind.
Elena still didn’t understand why Alessandro had allowed him to remain alive.
She turned toward him.
“Why didn’t you take Vittorio with us?”
Alessandro kept his eyes on the road ahead.
“Because he wanted us to.”
“That doesn’t answer me.”
“It does.”
“No, it doesn’t.”
He looked at her.
“If Vittorio wanted to come, then he had a reason. I don’t intend to give him what he wants.”
Elena folded her arms.
“You keep making decisions without telling me.”
“I’m trying to keep you alive.”
“There it is again.”
“What?”
“That sentence.”
Alessandro’s expression tightened.
“You dislike hearing it because you think protection means control.”
“Doesn’t it?”
“Not always.”
She looked out the window.
For several moments, neither of them spoke.
Then Alessandro’s father leaned forward.
“Your mother used to say the same thing.”
Elena turned.
“What?”
“She hated being told what to do.”
A faint smile appeared on his face.
“She once walked out of a meeting because I told her to stay behind me.”
Elena glanced at Alessandro.
“That sounds familiar.”
Alessandro gave his father a cold look.
“Now I understand where she gets it.”
For the first time since the truth had been revealed, Elena almost smiled.
Almost.
Then the car slowed.
The monastery appeared through the rain.
It stood alone on a hill, surrounded by old trees and broken stone walls.
The building looked abandoned.
But Elena knew better.
Nothing connected to her family was ever as empty as it appeared.
The cars stopped.
Alessandro stepped out first.
He looked toward Elena.
“Stay close.”
She raised an eyebrow.
“I’m not staying behind you.”
“I didn’t say behind.”
“You were thinking it.”
“I was.”
Elena stepped out.
Cold rain touched her face.
The monastery doors stood open.
No guards.
No lights.
No sign of her father.
Alessandro studied the entrance.
“It’s too quiet.”
Leo moved beside him.
“Maybe he hasn’t arrived.”
“No,” Alessandro said. “He’s here.”
Elena looked toward the doorway.
“How do you know?”
Alessandro pointed to the ground.
Fresh tire marks.
Several vehicles had arrived recently.
And none had left.
They entered the monastery.
The air smelled of dust and damp stone.
Broken candles lined the walls.
Old paintings hung crookedly above them.
At the far end stood a large wooden cross.
Elena stared at it.
“The chapel below,” she whispered.
Alessandro’s father walked toward the altar.
“There should be a passage here.”
He searched the wall.
Elena looked around.
Then she noticed a black rose carved into the floor.
She knelt beside it.
“Alessandro.”
He came closer.
“What?”
She pointed.
“The symbol.”
He crouched beside her.
For a moment, they studied the carving.
Then Elena pressed the center.
A quiet click echoed beneath the floor.
The altar moved.
A narrow staircase appeared.
Leo looked down.
“Someone has been using this recently.”
Alessandro stood.
“Everyone stays together.”
They began walking down.
The staircase was long.
With every step, Elena felt the air grow colder.
At the bottom, they found a corridor.
Old lamps burned along the walls.
Someone had prepared the place.
At the end was a metal door.
A message had been written across it.
ONLY ELENA MAY ENTER.
Alessandro immediately stepped in front of her.
“No.”
Elena looked at the words.
“My mother is inside.”
“You don’t know that.”
“My father wants me here.”
“That’s why you’re not going in alone.”
She stepped toward the door.
Alessandro caught her wrist.
“Elena.”
She looked at his hand.
Then at him.
“You promised I could make my own choices.”
“I did.”
“Then let me choose.”
His expression became tense.
“You don’t know what’s behind that door.”
“Neither do you.”
“I know your father wants to use you.”
“Then I’ll find out why.”
Alessandro’s grip loosened.
For a moment, he said nothing.
Then he released her.
“You have five minutes.”
Elena frowned.
“You’re giving me a time limit?”
“I’m giving you a chance.”
She placed her hand on the door.
Before opening it, she looked back.
“If I don’t come out?”
“I’m coming in.”
“No matter what?”
“No matter what.”
Elena nodded.
Then she opened the door.
The room beyond was lit by dozens of candles.
In the center stood a wooden table.
And beside it was her father.
“Father.”
He looked older than she remembered.
Tired.
But his eyes were still sharp.
“Elena.”
She stepped inside.
The door closed behind her.
“Where is my mother?”
Her father smiled faintly.
“Always asking questions.”
“Where is she?”
“She’s safe.”
“That’s what everyone says.”
His expression changed.
“You’ve been spending too much time with Alessandro.”
“Elena,” he continued, “you don’t understand what he is.”
“I know exactly who he is.”
“No. You know what he wants you to believe.”
She crossed her arms.
“What do you want?”
Her father walked toward the table.
On it sat a small wooden box.
He opened it.
Inside were several documents.
“What are those?”
“Proof.”
“Of what?”
“That the Romano family destroyed ours.”
Elena stared at him.
“That isn’t true.”
“You believe Alessandro?”
“I believe he has lied to me.”
Her father nodded.
“Good.”
“But I also know you lied.”
His smile disappeared.
“Your mother is alive.”
“I know.”
“You know?”
“Yes.”
“And you know Alessandro’s father is alive?”
Elena remained silent.
Her father’s face hardened.
“He found you.”
“Who?”
“The man who ruined everything.”
“You mean my real father?”
The room became quiet.
Her father looked at her.
“So Alessandro told you.”
“Not at first.”
“Of course not.”
“He didn’t know how.”
Her father laughed bitterly.
“Alessandro always knew how to hide the truth.”
Elena stepped closer.
“Why did you tell me he was dead?”
“Because he abandoned us.”
“He didn’t.”
“You don’t know what happened.”
“Then tell me.”
Her father stared at her.
