Chapter 9 - THE TRUTH DANIEL LEFT BEHIND
I couldn’t move.
Victor stood in the darkness like he had been waiting for me.
“How did you get in?”
He smiled.
“You still ask the wrong questions.”
I stepped back.
“Where is my daughter?”
His smile disappeared.
“I don’t want Mia.”
That answer scared me more.
“Then what do you want?”
He looked toward Lorenzo’s room.
“I want what Daniel left behind.”
My voice lowered.
“What?”
“The truth.”
I laughed bitterly.
“You’re the one hiding it.”
Victor looked at me.
“You really believe Lorenzo is innocent?”
I didn’t answer.
Because I didn’t know anymore.
Victor took out a small envelope.
“Daniel gave this to me.”
I stared.
“Why would he?”
“Because he knew I was the only person who could protect you.”
I almost laughed.
“Protect me?”
“You think I’m the villain because Lorenzo told you that.”
“Are you saying he lied?”
Victor looked at me.
“I’m saying every Moretti has blood on their hands.”
Before I could respond, footsteps approached.
Lorenzo.
Even weak.
Even injured.
He stood in the hallway.
“Get away from her.”
Victor smiled.
“There he is.”
The two men stared at each other.
Years of hatred between them filled the room.
“You should have stayed asleep,” Victor said.
Lorenzo’s voice was cold.
“You should have run when you had the chance.”
I looked between them.
“Enough.”
Both men turned.
“I want the truth.”
Silence.
Then Lorenzo spoke.
“Daniel discovered something.”
“What?”
“A secret account.”
I frowned.
“Whose?”
Victor answered.
“Your family’s.”
Lorenzo looked at him.
“Don’t.”
But Victor continued.
“Money was being moved through illegal companies.”
My eyes widened.
“What does that have to do with Daniel?”
“He found proof.”
“And?”
Victor looked at Lorenzo.
“He was going to expose them.”
The room became silent.
I looked at Lorenzo.
“Is this true?”
He didn’t answer immediately.
That scared me.
“Lorenzo.”
Finally, he spoke.
“Yes.”
My heart dropped.
“You knew?”
“I knew Daniel found something.”
“And you did nothing?”
His silence was enough.
I stepped back.
“I trusted you.”
“I was trying to protect him.”
“No.”
My voice cracked.
“You were protecting your family.”
Then a small voice came from the hallway.
“Mama?”
Everyone froze.
Mia stood there.
Holding her rabbit.
My heart broke.
“Mia!”
I rushed toward her.
But before I reached her, she looked at Lorenzo.
And said something nobody expected.
“Daddy told me not to be afraid of him.”
The entire room froze.
Lorenzo looked like he had been hit.
“Daddy?”
Mia nodded.
“He said Uncle Lorenzo was the only one who would keep me safe.”
Nobody spoke.
Because suddenly everything changed.
Daniel had trusted Lorenzo.
Even after everything.
Even after the secrets.
Even after the betrayal.
Lorenzo closed his eyes.
A tear rolled down his face.
Then he whispered:
“Daniel knew.”
I looked at him.
“Knew what?”
He opened his eyes.
And answered:
“Your daughter wasn’t just the key to waking me up.”
A pause.
“She was the reason Daniel risked everything.”
At that moment, every light in the mansion turned back on.
And every security screen displayed the same message.
A message sent from an unknown source.
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THE TRUTH WILL DESTROY THE MORETTI FAMILY.
TO BE CONTINUED...
