CHAPTER 3: NEW IDENTITY

"You really think you can just walk out of here and be someone else Isabella"

The voice in my head sounded exactly like my mother but I squeezed my eyes shut and tightened my grip on the worn leather of my suitcase. I wasn't Isabella anymore. That girl died in the rain outside a club with mascara running down her face and a broken heart that she couldn't afford to fix.

"I'm not Isabella" I whispered to the empty, cramped motel room.

I looked down at the documents spread out on the floral bedspread. They were crisp and smelled like fresh ink and a bit of a basement. June Dave. It was a plain name. A boring name. A name that didn't have a legacy or a billion-dollar tech company attached to it. It was exactly what I needed to disappear.

The black card sat on the nightstand, catching the flickering light of the television. It felt like a ticking bomb. I knew Dante Valenti was looking for it. A man like that doesn't just lose a card and move on with his life. He was probably tearing the city apart trying to find the woman who’d stolen it. But he wouldn't find her. He’d find June.

"Mommy why are you crying"

I jumped, spinning around to see Lian standing in the doorway of the tiny bathroom. He was only four, but he had eyes that saw too much. Dark, piercing eyes that I had to look away from sometimes because they reminded me so much of that night. He was holding his battered toy car, his thumb tucked into his mouth.

"I'm not crying baby" I said, wiping my face with the back of my hand and forcing a smile that felt like it was going to crack my skin. "I'm just tired. We have a long trip ahead of us."

"Are we going back to the house with the big garden" he asked, his voice small.

"No Lian" I knelt down and pulled him into a hug, breathing in the scent of baby shampoo and the cheap soap from the motel. "We're going somewhere better. Somewhere where nobody can hurt us. But you have to remember what I told you okay"

Lian nodded, his little face turning serious. "My name is Lian Dave and you are June. We don't know anyone named David."

"Good boy" I kissed his forehead, my heart aching with a mixture of pride and pure terror. "Now go put your shoes on. The bus leaves in twenty minutes."

As he scrambled away, I turned back to the bed and picked up the black card. I should have thrown it away. I should have cut it into a thousand pieces and flushed it down the toilet. But I couldn't. It was my only weapon. David Jones had taken my dignity, my family, and my future. If I was going to fight back, I needed more than just a new name. I needed power.

The bus station was crowded and smelled like stale coffee and desperation. I kept my head down, my hood pulled low over my face as I clutched Lian’s hand. Every time a man in a suit walked by, my heart skipped a beat. I kept expecting to see David’s smug face or the flash of a camera.

"Tickets please" the driver grunted, not even looking up from his clipboard.

I handed him the printed passes for June and Lian Dave. He punched them and nodded toward the bus. I climbed the steps, my legs feeling like lead. We found a seat in the very back, tucked away in the shadows.

"Where are we going June" Lian asked, climbing into the seat and staring out the window at the grey city.

"To Maverick City" I said, the name tasting like poison in my mouth. "But not yet. First, we're going to get lost."

"Like hide and seek"

"Exactly like hide and seek" I whispered, leaning my head against the cold glass.

The bus lurched forward, pulling away from the curb and leaving behind everything I’d ever known. I watched the skyline fade into the distance, the tall towers of Jones Tech disappearing behind the clouds.

"You think you won David" I muttered, my fingers tracing the edge of the black card inside my pocket. "You think you can just discard me like I'm nothing. You and Amaya... you're going to regret the day you let me walk away alive."

The journey was long and exhausting. We stayed in cheap motels, ate at greasy diners, and moved every few days. I spent my nights on my laptop, learning. I didn't just want to hide. I wanted to build. I used a tiny fraction of the money on the card—just enough to set up an offshore account and start investing. I knew AI was the future. It was the only thing David was desperate for. If I could beat him at his own game, I wouldn't just be free. I’d be his god.

"June you're staring at the screen again" Lian said, tugging on my sleeve.

"I'm working baby" I said, not looking up from the lines of code and market projections. "I'm making us a castle."

"Will it have a moat"

"A big one" I promised. "With dragons."

By the time we finally circled back toward Maverick City, five years had passed. I wasn't the girl in the wedding dress anymore. My hair was shorter, dyed a deep chestnut brown. My voice was lower, steadier. I had a sharp suit in my suitcase and a bank account that would make David Jones choke on his morning coffee.

I had spent every waking hour studying Morriston Tech. It was a ghost company, a titan in the AI world that everyone wanted a piece of, but nobody knew who owned it. I’d spent years buying up shares, using the Valenti card as leverage to move through the shadows of the financial world. Now, I was the majority shareholder. I was the owner. I was the one David Jones was begging for a meeting with.

