He glanced at the papers in my hand, his face pale and tight.

“Is that it?” he asked.

“It is all here, Dominic,” Miriam said, her voice cracking. “Your mother threatened to ruin my life. She threatened Elena. She fabricated the entire medical reason for your divorce.”

Dominic took the papers from me, his eyes scanning the handwritten threat from his mother.

His jaw clenched so hard I heard his teeth grind.

“She did this,” Dominic whispered, his face turning pale. “She made me believe you lied to me.”

“She wanted an heir she could control,” Miriam said. “She knew you would never leave Elena unless you thought she betrayed you.”

The sound of heavy footsteps echoed from the front of the store.

“Mr. Valenti?” Russo’s voice called out, closer now. “We know you’re back here.”

Dominic shoved the files into the breast pocket of his coat.

“Go back to the car, Russo,” Dominic called out, his voice returning to its cold, commanding tone. “I will be out in a minute.”

He turned to me, his hands finding my shoulders.