Chapter 8 - THE TRUTH UNVEILED
The aftermath of the battle brought a total restructuring of the city's underworld power dynamics.
With Hector D'Angelo captured and his faction utterly destroyed, the Commission officially recognized Julian Vance as the sole Don of both the Vance and D'Angelo territories. The decades-long war that had torn our families apart was finally brought to an absolute end.
Beatrice spent two weeks recovering in the private medical wing of the estate. On the day she was discharged, she called me into her sitting room.
She sat in an armchair by the window, looking smaller, older, but devoid of her former malice. On the table beside her sat a cup of tea and a velvet jewelry box.
"Mara," Beatrice said quietly, gesturing for me to sit.
I took the seat across from her. "How are you feeling, Beatrice?"
"My shoulder will heal," she said, looking down at her hands. "My pride... will take longer."
She picked up the velvet box and pushed it across the table toward me. I opened it. Inside sat a magnificent antique ring featuring a deep crimson ruby surrounded by black diamonds—the official signet ring of the combined Vance-D'Angelo dynasty.
"I framed you because I was afraid," Beatrice confessed, her voice thick with emotion. "I thought you were a ghost sent to destroy my brother. But when the bullets started flying, you didn't run. You saved my life, and you protected Leo with your blood."
She met my eyes, her cold blue gaze now filled with deep, sincere respect.
"You are not just Sophia's sister, Mara. You are the Don's true equal. This ring belongs to you."
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I touched the smooth ruby, feeling the weight of history beneath my fingertips. "Thank you, Beatrice."
She smiled faintly. "Go to the East Balcony. Julian is waiting for you."
