Page 105 of My Husband’s New Fiancée

But in his eyes, I see something else.

Fear. Raw. Instinctive.

“I’d much rather do this legally,” he says quietly. “But two years ago, doing things the ’right’ way left you for dead. I won’t make the same mistake again.”

“Dante...”

“No, Valeria. Not this time.”

His voice lowers slightly.

“I won’t lose you again.”

The words hit me like a physical blow.

I see the gala. The icy look in his eyes.

Then the way he looked at me at his parents’ house. Like I was a stranger. A threat.

Someone capable of destroying his life.

I should remind him that he already lost me once.

That he turned his back on me when I needed him most.

But the words refuse to leave my lips.

Because he doesn’t sound like a man trying to convince me.

He sounds like a man who finally understands what he stands to lose.

28. Wiretap

Dante

The first phase of our plan is in motion.

I scheduled an emergency meeting with all department heads at four o’clock.

At 3:50 p.m., Sandrine and I head toward the conference room.

I take my seat at the head of the table while she remains by the door to control entry.

To avoid raising suspicion, Valeria stayed in my office with Stephen and Andrea.

Only Sandrine knows what’s really going on.

For our plan to work, everyone has to behave exactly as they normally would.

Just as expected, Bianca arrives first.

The urgency of the meeting has clearly put her on edge. She wants to know what’s happening.

“Before entering, please place your phone in this box,” Sandrine says, holding out a secure case. “Exceptional containment procedure.”

Bianca frowns slightly.

“A containment procedure?” she repeats without moving.