The billionaire mafia bride

The Bride's Secret

CHAPTER 7

THE BRIDE'S SECRET

The wedding hall had finally fallen silent.

Hours ago, it had been filled with music, laughter, champagne, and whispers about the billionaire who had shocked the entire city by marrying a woman nobody had expected.

Now, only the faint glow of the chandeliers remained.

Serena stood alone in front of the enormous bedroom window, still wearing her wedding dress.

Her fingers trembled as she stared at the city below.

She was Mrs. Dante Moretti.

The thought still didn't feel real.

Not after everything that had happened.

Not after the shooting.

Not after the men who had tried to stop the wedding.

And certainly not after the way Dante had looked at her when he placed the ring on her finger.

It hadn't been the look of a man marrying a woman for business.

It had been something deeper.

Something dangerous.

Something that made her heart beat faster every time she remembered it.

The bedroom door opened.

Serena turned.

Dante stood there.

His black suit jacket was gone, his white shirt slightly undone at the collar. There was a small cut above his eyebrow from the attack earlier.

He looked exhausted.

But his eyes were still fixed on her.

"You haven't changed," he said quietly.

Serena glanced down at her dress.

"I didn't know what to do."

Dante walked toward her.

"You could have called me."

"You were surrounded by people."

"I would have come."

She swallowed.

"Dante..."

He stopped in front of her.

For several seconds, neither of them spoke.

Then his eyes dropped to the ring on her finger.

"You realize there's no going back now?"

Serena looked at him.

"Going back to what?"

"Your old life."

Her heart tightened.

"My old life wasn't exactly wonderful."

"I know."

"Then why does it feel like you're warning me?"

Dante's jaw tightened.

"Because I am."

Serena frowned.

"About what?"

He looked toward the door before lowering his voice.

"Someone inside this house helped the attackers."

Her blood ran cold.

"What?"

Dante reached into his pocket and pulled out a small black object.

A phone.

"I found this hidden in one of the servant corridors."

Serena stared at it.

"What does that mean?"

"It means the people who attacked us knew exactly where you would be."

She shook her head.

"Maybe they followed us."

"They didn't."

Dante's voice was firm.

"The security route was changed at the last minute. Only six people knew about it."

Serena's eyes widened.

"Six?"

Dante nodded.

"Me. My security chief. Two guards. The wedding planner..."

He paused.

"And someone from this house."

Serena's stomach twisted.

"Who?"

"I don't know yet."

He placed the phone in her hand.

"That's why you can't trust anyone."

Serena looked at the device.

"Not even the people who work for you?"

"Especially them."

Before she could answer, the phone suddenly vibrated.

Both of them froze.

A message had appeared.

UNKNOWN NUMBER:

Congratulations, Mrs. Moretti.

Serena's breathing stopped.

Another message appeared.

You survived the wedding.

Then another.

But you won't survive the marriage.

Dante's expression changed instantly.

He took the phone from her.

"Stay here."

Serena grabbed his arm.

"No."

He looked at her.

"I said stay here."

"And I said no."

"Serena—"

"I am your wife now."

Her voice shook, but she refused to look away.

"If someone is coming after me, I deserve to know why."

Dante stared at her for a long moment.

Something softened in his eyes.

Then he stepped closer.

"You really have no idea what you've married into."

Serena lifted her chin.

"Then tell me."

His expression became unreadable.

"You want the truth?"

"Yes."

Dante leaned toward her.

"Your father wasn't just an ordinary businessman."

Serena froze.

"What does my father have to do with this?"

"Everything."

Her face went pale.

"My father died when I was twelve."

"I know."

"He had nothing to do with your world."

Dante's eyes darkened.

"That's what you were told."

Serena stared at him.

"What are you saying?"

Dante reached for her hand.

Before he could explain, there was a loud knock on the bedroom door.

Dante immediately turned.

"Who is it?"

A man's voice answered from outside.

"Sir, it's me."

Dante recognized the voice.

"Come in."

The door opened.

His security chief entered, his face pale.

"Sir..."

"What happened?"

The man hesitated.

"We found someone."

Dante's expression hardened.

"Who?"

The security chief looked at Serena.

Then back at Dante.

"One of the wedding guards."

Dante's eyes narrowed.

"Dead?"

"No."

The man swallowed.

"He's alive."

"Then what's the problem?"

"He keeps asking for Mrs. Moretti."

Serena felt a chill run down her spine.

"Why?"

The security chief looked terrified.

"Because he says he knows who her real father was."

Silence filled the room.

Dante slowly turned toward Serena.

She couldn't breathe.

Her entire life had suddenly become a lie.

And somewhere in the mansion, a wounded man was waiting to tell her the truth.

The truth her family had hidden from her for years.

The truth that could destroy everything.

Including her marriage.

Including Dante.

And possibly Serena herself.