Truths and Betrayals

Sasha sat in the dimly lit kitchen of Dominic’s penthouse, replaying Luca’s words over and over. “Dominic sacrificed his own brother for power.” It felt impossible to believe, but the way Luca had said it left a gnawing feeling in her stomach that she couldn’t shake. Her hands trembled as she wrapped them around a mug of tea, her mind racing. If there was even a shred of truth in Luca’s words, it meant she’d built her love on a foundation of secrets. Could she trust Dominic?

The sound of the elevator doors opening snapped her back to the present. She watched as Dominic strode into the room, his face hard, his eyes unreadable. He stopped when he saw her sitting there, his expression softening.

“You’re still up,” he said quietly, setting down his keys.

Sasha forced a smile, though she felt her heart pound painfully in her chest. “I couldn’t sleep.”

Dominic frowned, sensing her hesitation. He crossed the room and reached for her hand. “Something’s wrong. I can see it in your eyes. Talk to me, Sasha.”

She swallowed, her gaze dropping to their intertwined fingers. “Dom… I ran into Luca earlier.”

His face hardened instantly, his grip tightening slightly. “What did he say to you?”

She hesitated, her pulse racing. “He… he told me something. Something I didn’t want to believe.”

His expression shifted, his eyes narrowing as he searched her face. “What did he say?”

“He said… he said you sacrificed your own brother for this empire, Dom. That you chose power over family.” Her voice broke, and she looked up at him, searching his face for any hint of denial, any reassurance that it wasn’t true.

Dominic’s face was unreadable, his jaw clenched as he met her gaze. “Sasha… it’s complicated.”

Her heart sank, the weight of his words crashing over her. “So it’s true?”

He closed his eyes briefly, as if bracing himself. “It’s not as simple as Luca made it sound. My brother… he got involved in things that were dangerous, things that put him—and the entire family—in jeopardy. I had to make choices to protect what was left of my family, to prevent everything from falling apart. I never wanted to lose him, Sasha.”

Sasha pulled her hand from his grasp, feeling a wave of hurt and confusion wash over her. “But you let him fall, Dominic. You chose this world over him. How can I trust you when you’ve hidden something so… so terrible from me?”

Dominic’s face twisted with pain, and he took a step back, his gaze haunted. “I didn’t tell you because I didn’t want you to carry the weight of my past. I wanted to protect you from that darkness.”

She shook her head, a tear slipping down her cheek. “But you are that darkness, Dominic. This world, this life—it’s everything you’ve chosen to be a part of. And now, I don’t even know who you are.”

He looked away, his expression tightening as he struggled to find the words. “I am who I am, Sasha. I’ve tried to be better because of you. You’re the one thing that’s kept me from falling completely into the shadows.”

Sasha’s chest ached as she took a shaky breath. “But maybe that’s not enough, Dom. Maybe I can’t save you from this world. And maybe… maybe I can’t save myself from it either.”

They stood there in silence, the unspoken tension thick between them. Finally, Dominic stepped forward, his voice a mere whisper. “Sasha… if you walk away, I won’t stop you. But I’ll tell you this: you’re the only thing that’s ever made me want to be better. Without you, there’s nothing but darkness.”

Her heart twisted painfully as she looked at him, the man she loved—the man she was starting to realize she might never truly know. She wanted to stay, to believe that they could find a way out of this, but the weight of his secrets felt insurmountable. She took a step back, her voice breaking as she spoke.

“I need time, Dominic. I need to figure out if I can live in this world with you, knowing what it’s cost you.”

He nodded, a flicker of resignation in his gaze. “Take whatever time you need. Just know that I’ll be here, waiting.”

She turned, her heart aching as she walked away, feeling as if she was leaving a piece of herself behind. As she closed the door behind her, she fought back tears, wondering if she’d just made the biggest mistake of her life—or the only choice that could save her.

The next few days felt like a blur. Sasha threw herself into work, trying to focus on anything but Dominic. But every moment, every second of silence reminded her of the empty space he’d left in her heart. She wanted to believe that time and distance would bring clarity, but instead, it only made her miss him more.

One evening, while lost in her thoughts, her phone rang. It was an unknown number. Her heart raced as she picked up, half-hoping it was Dominic, but a familiar voice cut through the silence.

“It’s Luca. I thought you might want to hear the real story.”

Her grip tightened on the phone. “What do you want?”

“Just a chance to tell you the truth about Dominic. The things he’s kept hidden, the choices he’s made. If you want answers, meet me at the old dockyard tomorrow night.”

She hesitated, feeling the pull of curiosity and fear. “Why should I believe anything you say?”

Luca chuckled. “Because you’re already doubting him, aren’t you? This is just a chance to confirm what you already suspect.”

The line went dead, and Sasha sat there, torn. She knew that meeting Luca could be dangerous, but if he truly held answers, could she ignore him?

The next night, Sasha found herself standing in the shadows of the old dockyard, her heart pounding as she scanned the area. The air was thick with tension, and every sound seemed to echo in the silence. She didn’t have to wait long; Luca emerged from the shadows, a smirk on his face.

“You came,” he said, his tone dripping with satisfaction.

“Just tell me what you know,” she replied, trying to keep her voice steady.

Luca’s gaze hardened, his smirk fading. “Dominic’s father didn’t leave because of his own failures. He was pushed out—by Dominic himself. Your precious billionaire made sure his father had no choice but to abandon the empire.”

Her stomach twisted as she processed his words. “You’re lying.”

“Believe what you want,” he replied coolly. “But Dominic has always been ambitious, ruthless. He’ll stop at nothing to keep his empire. You’re just another pawn in his game.”

Sasha’s mind reeled as Luca’s words echoed in her ears. Could it be true? Had Dominic truly betrayed his own father, sacrificed his own blood for power? She wanted to deny it, but the seeds of doubt had already been planted, and now they were growing into something she couldn’t ignore.

“I don’t believe you,” she said, her voice barely above a whisper.

Luca’s smile was cruel, victorious. “You already do, Sasha. That’s why you’re here.”

He turned and walked away, leaving her standing alone in the shadows, her heart pounding with fear and uncertainty. She wanted to run back to Dominic, to demand answers, but a part of her feared what she might discover. What if everything Luca had said was true? Could she still love a man who’d sacrificed his family for power?

As she walked back to her apartment, her mind was a whirlwind of conflicting emotions. She had thought she knew Dominic, thought she understood the darkness that haunted him. But now, she wasn’t sure if she knew him at all.

When she finally reached her apartment, Sasha felt exhausted, her emotions raw. She sank onto her bed, replaying the events of the past few days over and over. The love she felt for Dominic was undeniable, but so were the doubts that had taken root in her heart.

Just as she was drifting into an uneasy sleep, her phone buzzed with a message.

“I know you’re hurting, Sasha. I know things are complicated. But I need you to trust me. Meet me tomorrow, and I’ll explain everything.”

It was Dominic.

Her heart clenched at the sight of his name, the pull of her love for him battling with the doubts Luca had planted. She took a deep breath, her fingers hovering over the screen as she considered her response.

Finally, she typed back, “I’ll be there.”

She lay back, staring up at the ceiling, knowing that tomorrow could bring either the answers she desperately needed or a truth she wasn’t ready to face. Either way, she knew that her life with Dominic would never be the same.