Then he pushed the wooden box toward her.
“Read.”
Elena opened the first document.
It described a secret meeting.
Her mother.
Alessandro’s father.
Vittorio.
And her father.
She read quickly.
Then stopped.
“What is this?”
“A deal.”
“What deal?”
“Your mother agreed to give the Romano family something.”
“What?”
Her father looked directly at her.
“You.”
Elena froze.
“No.”
“You were supposed to be raised by them.”
“That’s a lie.”
“Is it?”
He pointed toward the documents.
“Your mother wanted to leave with you. Romano promised to protect both of you.”
“Then why didn’t he?”
“Because he chose power.”
Elena shook her head.
“No.”
“He left you with me.”
“Why?”
“Because he was afraid.”
“Afraid of what?”
“Vittorio.”
The name made her tense.
Her father continued.
“Vittorio wanted control of both families. He knew you were the one secret that could destroy the Romano name.”
Elena stared at him.
“Why me?”
“Because you are proof that your mother and Romano betrayed their families.”
Elena looked down.
The documents shook in her hands.
“Where is my mother?”
Her father’s eyes softened.
“I can take you to her.”
“Now.”
“Yes.”
“What do you want?”
He smiled.
“You’re learning.”
Elena waited.
“I want you to leave with me.”
She frowned.
“Leave?”
“Tonight.”
“And Alessandro?”
“Forget him.”
“He’s my brother.”
Her father’s expression became cold.
“He is not your brother.”
Elena stared at him.
“What?”
“He lied.”
“No.”
“Ask yourself this: why would he hide the truth for eight years?”
“To protect me.”
“That’s what he told you.”
“He didn’t ask me to trust him.”
“Then trust me.”
Elena laughed quietly.
“You’re the one who lied about my mother.”
“I did it to protect you.”
She stared at him.
The words sounded familiar.
Everyone had used them.
Everyone had made choices for her.
Everyone had claimed it was for her safety.
Her father stepped closer.
“Come with me, Elena. I’ll take you to your mother. We can leave Italy. You’ll never have to see Alessandro again.”
She looked toward the closed door.
Alessandro was outside.
Waiting.
Her father held out his hand.
“You have one chance.”
Elena looked at his hand.
Then at the documents.
“What happens if I refuse?”
His face became unreadable.
“Then you stay with the Romano family.”
“And my mother?”
“You may never see her again.”
Her heart tightened.
“You would keep me from her?”
“I would save you from them.”
Elena took a slow breath.
Then she asked:
“Where is she?”
Her father smiled.
“Choose me, and I’ll tell you.”
Before Elena could answer, a voice came from the darkness behind him.
“Don’t believe him.”
Her father turned.
Elena froze.
A woman stepped into the candlelight.
Her hair was covered by a dark scarf.
Her face was pale.
But Elena knew her immediately.
“Mother?”
The woman looked at her.
Tears filled her eyes.
“Elena.”
Elena moved toward her.
But her father stepped between them.
“Stop.”
Her mother’s expression changed.
“Let her go.”
“You gave up the right to tell me what to do.”
Elena stared at them.
“What is happening?”
Her mother looked directly at her.
“Your father is lying.”
He laughed.
“Of course she would say that.”
“He didn’t bring you here to save you,” her mother continued. “He brought you here because he needs the evidence.”
Elena looked down at the pendant.
“The evidence is connected to this?”
Her mother nodded.
“The pendant contains a key.”
Elena frowned.
“A key to what?”
Her mother looked toward the stone wall.
“To the truth about Vittorio.”
Her father’s face hardened.
“Enough.”
He reached toward Elena.
“Give me the pendant.”
She stepped back.
“No.”
“Elena.”
“You lied to me.”
“I protected you.”
“You watched me mourn my mother.”
His eyes changed.
“I did what I had to do.”
“You made me believe my brother was dead.”
“He was safer that way.”
“You changed my future without asking me.”
“I gave you a future.”
“No.”
Elena’s voice became stronger.
“You controlled it.”
The room fell silent.
Her father stared at her.
Then his expression became cold.
“Give me the pendant.”
“No.”
He took a step forward.
Elena stepped back.
The door suddenly opened.
Alessandro entered.
“Elena.”
Her father turned.
“You broke the rules.”
Alessandro’s eyes moved to Elena.
“Are you hurt?”
“No.”
“Then come here.”
Elena hesitated.
Her father smiled.
“Go on. Run back to him.”
Alessandro held out his hand.
Elena looked at it.
This time, she didn’t take it immediately.
She looked at her mother.
Then at her father.
Then back at Alessandro.
“I’m not running,” she said.
She walked toward him.
Not because he commanded her.
Not because of a contract.
Because she had chosen where to stand.
Alessandro moved beside her.
Her father’s smile disappeared.
“You’ve made the wrong choice.”
Elena looked at him.
“Maybe.”
Then she held up the pendant.
“But I’m going to find the truth myself.”
The stone wall behind the altar suddenly opened.
A hidden chamber appeared.
Inside was a locked metal case.
The black rose symbol was engraved across its surface.
Everyone stared.
Her mother whispered:
“That’s where it is.”
Elena stepped toward the case.
Alessandro moved with her.
Her father reached for her arm.
“Don’t.”
Elena pulled away.
“What’s inside?”
Her mother answered:
“The truth about the night everything changed.”
Elena held the pendant over the lock.
A small section opened.
The pendant fit perfectly.
She turned it.
The case clicked.
Then opened.
Inside was a single envelope.
Elena reached for it.
But before she could touch it, the monastery lights went out.
A loud sound echoed through the corridor.
Then a voice came from the darkness.
“Thank you, Elena.”
Vittorio.
The candles flickered.
And when the lights returned—
The envelope was gone.
