Chapter 7 - The Poisoned Memory
The discovery of the founding charter's secret codicil changed everything.
Dominic stood under the harsh light of the subterranean bunker, staring at his father's handwritten signature on the yellowed parchment.
The document revealed that twenty-five years ago, the founding Don Bellaro had established a secondary bloodline clause: If any male heir of the Bellaro family shall father a child with a woman carrying the legitimate blood of the Hart family—the original co-founding syndicate dynasty of Boston—that child shall hold absolute, unchallengeable title to the entire Bellaro empire.
Dominic looked up from the page, his dark eyes locking onto Elena.
"Hart..." Dominic breathed, his voice tight. "Elena... your father was Thomas Hart."
Elena blinked, stunned. "My father... my father was a carpenter who died in a factory accident when I was five!"
"Thomas Hart wasn't a carpenter, Elena," Dominic said softly, stepping closer to her. "He was the last surviving heir of the Hart syndicate. When my father took control of the eastern shipping terminals thirty years ago, he signed a blood covenant with your father to unite the two families."
The horrifying puzzle was finally complete.
Isabella and Vivienne hadn't just stolen Elena's baby because Isabella was barren. They had stolen the baby because Arthur Vance and Vivienne realized that if a child was born from Dominic Bellaro and Elena Hart, that child would inherit absolute control of the multi-billion-dollar empire, stripping Arthur Vance and Vivienne of their executive power forever!
"They knew who you were the night you walked into Saint Jude's Memorial," Dominic growled, his broad chest rising and falling with lethal rage. "They targeted you because your bloodline was the only thing that could take their power away."
Elena covered her mouth, her mind reeling as the sheer scale of the conspiracy washed over her.
"And when I took a job as a maid in this house six months ago..." Elena whispered, "Vivienne realized who I was."
"Yes," Dominic said coldly. "That's why she tried to humiliate you at the dessert table tonight. She was trying to force you to quit before Maisie recognized your face."
Dominic turned to Frank. "Get the armored convoy ready. We ride to Saint Jude Cathedral now."
"Boss," Frank warned, checking his watch. "Arthur Vance has gathered six rival syndicate bosses at the cathedral. They've brought over forty armed enforcers."
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Dominic adjusted his black tuxedo jacket, his gold cufflinks glinting under the red lights, his posture returning to that of an invincible, terrifying sovereign.
"Let them bring fifty," Dominic said softly. "Tonight, the Bellaro empire returns to its true owners."
