Chapter 11 - THE PERSON BEHIND THE MASK
Damiano Verrone had spent his entire life finding enemies.
He knew how they moved.
He knew how they lied.
He knew how they attacked.
But he never imagined the greatest betrayal would come from someone he trusted.
Someone who stood beside him for years.
Someone who knew every weakness.
Every secret.
Every scar.
Back at the mansion, Mia refused to let go of Damiano’s hand.
She had been through too much.
But she was still trying to be brave.
“Are you going to leave again?”
Damiano looked down.
The question stopped him.
“No.”
Mia searched his eyes.
“Promise?”
Damiano slowly nodded.
“I promise.”
For the first time in years…
A promise meant more than power.
Meanwhile, Rafael continued investigating the mysterious phone call.
He analyzed the recording.
The voice had been changed.
The location was hidden.
But one thing stood out.
A sound in the background.
A clock.
An old grandfather clock.
Damiano immediately recognized it.
“There is only one place with that clock.”
Rafael looked at him.
“Where?”
Damiano’s expression darkened.
“My old family mansion.”
The place he abandoned three years ago.
The place where Isabella died.
The place where his entire world collapsed.
That night, Damiano returned.
The mansion was covered in dust.
Every corner carried memories.
He walked through the hallway.
And stopped in front of Isabella’s old office.
The door was locked.
It had never been opened since her death.
Rafael looked surprised.
“Why did you never enter?”
Damiano stared at the door.
“Because I knew I would find something I didn’t want to know.”
He opened it.
Inside was nothing unusual.
Until Mia pointed toward a bookshelf.
“Daddy.”
Damiano looked at her.
“What?”
She walked closer.
“There is a picture behind there.”
Damiano moved the books.
Behind them was a hidden compartment.
Inside was a small box.
A box Isabella had hidden.
Damiano opened it.
And inside was a letter.
With his name written on it.
“Damiano.”
May you like
His hands tightened.
Because the letter was dated one day before Isabella died.
