Chapter 83: Bella's Daring Plan

Dylan stared at Bella with a surprised expression, as if the question had caught him off guard. Bella, impatient, repeated firmly:

"Do you know Dean Sanders? According to my sources, he is your subordinate."

"How can a dead man still be my subordinate?"

Bella frowned, clearly confused, "What do you mean by that?"

Dylan , his to look became distant as he remembered. "Back when we had a our first falling out, he was the one who told my father that we were together. When I found out, I accused him of treason and you know what happens in the mafia, when someone is accused of such an indecent act. I tortured him and shot him, right in the chest, I saw him bleed and he was still when I left there. Dead."

Bella watched him carefully, digesting every word, but reluctant to believe it. "And what happened next?"

Dylan turned to Oliver, the advisor at his side, seeking confirmation. "Oliver, weren't you the one who took Dean's body out of that abandoned warehouse?" Oliver, who had remained silent until then, slowly looked up and answered seriously: "No. I let Rebecca take care of it." Dylan stared at him in disbelief. The tension in the air was palpable, as if a dangerous revelation was about to emerge. Dylan wasted no time in asking to borrow a cell phone, attracting the suspicious look of Captain Alice Rogers, who until then had considered him just another ordinary survivor. Her tone was direct, but cautious: "Who are you guys really? Criminals, is that it?" "Nothing like that! We're businessmen." Dylan straightened his posture and smiled naturally. "Haven't you ever heard of Kicher companies? My father was the president until last month, before he passed away. And Miss Hahn here is also a renowned businesswoman. She recently acquired a famous hotel in Manhattan." The Captain raised her eyebrows, evaluating the explanation. "Oh, yes. I remember reading an interview about her in a major magazine. It may seem strange, but even though I'm a firefighter, I follow the business world. Miss Hahn is an inspiration to many women." Bella smiled warmly. "I'm flattered, Captain Alice. Thank you for the recognition and, of course, for your rescue work. You saved me, my son, and my friends. We're grateful." 

"I'm happy to help, but unfortunately I can't lend you my cell phone. It's exclusively for emergencies and communication with the base in Washington D.C." 

"I have one here," the rescue team doctor offered, handing the phone to Dylan. Wasting no time, he dialed home. The familiar voice of Nona, the housekeeper, answered. 

"Hi, Nona!" 

"Bambino?! How nice to hear your voice! Did Enrico find you?" "Enrico? No, it was Captain Alice Rogers' team who rescued me," Dylan replied, giving the Captain a charming wink, who smiled discreetly. Noticing this, Bella crossed her arms, letting out a sarcastic smile while rolling her eyes.

"Nona, I don't have much time. What's going on out there? Summarize, please."

The housekeeper's voice was tense. "The lads said Rebecca has allied herself with Bella Hahn's husband, and they're both spreading the word that you're and Bella dead. They claim they're the new leaders now."

Everyone on the plane heard the announcement, thanks to the speakerphone. DK clenched his fists and exclaimed furiously, "That damn thing! I knew I couldn't trust her!"

"Nona," Dylan continued, controlling his tone, "tell Enrico that I'm alive, but ask him to keep it a secret. As soon as I'm safely on the ground, I'll call back."
Nona nodded, relieved, and ended the call.

While Dylan was talking, Oliver seemed distant, absorbed in his thoughts. Nona's words, combined with Rebecca's recent actions, began to fit together in his mind like a puzzle. He remembered the photos Ed had sent, the suspicious calls, and the strange behavior. Suddenly, he put his hands on his head, breathing irregularly.

"Is everything okay, Oliver?" Susan noticed the big man's agitation and suddenly he fainted with a loud noise.

"Oliver!" DK, Bella, and Susan shouted at the same time. Carter, the doctor, rushed to examine him.

"He had a breakdown. How long until we get there and where are we going?" Carter asked, looking at the female rescue leader.

"Ten minutes to New York," the woman replied.

"Great! I'll tell my team at the hospital to get ready."

"Hold on, Carter," Bella interrupted. "We don't want to draw attention. Right now, our biggest asset is that Rebecca and Johnny think we're dead."

"So, what do you suggest?" 

Bella turned to the Captain. "Miss Rogers, have you told anyone else besides the base in Washington D.C. that you found us?" "Do you want to know if the press knows yet?"

"You're smart."

"Probably. These reporters are worse than vultures on carrion," the Captain said, shaking her head. Bella smirked. 

"In that case, I'm going to need your help. I pay well."

"Miss Bella, Captain Rogers doesn't seem like the type to sell herself," Carter commented skeptically. "How much?" Rogers asked, surprising everyone. 

"What?" The doctor's mouth fell open, while Luke held back a laugh and Theo shook his head in disbelief. 

"Two million dollars, cash," Bella declared confidently. Rogers turned to his team.

"What do you think, guys?" Everyone, including the pilot, immediately agreed. 

"For that amount, I can even retire if things go wrong. What do we need to do?"

"Distract everyone's attention and tell a white lie," Bella replied with a calculated smile.

Carter, still in disbelief, questioned the woman's attitude, "You have such a wonderful profession, why are you putting yourself through this kind of thing?"

"Because Doctor, my profession is beautiful and wonderful, but with the salary I earn it won't pay for my sick mother's treatment, for example."

Dylan, however, joins the conversation by reminding the doctor of something important: 

"You're giving the Captain a moral lesson because she wants to accept money from Bella, but how are you any different? Have you forgotten that I'm the one who pays your salary, since you work at the hospital that my family has been a doppelganger for years, since my grandfather?" Faced with reality, Carter is forced to keep quiet.

When the plane landed, a crowd of reporters were already waiting for them, eager for exclusive information. Rebecca and Johnny, watching from afar on TV at the Hahn mansion, waited anxiously.

Captain Rogers descended the stairs of the plane accompanied by three members of her team, including a doctor. Without hesitation, she approached the journalists and declared seriously:

"I, Alice Rogers, leader of this rescue mission, have come to inform you that, unfortunately, there were no survivors in this tragedy. We are very sorry."

The announcement came as a bombshell. Rebecca and Johnny, watching in the mansion, exchanged looks full of arrogance and satisfaction.

"Now we can breathe a sigh of relief and finally take control of everything," Johnny said with a triumphant smile.