Chapter 13 - The Last Lie Of The Rossi Family
The first thing Leo heard was silence.
Not the peaceful kind.
The kind that came after something terrible happened.
He opened his eyes and immediately looked around.
The documents were gone.
Daniel was gone.
And Clare was lying on the cold marble floor.
“Clare!”
Leo rushed toward her.
He dropped beside her and carefully lifted her.
“Clare.”
“Wake up.”
For a few seconds, nothing happened.
Then her eyes slowly opened.
“Leo…”
Her voice was weak.
“What happened?”
He looked at the bruise on her head.
His anger grew.
“Daniel.”
Clare tried to sit up.
“Daniel did this?”
Leo nodded.
“He was never helping us.”
“He was leading us.”
Daniel had always been the person Leo trusted.
The person who solved problems.
The person who knew every secret.
And that was exactly why he was dangerous.
Because the closest person to you could hurt you the most.
Leo stood.
“We find him.”
Daniel had taken the inheritance documents.
The only proof that could expose the truth.
Without them, the Rossi family could continue hiding everything.
But Leo knew one thing.
Daniel didn’t run because he was afraid.
He ran because he wanted something.
Power.
Hours later, Daniel contacted them.
One message.
One location.
An abandoned church outside the city.
Leo immediately knew it was a trap.
But he also knew he had no choice.
Maria grabbed his arm before he left.
“Don’t go alone.”
Leo looked at her.
“I spent twenty years without you.”
“I’m not losing you again.”
Maria’s eyes filled with tears.
“You sound like your father.”
Leo looked away.
“I hope not.”
She shook her head.
“No.”
“You sound like yourself.”
The old church was empty.
Dust covered the wooden benches.
The broken windows let the moonlight enter.
Leo walked slowly inside.
“Daniel.”
A voice answered.
“I knew you would come.”
Daniel stepped out from the shadows.
Holding the documents.
Leo stared at him.
“Why?”
Daniel smiled.
“Because I was tired of watching everyone else own what belonged to me.”
Leo’s expression hardened.
“Your grandfather?”
Daniel laughed.
“You still don’t understand.”
“The Rossi empire was never about money.”
“It was about legacy.”
Daniel held up the papers.
“My family built yours.”
Leo froze.
“What?”
“My grandfather worked for your grandfather.”
“He created the strategies.”
“He built the connections.”
“But the Rossi name got all the glory.”
Daniel stepped closer.
“My family spent generations serving yours.”
“Now it’s my turn.”
Leo shook his head.
“You destroyed innocent people for revenge.”
Daniel’s face became cold.
“Revenge?”
“No.”
“Justice.”
Suddenly, another voice echoed.
“You always did love dramatic speeches.”
Everyone turned.
Anthony Rossi entered.
Leo’s eyes narrowed.
“You and Daniel.”
Anthony smiled.
“Yes.”
“We worked together.”
Daniel looked surprised.
“What are you doing here?”
Anthony laughed.
“You really thought I trusted you?”
The expression on Daniel’s face changed.
Because he finally understood.
He was not the mastermind.
He was just another piece.
Anthony continued.
“You were useful.”
“That’s all.”
Leo looked between them.
“So everyone betrayed everyone.”
Anthony smiled.
“Now you understand the Rossi family.”
Then Maria entered.
Everyone froze.
Leo turned.
“Mom?”
She walked forward.
And looked directly at Anthony.
“You should have killed me when you had the chance.”
Anthony’s face changed.
Because for the first time…
He looked afraid.
Maria held something in her hand.
A small recording device.
“I recorded everything.”
Anthony stepped back.
“You…”
“Yes.”
“Twenty years ago, I was weak.”
May you like
“But I was never stupid.”
The truth had finally found a weapon.
