How a Cruel Secret in the Kitchen Exposed My Fiancée's Dark Side — Part 2

Previously: When Matteo found his child's mother weeping in a hotel kitchen with a bruised cheek, his wealthy fiancée claimed it was an accident. But the truth exposed a wicked game.

The Mask Slips

The silence in the kitchen was deafening, punctuated only by the distant hum of the exhaust fans. Victoria’s smug smile began to falter under the weight of Matteo’s icy glare. She took a step back, her heels clicking sharply against the tile floor, trying to regain her composure. "Matteo, darling, don't be ridiculous," she stammered, smoothing down her gold dress. "She is an employee. She was being clumsy, and I was merely reminding her of her place. You cannot let her ruin our special night with this cheap drama."

Matteo’s voice was dangerously quiet.

"My daughter's mother does not have 'a place' in your hierarchy, Victoria. And she certainly doesn't bruise herself."

He stepped away from Elena, standing protectively in front of her. He demanded that the kitchen supervisor pull up the security footage immediately. Victoria’s face drained of color. She tried to grab Matteo's arm, pleading with him to go back upstairs to their guests, but he shook her off with utter disgust.

Within minutes, the kitchen monitor flickered to life. The footage was undeniable. It showed Victoria cornering Elena by the prep table, waving a legal document in her face. When Elena tried to walk away, Victoria had grabbed her forcefully by the arm and shoved her hard against the steel shelf, where Elena’s face had struck the corner. Victoria had been trying to force Elena to sign an agreement giving up her parental rights to Lily, offering her a massive payoff to disappear forever so Victoria could present herself as the perfect mother to Matteo's wealthy family.

"You thought you could buy my daughter?" Matteo whispered, the betrayal cutting deeper than Victoria could ever have imagined. The woman he was about to marry was a monster in gold sequins.