Chapter 6: The Enemy Inside The Family
Nobody spoke after the phone call ended.
The silence was heavier than before.
My father watched me carefully.
“What did they say?””
I looked at him.
“You tell me.””
His expression changed.
“You think I know?””
“I don’t know what to think anymore.””
And that was the truth.
Seven years ago, I lost my father.
Three years ago, I lost Elena.
Yesterday, I almost lost my daughter.
Every person I trusted had been hiding something.
I was tired of secrets.
I grabbed the folder my father left on the table.
“I’m opening this.””
Nobody stopped me.
Inside were printed messages.
Financial records.
Photos.
Names.
I scanned the first page.
Then the second.
And then I saw something that made my heart stop.
A photograph.
Bianca meeting someone.
Not Marcus.
Someone else.
Someone I knew.
Someone who had been at every family gathering.
Someone who had comforted me after my father’s death.
My uncle, Lorenzo.
I looked up.
“Lorenzo.””
My father’s face changed.
“You know?””
“He was there when you died.””
My father nodded slowly.
“He was the person who benefited most from my disappearance.””
Elena looked confused.
“What are you saying?””
My father sat down.
“For years, Lorenzo wanted control of the family company. When I refused, he started moving pieces behind the scenes.””
I turned the pages faster.
There were messages between Lorenzo and Bianca.
Plans.
Instructions.
Promises.
Bianca sat down.
Her face looked empty.
“I didn’t know.””
Everyone looked at her.
“What?””
She shook her head.
“I knew Lorenzo wanted something. I didn’t know how far it went.””
I stared at her.
“You expect me to believe that?””
She looked at Lucy.
Then lowered her eyes.
“No.””
The honesty surprised me.
“I don’t expect forgiveness.””
That was the first real thing she had said.
But it didn’t erase what happened.
It didn’t erase the dog bowl.
It didn’t erase Lucy crying.
My father stood.
“You need to leave now.””
I looked at him.
“Why?””
“Because if Lorenzo knows you found the documents, he won’t wait.””
Elena grabbed her bag.
“Where do we go?””
Before anyone answered, the security alarm suddenly activated.
A loud warning echoed through the house.
Everyone froze.
My father immediately looked toward the cameras.
“What happened?””
The screen near the entrance turned on.
The image showed the driveway.
A black vehicle was parked outside.
My heart sank.
Because I recognized it.
Lorenzo’s car.
“He’s here,” Bianca whispered.
My father moved toward the control panel.
“No.””
He looked worried.
Actually worried.
“He shouldn’t be here.””
A figure stepped out of the car.
Then another.
I moved closer to the screen.
“Who are they?””
My father didn’t answer.
That frightened me more.
The front camera zoomed in.
And I saw Lorenzo standing outside.
Holding something in his hand.
Not a weapon.
A document.
He looked directly into the camera.
Like he knew we were watching.
Then the house speakers suddenly turned on.
Lorenzo’s voice filled every room.
“Vittorio.””
Nobody breathed.
“I know you found the truth.””
My father closed his eyes.
Lorenzo continued.
“But there is one thing you still don’t understand.””
The screen showed him smiling.
“The child you’re protecting…”
My grip tightened around Lucy.
“…is the reason your entire family was destroyed.””
May you like
The speakers went silent.
And for the first time that night, my father looked afraid.
