Chapter 10
1031words
In the picture, Sofia was barely twenty-three. She was smiling so brightly, so purely.
Come to think of it, the reason he ended up with Olivia in the first place was because of Sofia.
He could never forget the first time he saw her back at Harvard. It was at a medical symposium.
Sofia had stood at the podium, confidently presenting her research on cancer gene therapy. The professors in the audience had listened, utterly absorbed. Afterward, everyone was talking about that brilliant young woman.
Back then, she was smart, confident, overflowing with vitality. Her eyes had shone with love for medicine and hope for the future. She was the one who gave warmth and light to his poor, insecure soul that used to drift through the streets.
Later, he was acknowledged by the Falcone family. He shed the shameful identity of an illegitimate son and rose overnight into Boston’s upper society, becoming the feared Prince.
Only then did he finally have the right to pursue Sofia and to marry her, just as he had wished.
However, after the marriage, Sofia changed. She lost the ease and confidence of her student days and became cautious, subdued.
To fit into the Falcones' circle, she gave up her research. She stopped publishing papers or attending academic conferences.
Every day, she accompanied those tedious mob wives to play tennis, drink afternoon tea, and gossip about money laundering and cosmetic surgery. She became just like those hypocritical socialites.
Deep down, Dante knew why.
Sofia came from an ordinary background. Her mother was just a nurse from Springfield and was not one of them. To marry him without embarrassing him, she had to make herself blend in.
So even though he felt disappointed, he understood and still loved her.
Until Olivia appeared.
The young doctor had just returned from an elite East Coast medical school. She was the niece of the family’s Consigliere.
Young, beautiful, and brilliant, she was very much like the Sofia from their university days.
She had the same confidence and the same passion for medicine. The way she spoke fluently at the podium, her eyes glowing with light, was uncannily similar.
Dante felt that falling for her was only natural. After all, the Sofia he loved had always been the one who shone onstage, not the Sofia who had given up everything for him.
The first time he mentioned divorce to Sofia, it slipped out unconsciously. The moment the words left his mouth, even he felt a flicker of regret.
However, every time after that, he meant it. He felt Sofia had gone too far.
She stormed into the office again and again, humiliating him in front of the family council and accusing Olivia of stealing her research.
That was nothing short of insulting Olivia’s talent.
He wanted Sofia to rein herself in and to know her place. Compared to other Made Men in the circle, he had already practiced restraint.
All these years, there had only ever been Olivia, yet Sofia made such a scene. She was truly ungrateful.
Besides, he had never really intended to divorce Sofia. As long as she behaved, listened, and learned to be more tolerant, once he got tired of Olivia, he would come back eventually. Things could return to how they were before.
After all, Sofia loved him so much. How could she really bear to leave?
Dante picked up his phone, deciding to call Sofia himself and placate her.
Before he could say a word, he realized she had already blocked him. His brow furrowed. Instinctively, he felt it was impossible.
All these years, even when Sofia had caused the biggest scenes, she had never blocked him. How could she block him after agreeing to the divorce?
It didn’t make sense.
Before he could think it through, his phone rang.
It was Olivia. Her voice was tight with panic and fear.
"Dante, something terrible has happened! IRS agents are auditing my accounts! They say they received a report accusing me of misappropriating research funds and money laundering!
"And the American Medical Association… they received an anonymous tip too! They say my papers are suspected of academic fraud!
"What do we do, Dante? Several media outlets are already reporting this! It’s the front page of The Boston Globe!
Dante’s expression darkened instantly. "When did this happen?"
"Half an hour ago!" Olivia’s voice was shaking. "Dante, do you think Sofia did this? Does she still have more evidence?"
Dante was silent for a moment, then said coldly, "She wouldn’t dare. I’ll handle it. Don’t panic."
After hanging up, Dante immediately called Victor Hale, who was his personal lawyer at Riggs Law Firm, the family’s legal counsel.
"Find out who filed the reports. Suppress this at all costs."
Victor called back quickly. "Mr. Falcone, it can’t be suppressed. The evidence they submitted is extremely solid. It was also sent simultaneously to multiple media outlets and federal regulators. The IRS has formally opened an investigation.
"The American Medical Association is taking this very seriously. They’re demanding that Dr. Ricci provide an explanation within three days.
"More seriously, the Massachusetts State Police and the FBI have both received reports about you. It's allegations of bribing medical staff, resulting in the abnormal death of Eleanor Mitchell."
Dante’s face turned livid. The glass in his hand shattered under his grip.
Suddenly, he remembered the way Sofia had said, "Understood."
That tone had been too calm. It didn't seem like her at all.
He immediately called Sofia’s closest friend, who was her classmate from Harvard University, Rachel Bennett.
"Rachel, where is Sofia?"
There was a pause on the other end before Rachel’s cold voice came through.
"She’s gone and left the country. Sold off all her assets. Immigrated. Dante, are you satisfied now?"
Dante felt as if he had been struck by lightning. "What? When did she—"
"This afternoon," Rachel said, her voice dripping with mockery. "And her mother died last month. But you should know that already, shouldn’t you? After all, you’re the one who killed her."
She hung up.
Dante stood there holding his phone, completely frozen.
