Chapter 5 - THE SECRET UNDER THE FLOOR
Three hours later, Giovanni sat alone in Elena’s office.
The room still smelled like her perfume.
The chair was still turned exactly the way she liked it.
But now every memory felt like a lie.
He opened drawers.
Looked through files.
Checked every place she had hidden things.
Nothing.
Until he noticed something strange.
A scratch on the wooden floor.
Behind her desk.
Giovanni knelt down.
He pressed his hand against the floor.
One piece moved.
Hidden underneath was a small metal box.
His heart started racing.
Inside was a photograph.
A photograph of Elena.
Adrian.
And another man.
A man Giovanni knew.
His own brother.
Marco.
Giovanni dropped the picture.
“No…”
Marco.
His closest friend.
His business partner.
His family.
The man who had stood beside him at Elena’s funeral.
The man who had comforted him.
The man who had cried with him.
The door opened.
Giovanni turned.
Marco stood there.
“What did you find?”
The question was too calm.
Too confident.
Giovanni stared.
“How long?”
Marco’s face changed.
“How long what?”
“How long have you known about Maravilla?”
Silence.
Then Marco sighed.
“You should have left it alone.”
Giovanni felt anger rising.
“You knew.”
Marco stepped inside.
“Elena made mistakes.”
“Mistakes?”
Giovanni laughed bitterly.
“You’re talking about my wife.”
Marco looked away.
“She wasn’t who you thought she was.”
Giovanni walked closer.
“And neither are you.”
Suddenly, Marco pulled something from his pocket.
A gun.
Giovanni froze.
“Marco…”
“I’m sorry.”
The words hurt more than the weapon.
“You were never supposed to find out.”
Then Giovanni heard footsteps behind him.
Another person entered.
A familiar voice.
“Dad…”
Giovanni turned.
May you like
Emilio stood in the doorway.
And he was holding the missing suitcase.
