Chapter 8: The Ghost From The Past
Nobody spoke after Ruby’s words.
A child’s innocent sentence had just created a storm.
“He said Mommy was bad.””
Those were not the words of a child trying to create trouble.
Those were the words of a child repeating something she was told.
I looked at Lucia.
Her face was filled with pain.
Then I looked at Valentina.
She looked shocked.
Not guilty.
Shocked.
That mattered.
“Ruby,” I said gently.
“Can you tell Daddy about the man?””
She held her rabbit tighter.
“He came when you were gone.””
“Where did he come from?””
She pointed.
“The garden.””
My eyes moved toward the window.
“How long ago?””
She thought.
“Many sleeps.””
I knelt.
“Did he scare you?””
She shook her head.
“No.””
“Did he touch you?””
“No.””
Her small voice became quieter.
“He gave me candy.””
The room went cold.
I immediately looked at my guards.
“No more strangers near this house.””
The security chief nodded.
But I was already thinking about something else.
Someone had entered my daughter’s room.
Someone had spoken to her.
Someone had planted fear inside her mind.
I turned toward Sofia.
“You know who this is.””
She looked down.
“Yes.””
“Name.””
She hesitated.
Then whispered:
“Alessandro Falcone.””
Nobody moved.
Because that name belonged to my father.
A man who had been dead for five years.
I stared at Sofia.
“My father is dead.””
She nodded.
“I know.””
“Then explain.””
Sofia took a breath.
“Alessandro did not die because of age.””
The room became silent.
Lucia looked away.
Marcus looked uncomfortable.
I felt something inside me crack.
“What are you saying?””
Sofia looked at me.
“Your father was trying to reveal something before he died.””
I shook my head.
“My father was a ruthless man.””
“Yes.””
Her answer surprised me.
“But he was also afraid.””
I looked at her.
“Of what?””
Sofia looked toward Ruby’s room.
“Of what would happen if the truth about Ruby became public.””
I walked to the window.
The estate outside looked peaceful.
But inside these walls, everyone had been fighting a hidden war.
I thought of my father.
His final months.
The strange messages.
The arguments he had with Marcus.
The way he once told me:
“Domenico, the person closest to you is the person you should question first.””
At the time, I thought he was talking about enemies.
Now I wondered if he was warning me.
I turned around.
“Marcus.””
He looked at me.
“Did my father know?””
Marcus lowered his eyes.
“Yes.””
The answer hit harder than I expected.
“You knew everything.””
“No.””
“Enough.””
Marcus stepped closer.
“I knew Alessandro discovered someone inside the family was working against Ruby.””
“Who?””
“I never found out.””
“Then why hide it?””
His voice became heavy.
“Because your father asked me to.””
I stared at him.
“My father asked you to hide threats against my daughter?””
“He believed knowing too much would put you in danger.””
I shook my head.
“Everyone keeps deciding what I can handle.””
Nobody answered.
Because it was true.
Then Sofia reached into her bag.
She pulled out an old envelope.
“I kept this because I promised Alessandro.””
I looked at it.
“What is it?””
“His final message.””
I took it.
My hands felt heavier than they should.
Inside was a single page.
I read the first line.
And my entire body went still.
Because my father had written:
“Domenico, if you are reading this, it means they have already started removing Ruby.””
I looked up.
Everyone was watching me.
I continued reading.
The next sentence made my heart stop.
“The person you trust most is not protecting your daughter.””
I slowly lowered the paper.
My eyes moved around the room.
Valentina.
Marcus.
Lucia.
Sofia.
One of them was lying.
Then the security alarm sounded again.
This time louder.
A guard rushed inside.
“Boss!””
“What happened?””
His face was pale.
“Someone accessed Ruby’s old records.””
I stood.
“Who?””
May you like
He swallowed.
“The access code belonged to you.””
