Chapter ~ The Lion's Final Roar

The conference room of the Moretti Enterprises penthouse was as cold and unyielding as Dante Moretti himself.

Every inch of the space screamed opulence, from the gleaming marble floors to the floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking Milan's bustling skyline.

But no amount of luxury could soften the blow of the words Lia Romano had just heard.

"You want a divorce," Lia repeated, her voice barely a whisper.

Dante didn't respond immediately.

He stood by the window, his broad shoulders framed by the city lights, his hands tucked casually into his pockets.

He looked every inch the powerful billionaire—detached, composed, and utterly untouchable.

"Yes," he said at last, his tone as cold as the glass he stared through. "Sign the papers, Lia."

Her hands trembled as she clutched the edge of the chair. "Why, Dante?" she asked, her voice cracking despite her best efforts to stay composed. "Why now? What did I do?"

He turned then, and Lia wished he hadn't.

His dark eyes, once filled with warmth and passion, now held nothing but disdain. "Don't act like you don't know," he said, his voice cutting through her like a blade. "I trusted you, Lia. I gave you everything, and you threw it back in my face."

She shook her head, her chest tightening. "I don't understand. What are you accusing me of?"

"Betrayal."

The word hung in the air like a curse.

Dante stepped closer, his tall frame casting a shadow over her. "Leonardo found proof that you leaked sensitive company information to my competitors. You sold me out, Lia. Do you have any idea what that's done to my business? To my reputation?"

Her stomach churned. "Leonardo?" she repeated, disbelief coloring her tone. "You're taking his word over mine?"

"Don't lie to me!" Dante's voice boomed, his eyes flashing with fury. "The evidence is damning. I've already decided—I won't let you drag me or Moretti Enterprises down any further."

Lia stared at him, her heart breaking into a thousand pieces.

This wasn't the man she'd fallen in love with, the man who had once moved mountains to make her smile.

This was a stranger wearing Dante's face, his voice laced with venom.

"Do you really think I'd betray you?" she asked softly, tears brimming in her eyes. "After everything we've been through?"

"I don't think," Dante said coldly. "I know."

The finality in his tone made her stagger back a step.

He had already made up his mind. No matter what she said, he wouldn't believe her.

"Fine," she said, forcing the words out past the lump in her throat. "If you want me gone, I'll go. But one day, Dante, you'll regret this. When the truth comes out—"

Her voice broke, but she steadied herself. "You'll realize how wrong you were."

He didn't flinch, his expression hard as stone. "I doubt it."

She turned, her heels clicking against the marble floor as she walked toward the door.

Her hand paused on the handle, her breath catching as she fought the urge to look back. "Goodbye, Dante."

And with that, she left.

Later That Night...

Lia drove through the rain-soaked streets of Milan, the lights of the city blurring as tears clouded her vision.

Her heart felt like it had been torn from her chest and trampled underfoot.

Her phone buzzed in the passenger seat, but she didn't reach for it.

She already knew it was one of her brothers.

They had warned her about Dante—warned her that marrying a man like him would only lead to heartbreak.

But she hadn't listened.

She had been so sure of his love, so convinced that they could overcome anything together.

Now, she had nothing.

She glanced at the envelope sitting on the seat beside her—the divorce papers Dante had handed her without a second thought.

Her stomach twisted as she thought of the secret she carried, the life growing inside her.

He didn't deserve to know.

Not after what he had done.

By the time she reached her apartment, Lia was soaked to the bone, her hair clinging to her face.

She stepped inside and collapsed onto the couch, clutching her stomach as sobs wracked her body.

"I'll protect you," she whispered, her hands trembling. "I don't need him. We don't need him."

But even as she said the words, her heart ached with longing—for the man Dante had been, for the love they had once shared.

And deep down, she knew that this wasn't the end of their story...

To Be Continued...

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thoughts?