She Faked Innocence, I Uncovered Her Lie

Chapter 2

The air in the ballroom froze.

The champagne in Chloe's other hand rippled slightly.

"Sister, you're joking." Her smile somehow grew even sweeter. "Papa already has everything. You really didn't have to go to all that trouble."

My oldest brother, Marco, stepped forward and positioned himself in front of her. The full authority of the Underboss radiated from him.

"Vivian, Chloe has a weak heart. She can't handle being frightened. If you've got a problem, take it up with me."

My third brother, Dante, followed immediately.

His gaze was sharp enough to cut.

"You come home and start causing trouble on your very first night? You're embarrassing the Conti family."

My seventh brother, Luca, shifted protectively closer, shielding Chloe behind him.

"She's only eighteen. Why are you picking on a kid?"

Nico, the youngest, sounded genuinely distressed.

"Big Sister, Chloe wouldn't even hurt an ant."

Right on cue, Chloe pressed a hand to her chest and shrank behind Marco, breathing rapidly.

"Target heart rate: seventy-eight. Stable." Dario's voice remained completely flat. "She's acting again."

I looked at them the way one might look at a pack of well-trained guard dogs.

My father remained silent, one finger resting on the black flash drive.

"A weak heart?" I repeated softly.

"Dario, send Don the original medical records."

On the other end, keyboard keys clicked for two seconds.

"Files transmitted to Don Emilio's encrypted terminal. Conclusion: Chloe's heart is perfectly healthy. No structural abnormalities. The alleged heart condition was fabricated by Donna Camilla's former private nurse. Three documented payments were received from Chloe's biological mother, along with a bribed attending physician. Complete records available."

"The flash drive contains the full report." I looked directly at my father. "The forged medical files. The bribes. Every dollar Chloe's mother siphoned from the famiglia over the past seventeen years. Nothing missing."

It had taken us six months to dig through every corner of Chloe's life.

My father opened the file on his tablet.

His face went from pale to green in less than three seconds.

"Get out."

His voice was barely audible.

"Papa?" Chloe's face drained of color.

"I said GET OUT!"

My father swept the champagne glass off the table.

Golden liquid splashed across the marble floor like a pool of blood.

"Effective immediately, every one of Chloe's black cards is frozen."

"Monthly allowance: fifty dollars."

Chloe's legs nearly gave out beneath her.

All ten brothers exploded.

"Dad! What did Chloe do wrong?!"

"She's sick! How can you treat her like this?"

"Vivian, you—"

"One more word."

My father lifted his eyes.

The absolute authority of a Don filled the room.

"And all of your cards go to zero too."

Silence.

As Chloe was escorted out, she looked back and shot me a vicious glare.

The hatred in her eyes was thick enough to choke on.

I handed her untouched champagne glass to Vittorio.

"Have it analyzed."

"Then add it to her breakfast tomorrow. Exactly as is."

"Cut the dosage in half. Since it's her own recipe, she should experience the effects firsthand."

"I want her miserable."

"But I don't want a single traceable piece of evidence."

A faint smile tugged at Vittorio's lips.

"Understood, Principessa."

That night, in the surveillance room, I watched the light in Chloe's bedroom stay on until dawn.

She spent the entire night running back and forth between her bedroom and the bathroom.

At three in the morning, Dario's report arrived right on schedule.

The substance found in the champagne matched the ingredients in her breakfast exactly.

Original sample secured.

Chain of evidence: VC-001.

This was only the appetizer.

Holding a cup of black coffee, I spoke softly.

"So this is how the Conti family welcomes its guests."

"Welcome home, little sister."