Page 3 of Beautiful Vows

His jaw clenches before he grunts, “No.”

I turn to my stepfather. If it’s true and Dante was betrothed to another, he has the reason to send someone to kill me.

Dominic shakes his head before I get the chance to ask him. “My assassin wouldn’t have hit your thigh.”

“How long have you known about me?” This time, I direct the question to Dominic. “Before you married my stepmother?”

“Yes.”

I nod lightly. A glimmer of hope dances in my eyes, as I reason that they still see value in keeping me alive. I try not to show a flicker of relief. But it makes sense. They’ve had the opportunity and have never taken it.

Hopefully, today won’t be that day.

Antonio’s gaze remains steady as he speaks, his voice calm and measured. “Sit down,” he insists, his eyes fixed on my injured leg. “I can see you’re in pain.” The malice in his tone has all but disappeared.

“I’m fine standing.” My stubbornness refuses to yield despite my discomfort.

I take a moment to gather my thoughts before confronting Antonio. “How long have you known about me?”

“Always,” Antonio admits.

My rib cage constricts painfully around my lungs at the sound of that word, the final straw that pushes me into a state of desperate panic.

My breath hitches as I turn to Dominic, seeking his confirmation. He confirms Antonio’s statement with a solemn nod.

My mind races with a barrage of questions, each clamoring for answers. “So you purely married Helena to get to me?” I ask Dominic, my voice laced with skepticism.

Dominic’s response is swift. “I married Helena to protect you,” he states, and I’m surprised by the sincerity in his words.

Confusion courses through me. “Protect me?” I repeat, my voice trembling with disbelief. “How does bringing me into this world protect me?”

Dominic takes a seat in the corner but leans forward. His eyes lock with mine before he speaks. “Once the others realize your true identity, they won’t dare touch you without my permission,” he explains.

His words catch me off guard, intensifying the whirlwind of emotions within me.

“Who?” I murmur.

“Anybody.”

Are these two men protecting me when tonight I was supposed to end their lives?

My mouth opens on a gasp before I recover quickly as a flicker of anger flares within me, causing my voice to rise slightly. “Does that mean you’re going to lower your guns?” I challenge, my eyes searching his face. “Considering you’re both protecting me!”

Dominic’s gaze meets mine, the weight hanging heavy in the air, and for a moment, time seems to freeze as I search his face for answers, desperate to understand his intentions.

Has he always known who I am?

They have.

Silence fills the room, each passing second stretching into eternity. The tension between us is palpable, the unspoken words swirling in the air.

Dominic stands and steps forward, his voice filled with remorse. “Aurelia, I never wanted for you to be outed.”

I hiss, “You married my stepmother.”

He sighs. “I had to. You made your way into this world. And decisions were made to protect you. Regardless of what you think. In the end, it was always about protecting you.”

“Why?” I whisper. A surge of contradictory feelings floods my mind—frustration, sadness, and distrust.

---