"Are you ready Lian" I asked as we stood in the airport terminal, looking out at the sprawling city I’d once fled in terror.

Lian looked up at me, his eyes sharp and observant. He was five now, tall for his age, with a quiet confidence that reminded me so much of the man who’d saved me in that club. He didn't look like David at all. He looked like a king in training.

"I'm ready Mommy" he said, his voice firm. "Are we going to see the dragons now"

"Not yet" I said, straightening his collar. "First, we have to see some old friends."

I felt a cold thrill run through me as I walked through the terminal. People moved out of my way, sensing the authority I carried like a shield. I wasn't Isabella, the weakling sister. I wasn't the leverage.

As we stepped out into the humid air of Maverick City, I saw a billboard for Jones Tech. David’s face was plastered across it, looking older, more stressed. The company was failing. I could see it in the stock prices I’d been tracking on the plane. He was desperate. He was looking for a savior.

"He's going to find me" I whispered, a slow smirk spreading across my face.

The driver I’d hired was waiting by a sleek black SUV. He held open the door, bowing slightly as we approached.

"Welcome back Ms. Dave" he said.

"Thank you" I stepped into the leather-scented interior, feeling the power hum through my veins.

I looked at the black card one last time before tucking it deep into my wallet. I still didn't know who Dante Valenti really was to me, but I knew what he’d given me. He’d given me the means to sharpen my claws.

"Next time I see them Lian" I said, watching the city lights blur as we sped toward our new penthouse. "I won't be the one running. I won't be the one crying."

I gripped the armrest until my knuckles turned white, the memory of David’s laughter in that hotel suite burning in my mind. He thought he could break me. He thought I was worthless.

"Next time... I will be the one they fear."

But as the car pulled up to the curb of the luxury shopping mall where I’d planned our first public appearance, my heart gave a sudden, violent thud. A black sedan was parked just a few feet away. The license plate was one I’d memorized years ago.

David was here.

And as Lian hopped out of the car, running ahead toward the sliding glass doors, I saw him bump right into a tall man in a dark suit who was just walking out.

The man looked down, his eyes widening as he stared at Lian’s face. My breath caught in my throat. It wasn't David.

It was Dante Valenti.

And he was looking at my son like he was seeing a ghost.

CHAPTER 4 THE PROPOSAL

"Get out of my way kid" a rough voice said from behind the glass doors.

I stopped moving my heart jumping up into my throat. Lian had just run forward with his shoes squeaking on the mall floor and then he bumped into a man wearing a fancy black suit.

"Lian," I said, running to him, my heels making noises on the floor.

The man was really tall. He did not fall down. He just looked at Lian, his jaw getting tighter. I stopped moving and I could not breathe. His eyes were a grey color, the same color as the eyes that looked back at me when I brushed Lian's hair.

Everything around me stopped. I did not hear the mall noises or the people talking. The mans big shoulders got stiff he stared at Lian like he saw a ghost.

"Are you little man" the man asked, his voice was deep and smooth. He did not sound angry he sounded surprised.

Lian did not cry he just rubbed his forehead. "I'm okay you're very tall like a tree" he said.

"Lian come here" I said, my voice was shaking.

I went between them my hands were shaking too. I put them in my coat pockets my fingers touched a credit card. I remembered a night at a club the smell of rain and a man wearing cologne.

The man looked at me his grey eyes were curious. He did not know me I was a stranger to him.

"Your son should be careful" he said, looking at me for a while. "The floor is slippery here."

"He's fine we're leaving" I said, taking Lians hand and pulling him away.

We got into our car I did not look back. My legs felt weak I could barely breathe. The man was still standing there watching us leave.

Two hours later I was walking around my apartment looking at the city lights. Lian was playing with his toys in the room. I was still shaking I poured myself a glass of water. My teeth were chattering.

The phone on the wall made a noise it made me spill water on my shirt.

"Ms. Dave" the security guard said, "there's a Mr. Dante Valenti here he wants to talk to you about Morriston Tech."

My heart stopped, *Dante Valenti*, the man who owned the city. He found me in than two hours.

"Send him up" I said, closing my eyes.

When the elevator doors opened Dante stepped out. He was wearing a shirt, no tie. He looked around my apartment like he owned it.

"Ms. Dave" he said, walking towards me. "You're a woman to find."

"Mr. Valenti" I said, trying to sound calm. "This is my home, not a meeting room. You should not be here."

He laughed it was not a laugh. "I don't waste time with others, Ms. Dave. I heard Morriston Tech has an owner, a smart investor who made the company successful. I did not expect it to be you."

