Contract Of The 7th Wife

Chapter 4: An Honest Deception

An elite rule my boss had drilled into my mind during training suddenly echoed in my thoughts: To shatter a fortified empire, you do not throw yourself against the stone walls. You find the cracks, and you weaponize them.

My grip relaxed on the stone railing, a cold, sharp focus settling behind my eyes. The cracks were right in front of me

Leaving the cold air of the balcony behind, I headed straight down the quiet, carpeted hallway. Finding an empty restroom at the end of the hall, I slipped inside, grateful for the sudden silence.

I turned on the brass faucet and splashed cold water onto my wrists to calm my pulse. But before I could even grab a towel, the heavy door clicked open behind me, then locked shut.

I whipped around, dropping low to keep my footing, hands up and elbows tucked. I held my breath, waiting for a weapon to flash, but it wasn't an assassin. It was Enzo Dominici.

Enzo walked right up to me, standing so close I could feel his breath. For a moment, he stared at me deeply in silence while his eyes tracked down my face to my lips. Their gaze lingered too long before he forced himself to look away. He reached for me, his hands opening as if to pull me into his chest, but he stopped himself mid-air. He stepped back instead, closing his hands into tight fists at his sides.

He leaned down, his breath brushing my cheek. "Your stepson….has he been behaving, Dana?" he asked. "Speak to me. Has he laid a hand on you?"

I placed my palms firmly against his chest, feeling the solid muscle beneath the fabric, and pushed him back.

"Step back, Enzo," I whispered. "You are breaking your own rules. You should care less about the affairs of the Ferraro estate. The only thing you should focus on is your upcoming wedding. I am the wife of the man you call Uncle. Your marriage to Sofia will officially make us in-laws. Do not ask me about my stepson again."

Enzo stood completely still, his eyes finally dropping. Before he could speak, a loud, arrogant voice cut through from the hallway.

“Enzo? Darling, where the hell are you?”

Sofia’s heels clicked rapidly against the marble floor as she called out again.

Sofia’s voice snapped us apart. Enzo gave me a quick, hard glance, then flipped the lock and stepped out. Within seconds, he was gone, swallowed up by the crowd before anyone could notice him leaving the room with me.

Alone in the quiet bathroom, I gripped the edges of the marble sink, looking at my reflection. The bright lights and clean tile triggered a flood of dark memories.

The moment I arrived at the Italian Riviera, my life became a pre-written script. My boss was the one who orchestrated the transformation. He trained me, polished me, and handed me a cover identity by introducing me to Celeste Moreau, the brilliant force behind Casa Serena.

Casa Serena wasn't just a high-end escort agency; it was a key designed to grant smart, beautiful women access to the most private rooms of the global elite. My boss had written every line of my script, setting the stage so I would end up on that Mediterranean yacht, right next to the world's most powerful figures. I had executed every command with absolute precision and fierce gratitude, completely blind to the fact that the script had a hidden, bloody act waiting to trap me.

I forced the memories down, smoothing my crimson gown and adjusting the diamonds around my neck. It was business time. I stepped out of the restroom, ready to rejoin my husband and navigate the rest of the gala.

But as I stepped into the corridor, I paused.

Riccardo.

Riccardo stood near the arches, swirling the ice in his glass. He stepped right into my path before I could back up, pinning me against the wall.

"You wouldn't leave his side if you actually wanted him, stepmother," he whispered, leaning so close the smell of scotch hit my face.

"I just saw Enzo walking away from the restrooms. What the hell was he doing over here? Answer me! Don't play games with me."

His fingers trembled against my skin, but I stared up at him with a wide, empty look.

"Enzo was talking to the staff near the main hall, Riccardo," I murmured. "If you are so consumed by his presence that you see him around every corner, perhaps you should lay off the alcohol. Now, excuse me. Your father is waiting."

Before he could find his voice, I brushed past his shoulder and walked back into the grand ballroom.

We left the gala shortly after. The drive back to the mansion was completely silent, the car gliding through the dark city streets.

The moment we stepped into our bedroom, Vincenzo turned to face me. He hadn't even unbuttoned his suit jacket.

"You disappeared for seventeen minutes," he muttered.

I held up my phone, showing him the dark screen. "I was in the powder room trying to call Antonia to check on Elio.”

Vincenzo stared at me for a long beat, measuring the lie. He walked over to the wall panel, pressed the intercom button, and called down to the kitchen.

"Antonia. Have Sofia and Riccardo meet me in the dining room the second they walk through the front door. Do not let them go to their rooms."

He cut the line before she could answer, then gestured toward the door.

We walked down to the grand dining room together. Within minutes, the heavy double doors opened, and Sofia and Riccardo walked in. Sofia looked completely annoyed to be summoned before she could even unzip her gown, and Riccardo was already swirling a fresh drink. They took their seats at the long mahogany table.

Vincenzo stood at the head of the table. He looked down at his children, letting the silence stretch until nobody dared to move. Then, he broke the news.

"The annual remembrance is coming up," Vincenzo said, his low voice cutting through the room. “We are entering a mandatory period of mourning. The entire family is moving back into the main house to prepare for the memorial services. That includes Riccardo and Sofia. It’s their mother’s remembrance. Learn your place, Dana, because this estate is about to get very crowded."