Chapter 7 - THE TRUTH UNDER THE FLOOR
Adrian ran upstairs.
He found Mara trapped in the nursery with the baby.
A man stood behind them.
Adrian recognized him.
His mother's former driver.
The same man who had supposedly died years ago.
“Put her down,” Adrian ordered.
The man hesitated.
Then Luca appeared behind Adrian.
“Tom.”
The man froze.
Luca knew him.
“You helped me escape.”
Tom lowered his weapon.
“I was forced to work for Vincent.”
Mara began crying.
“The baby isn't safe anywhere.”
Adrian took the child.
Then something beneath the nursery floor creaked.
Tom pointed.
“There.”
Adrian pulled up an old wooden panel.
A metal box was hidden beneath it.
Inside was another ledger.
And a letter.
Elena's handwriting.
Luca opened it.
“My love, if you are reading this, our daughter is alive.”
His hands shook.
“She was never meant to inherit money. She was meant to inherit the truth.”
The letter revealed that Elena had discovered Vincent's entire operation.
But it also revealed something unexpected.
She had trusted Adrian.
She had written:
“Adrian is the only person in the family who still believes loyalty means something.”
Luca looked at his brother.
For eleven years, he had believed Adrian abandoned him.
Now he understood.
Their father had manipulated both brothers.
Vincent had exploited the division.
The final page contained a list of names.
Some were powerful.
Some were respected.
And one belonged to the current mayor.
Adrian stared.
“This goes far beyond our family.”
Luca nodded.
“That's why Vincent is desperate.”
Suddenly, police sirens approached.
Adrian looked outside.
Dozens of vehicles surrounded the estate.
For a moment, everyone thought help had arrived.
Then the police cars stopped.
A man stepped out.
The mayor.
Vincent's ally.
May you like
He looked toward the house.
And smiled.