"I don't like being followed" I said, feeling a drop of sweat on my neck.

"I did not follow you because of the mall" Dante said, looking at me closely. "I'm here because our companies are going to compete. Morriston Tech has what I need Valenti AI has what you need."

"We're doing fine on our own" I said, holding my elbows tight.

"You're doing well. You're going to fight with other companies" Dante said, his voice was smooth and dangerous. "I can help you. I'm not talking about a normal partnership."

He took out a document and put it on the table. "A marriage contract, one year. We tie our names and companies together. You get my help I get a wife to make my grandfather happy."

I felt angry *another man trying to use me*. "Are you crazy" I said, stepping up to him. "You think you can buy me for a year to make your grandfather happy? I'm not a thing you can buy Mr. Valenti."

Dante did not move his eyes were interested. He was not used to people talking back to him.

"It's a business deal" he said, using my name. "No feelings just help each other."

Before I could say anything Lian came into the room holding his toy car. "The tall tree man is in our castle" he said.

My heart stopped again I tried to push Lian back. Dante was faster. He got down on his knee he was at Lians level. His face was soft his shoulders were relaxed.

"Hey buddy" Dante said, his voice was gentle. "We meet again did you find your dragons, in this castle?"

Lian. Took a small step toward Dante not being afraid at all. "Mommy said the dragons are in the computer but I think you look like a knight " he said.

Dante laughed in a voice and that made me feel weird inside. It was nice to see this strong and scary man being kind to my son. I felt something in my chest that I did not understand. It was like I wanted to touch his hair. I remembered when a stranger helped me a time ago when I was very sad and alone.. Then I told myself to stop thinking about that. I reminded myself that Dante is a person.

Lian looked at Dante with a face. "Why do you keep staring at me like that?" he asked. "You have the eyes as the mirror " he said.

It got very quiet after that. Dante stopped smiling. His whole body became stiff. He looked into Lians eyes. It seemed like he was breathing harder. The room felt cold all of a sudden.

"Lian go to your room now " I told him trying to sound calm. My voice was shaking. I took Lians arm and almost pushed him down the hallway then I closed the door behind him.

When I turned around Dante was standing up. He looked very tall. His eyes looked dark and scary like he was trying to figure something out. He looked at me. Then at the papers on the table and his chest was moving up and down fast. He seemed like a man who found a clue but did not know what it meant.

He did not ask me the question that I was afraid of. Instead he took a step back, toward the elevator still looking at me.

"Think about it " Dante said in a scary voice. "I do not like it when people say no to me twice."

The elevator doors. He stepped inside leaving the papers on the table. It felt like he left a threat behind.

CHAPTER 5 ENEMY RETURN

A sharp and arrogant voice cut through the talk in the conference hall. "You really think you can just ignore my emails" it said.

I did not turn around away. I swallowed hard. Tightened my fingers around my champagne glass. That voice had given me dreams for five long years. It was the tone David used when he told me I was just a tool to help his family business. I took a breath and let my shoulders drop before I turned to face him.

David Jones stood there looking like the mistake I left behind in the rain. His hair was perfectly slicked back. His suit looked expensive.. His eyes had a frantic and desperate look that he could not hide. The news about the stock market had not lied. Jones Tech was losing money. He needed a miracle.

"Mr. Jones I presume" I said. My voice was smooth and empty of emotion. I did not offer my hand. I just looked at him with an indifference that made his jaw twitch.

"You must be June Dave" David said. His eyes narrowed as he looked at my face. He took a step closer. His brows pulled together in a tight frustrated line. He stared at my eyes then my lips. Back up to my short chestnut hair. "The mysterious majority shareholder of Morriston Tech. You have been causing a lot of trouble for my team."

"I do not think we have anything to discuss" I said. I turned back to the glass windows that looked out over the city. My heart was beating fast. I kept my posture straight. "Morriston Tech is not looking for a buyer. Especially not a company that is doing badly on the market."

"Listen to me June" David said. He stepped into my space and his breath smelled faintly of whiskey and expensive mints. He reached out to grab my elbow. I pulled my arm back before he could touch me. He froze with his hand in the air. "We need to talk. You look... Do I know you from somewhere"

"I highly doubt that Mr. Jones" I said. My body reacted in a way that I did not like as a cold sweat broke out across my shoulder blades. "I do not move in the circles as failing tech executives."

"No it is not that" David said. His eyes were locked on my chin. He was breathing harder. His fingers were tracing his lower lip as he stared at me. "Your voice. The way you stand. It feels like I have seen you before."

