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"She's the one who orchestrated the rebellion, Dante. She couldn't openly support me, but she wanted revenge. She wanted to see you fall and our family’s rise to power."
The weight of his words hit me like a thunderbolt.
My stepmother... the one person I trusted implicitly.
The one who raised me and guided me.
So, I was right. It was truly her.
“So, I was right in my suspicions,” I muttered lowly to myself, feeling blank.
Perhaps because of my impassive expression, Giuseppe thought I didn’t believe him.
Giuseppe's expression hardened, his eyes meeting mine with a mix of defiance and sorrow.
"I have proof, Dante. Documents, recordings, everything. I never wanted it to come to this, but I couldn't bear living in the shadow of your family's legacy. I wanted what should rightfully be mine."
My mind raced, trying to process the magnitude of the betrayal.
My mother pulled the strings from the shadows.
The thought was unfathomable, a dagger twisting in my chest.
"Why now?" I asked, my voice barely a whisper.
"Why reveal all this to me?"
Giuseppe's gaze turned wicked, delighting in the betrayal I had received.
"Because you deserve to know the truth, Dante. I wanted you to understand the depth of the betrayal. I wanted you to feel the pain and loss I endured."
I clenched my fists, the anger bubbling up inside me.
"You thought by tearing me down, you would rise to power. But you underestimated me, Giuseppe. I won't let your actions destroy everything we've built."
Giuseppe sighed, his defiance fading into resignation.
"What will you do now, Dante?"
A determined glint flashed in my eyes.
"I will restore order and deal with my mother. You, Giuseppe, you will face the consequences of your betrayal."
As I turned to leave, Giuseppe's voice called out to me one last time.
"Don’t think you’ve won, Dante!”
*******
I sat in my office, the weight of Giuseppe's words still echoing in my mind.
The truth that I had suspected but had desperately hoped to be false was now confirmed.
My mother had betrayed me.
Despite all my preparations for the truth, the reality of it still stung.
Kramaric and Vito entered the room cautiously.
