THE MAFIA KING BROKEN ROSE novel Chapter 169

Chapter 169

Aria’s POV

“You’re going to have to talk to him eventually,” Julian said gently, leaning back on the sofa. He watched me carefully, eyes thoughtful, fingers tapping against his knee.

I sighed, pulling my legs up under me. “And say what? I barely even know where to start.”

“Anywhere is better than nowhere,” Julian said softly. “He’s not perfect, Aria, God knows, but Dominic… he cares about you in a way I’ve never seen from him. It scares him.”

“It scares me too,” I admitted quietly.

He nodded slowly, understanding. “Look, I know Emilia meant a lot to you. Hell, she was good to me too. But she crossed a line—she sold you out. You know Dominic. Betrayal to him isn’t something he can overlook.”

“I get that,” I said, feeling the familiar ache again. “I do. But it’s everything else, Julian. The inheritance, my family… Dominic knew everything from day one, and he kept it from me.”

Julian hesitated, choosing his words carefully. “You know he’s never been good with openness. It’s the way he was raised. Secrets are how you survive in

this life.”

I shook my head, frustrated. “He said he loved me. But how can I trust that now? How can I trust anything he says?”

Julian leaned forward, his voice serious but gentle. “Dominic’s idea of love isn’t flowers and honesty, Aria. It’s fierce, and messy also fucking ossessive. It’s not perfect—but it’s real. He’d burn down cities if it meant keeping you safe. Maybe he did it wrong. But don’t doubt how he feels.”

I looked down at my hands, picking at my nails. “He could’ve just told me about the inheritance. Why hide it from me?”

Julian sighed heavily. “I think in Dominic’s mind, it was protection. If people found out you had those vaults, that money, the Syndicate would have come after you, just like they did your parents.”

“Still,” I said softly, voice strained. “He lied to me. He kept me blind. What if he planned to take it all himself?”

Julian shook his head instantly. “No. That’s one thing I’m sure of. Dom has enough money, power, connections. He doesn’t need your inheritance, Aria. He needs you. He kept your legacy hidden because, for the first time in his life, he found someone he couldn’t stand to lose.”

Silence stretched between us. I knew Julian was right, deep down. Dominic wasn’t perfect far from it–but every ruthless move he’d made had always been about keeping me alive, protecting me, even if he destroyed everything else along the way.

A soft knock sounded on the open doorway, breaking the silence.

I turned my head sharply, heart suddenly racing. Dominic stood there, hesitant, his eyes unreadable, but something softer in them. He looked exhausted, the circles under his eyes deepening.

“Can we talk?” he asked carefully, looking from me to Julian, Julian stood immediately, squeezing my shoulder reassuringly before slipping of the

room.

Dominic stepped closer but kept his distance, respecting my silence. For a moment, neither of us spoke. Then, slowly, he broke the quiet.

“I handled everything wrong,” he said quietly. “I know that.”

“You lied,” I said softly, holding his gaze. “For months, you kept the truth from me. Did you think I’d never find out?”

He stepped closer. “I thought if you knew the truth, it would break you or worse, make you run. I couldn’t risk it.”

“You don’t get to decide what breaks me,” I said sharply, tears pricking my eyes. “I’m not a child, Dominic. This was my family, my legacy my life.

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Chapter 169

He nodded slowly. “I was wrong. I should’ve trusted you with it. But I never kept your inheritance for myself, Aria. Never. It’s untouched. Every penny, every account, every secret vault, it’s yours. I’ll take you there myself, show you everything, no secrets this time.”

My breath caught. “Where is it?”

“Zurich,” he said without hesitation. “In a private bank. It’s coded to your DNA. Gabriel Fletcher was paranoid about security; he ensured only you could access it. Everything he left behind is there–money, properties, files. Enough power to reclaim your family’s legacy.”

I stared at him, speechless, processing everything he’d just said.

“Why tell me now?” I asked softly.

“Because I realized keeping it from you didn’t protect you,” he said, his voice strained. “It nearly destroyed us. And I can’t lose you, Aria. Nothing else matters if I don’t have you.”

I swallowed hard, feeling the knot in my chest loosen just a bit.

“Dominic, I–”

“Please,” he interrupted gently. “Don’t say you can’t forgive me yet. Just say you’ll try. That’s all I’m asking.”

“You killed Emilia,” I whispered, unable to let go of that final wound.-

His expression darkened slightly, regret flashing across his face. “She betrayed you, Aria. She betrayed us. If I’d allowed her to live, more would have

come after you.”

I stared at him, seeing the fierce love and the pain behind his eyes.

“You always say it’s for me,” I whispered. “But every time you kill, it tears me apart.”

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