"You are grasping at straws because your company is dying" I said. I kept my tone sharp to throw him off. "If you will excuse me I have real business partners to attend to."

"We are not done yet" David said. His face turned red with anger. "Morriston Tech has the data we need to save our software launch. I do not care who you think you are June. You are going to sit down with me and sign a partnership agreement. I will make sure your company can not operate in this city."

"Is that a threat" I asked. I tilted my head. Let a slow mocking smile spread across my lips. "Because the time a man threatened me he ended up begging for mercy."

then my phone vibrated in my clutch. I pulled it out. Was glad for the interruption. The screen showed a number but I recognized the prefix. It was the line of the Valenti estate.

"Excuse me" I told David. I walked away before he could say anything. I went through the crowd of investors. Stepped into a quiet area near the emergency exit. I pressed the phone to my ear. "Hello"

"Have you looked at the papers yet" Dantes deep voice said. There was no greeting or small talk. He went to the point. "My grandfathers doctors just gave me an update. He wants to see me with a fiancée by the end of the week. If you sign the contract tonight the Valenti legal team will block David Jones from touching your shares by tomorrow morning."

"How do you know David is here" I asked. My fingers were gripping the phone tightly.

"I know everything that happens in Maverick City" Dante said. His voice was calm and commanding. "He is June. Desperate men do things. Sign the papers. Let me handle him."

"I can handle my problems Dante" I said. I used his name without thinking. "I did not build my company over five years just to hide behind another mans suit."

There was a silence on the line. I could hear his breathing and for a second the past five years threatened to overwhelm me. The way he spoke to me reminded me of a deep memory. I shook my head to clear the thought. It was impossible.

"You are stubborn" Dante said. His tone was lighter and almost amused. "I like that in a business partner.. Do not let your pride ruin your empire. The offer stands until midnight."

He hung up before I could say anything. I stared at the screen and my breath caught in my throat. I tucked the phone back into my bag. Stepped out of the quiet area. I immediately ran into David again. He was standing there with his arms crossed and a dark obsessive look on his face. He did not look angry anymore. He looked completely consumed by a thought.

"You are hiding something June" David said. His voice was quiet and dangerous. "I just called my assistant. He tracked your financial movements. Your company appeared out of five years ago funded by an offshore account that nobody can trace. Five years ago. That is the same time my runaway fiancée disappeared."

"I do not care about your history David" I said. I used his name with a cold bite that made him gasp.

"You called me David" he whispered. He stepped in front of me to block the doors to the elevator. His eyes were wide and almost manic. "You have been calling me Mr. Jones all night. Why did you just call me David"

"Because you are annoying me and I want you to get out of my way" I said. I pushed past him with all the authority I had. The elevator doors. I stepped inside. I pressed the button for the lobby. David tried to step in with me.. I used my heels to block the sensor and the doors shut between us. The last thing I saw was his furious face staring at me through the glass.

An hour later David was back in his office at Jones Tech. The room was a mess with papers over the desk. He could not stop thinking about the woman from the conference. The way she carried herself and the sharp twist of her lips. It was all wrong because Isabella had been an crying girl.. The eyes were identical.

"Sir" his assistant said. He knocked gently on the door. "I found the files you requested from the storage vault."

"Leave them on the desk and get out" David said. He did not look up from his tablet where he was scrolling through June Daves public profile pictures.

The assistant dropped a box on the desk and left. David ripped the top off the box. Pulled out old folders from his wedding planning five years ago. He tossed aside the menus and seating arrangements. Searched for something tangible.

His fingers finally brushed against a velvet pouch at the bottom of the box. He pulled it out. Opened it. Inside was a printed photograph that Isabella had given him on the night before their scheduled wedding. It was a picture of her when she was younger sitting on a bench in a park.

David held the photograph up to the light of his desk lamp. He picked up his tablet. Showed June Daves latest corporate portrait and held them side by side.

The hair color was different. The makeup was different. The expensive clothes and confident posture were completely opposite.. As Davids eyes dropped to the bottom of the photograph he noticed a tiny distinct detail. In the old picture Isabella was holding a toy car that she had saved from her childhood.

David zoomed in on the tablet screen. Looked at the background of the picture June Dave had taken inside her office. Sitting on the corner of her desk was that same battered toy car with a small scratch near the left wheel.

Davids breath caught in his throat. His chest rose and fell rapidly as a wild and terrifying realization washed over him. The papers, in his hand shook violently.

David whispered into the room. His eyes were wide, with shock and anger as he looked at the photograph. "It is you" David said. "You did not die, Isabella. You have been planning this the time, Isabella."