Chapter 13: The Truth Buried Under the Company
For several seconds, nobody moved.
Not one person.
Not even the wind outside seemed to exist.
Carolina’s words remained hanging in the air.
“It wasn’t Marco.””
She looked at my father.
“It was your father.””
My father stared at her.
“My father died fifteen years ago.””
“I know.””
“Then explain what you mean.””
Carolina looked down.
“He didn’t personally do it.””
That sentence changed everything.
“What does that mean?”” I asked.
Carolina took a deep breath.
“It means he was the reason everything started.””
My father stepped closer.
“Talk.””
For the first time since I had met Carolina, she looked genuinely afraid.
Not afraid of losing her job.
Not afraid of embarrassment.
Afraid of the truth.
“Your grandfather believed the company belonged to the Moretti family,” she said.
My father’s expression darkened.
“He built nothing.””
“That’s what you believe.””
“No.””
His voice became cold.
“That’s what happened.””
Carolina continued.
“He hated that you partnered with Lucian. He thought an outsider was taking what belonged to his bloodline.””
I looked at my father.
“So he tried to remove him?””
“Yes.””
Lucian’s expression changed.
“He destroyed our partnership.””
Carolina nodded.
“He manipulated financial records. He created problems inside the company.””
My father looked stunned.
“But Marco…”
“Marco helped him.””
Silence.
The missing piece finally appeared.
My uncle wasn’t the mastermind.
He was only a part of something bigger.
“Then my mother found out,” I said.
Carolina nodded.
“She discovered the documents.””
My father looked at the recording device.
“The proof.””
“Yes.””
“And she wanted to expose him.””
“Yes.””
The pain on my father’s face was unbearable.
“Why didn’t she tell me?””
Carolina looked away.
“Because she was afraid.””
“Of me?””
“No.””
She looked at him.
“Of what would happen if you acted without proof.””
That sounded exactly like my mother.
Careful.
Smart.
Always thinking ahead.
“So what happened the night she died?”” I asked.
Nobody answered.
Then Carolina whispered:
“She was going to meet someone.””
“Who?””
“Your grandfather.””
My father froze.
“He was already dead.””
Carolina looked at him.
“Not that night.””
The color disappeared from my father’s face.
“What?””
My heart started racing.
“What are you saying?””
Carolina looked at me.
“Your grandfather wasn’t dead when your mother disappeared.””
The room became impossible to breathe in.
My father took a step back.
“That’s not possible.””
“I saw him.””
“When?””
“The night your mother died.””
Lucian stepped forward.
“Where?””
“At the old office.””
My father shook his head.
“No.””
Carolina’s voice broke.
“I was there.””
I stared at her.
“You were there?””
“Yes.””
“Then why didn’t you tell anyone?””
Her eyes filled with regret.
“Because I was young. Because I was scared. Because your grandfather threatened everyone who knew the truth.””
My father looked furious.
“You watched my wife disappear.””
Carolina lowered her head.
“Yes.””
The answer was painful.
“But I spent twenty years trying to fix what I did.””
My father turned away.
I could see the anger.
But I could also see something else.
A realization.
The world he understood was falling apart.
“Where is the proof?”” he asked.
Carolina pointed toward the workshop.
“Your mother hid it before she left.””
We searched for another hour.
This time, we knew what we were looking for.
Not documents.
Not photographs.
Something hidden.
Something meant to survive.
Finally, Lucian found a loose brick behind the old workbench.
Inside was a small metal container.
My father opened it.
Inside was a flash drive.
A simple note was attached.
Three words.
*For my daughter.*
My hands shook.
My father looked at me.
“Valeria…”
I took it.
But before we could open it, my phone rang.
Unknown number.
I answered.
“Hello?””
A man’s voice came through.
Older.
Calm.
“You found it.””
My blood ran cold.
“Who is this?””
The voice laughed softly.
“You really don’t recognize me.””
I looked at my father.
He had heard the voice.
And his face changed.
“Dad?””
My father whispered:
“No…”
The voice continued.
“I waited twenty years for someone to finally uncover the truth.””
A pause.
Then:
“Hello, Valeria.””
May you like
The man spoke again.
“I’m your grandfather.””
