Chapter 9: The Man Who Used My Name
The room became silent.
My name.
My access code.
My authority.
Someone had used everything that belonged to me.
Not stolen.
Not forced.
Used.
That meant whoever did this knew me.
Knew my habits.
Knew my security.
Knew my family.
I looked at the guard.
“Where were the records accessed?””
“The private archive.””
My father’s archive.
The one hidden beneath the east wing.
The place only a handful of people knew existed.
I looked at Marcus.
He already understood.
“This is impossible.””
“No.””
I walked toward the door.
“It is possible.””
Everyone followed.
Except Ruby.
I stopped.
“Anna stays with her.””
Anna nodded immediately.
“I will not leave her.””
Good.
Because there was one thing I finally understood.
Everyone wanted to protect Ruby.
But nobody had protected her childhood.
I entered the underground archive.
The air smelled old.
Dust.
Paper.
Memories.
My father had kept everything here.
Business records.
Family history.
Secrets.
The security door was open.
That alone was impossible.
Only my code could unlock it.
I stepped inside.
Nothing was missing.
At least not obviously.
The guard pointed.
“Sir.””
A drawer was open.
Inside was an old family file.
I picked it up.
The label made my stomach tighten.
“Ruby Falcone.””
I opened it.
Inside were documents from the day she was born.
But something was wrong.
The original pages were gone.
Only copies remained.
Someone had removed the truth.
I looked at Marcus.
“You knew about this file.””
He nodded.
“Yes.””
“And you never told me.””
“I thought your father wanted it hidden.””
I stared at him.
“You thought.””
My voice became colder.
“You have spent years making decisions about my family without me.””
Marcus looked away.
Before I could say more, Lucia entered.
She looked at the file.
Then immediately became frightened.
“No.””
“What?””
She pointed.
“This page.””
I handed it to her.
She read silently.
Then tears appeared in her eyes.
“What is it?””
She looked at me.
“This proves Ruby’s birth was changed.””
I frowned.
“I know that.””
“No.””
She shook her head.
“This proves who ordered it.””
I looked at the page.
There was a signature.
A name.
And for a moment, I thought my eyes were wrong.
Because the signature belonged to someone I never expected.
Valentina.
I turned slowly.
She was standing at the archive entrance.
Her face was completely broken.
“Domenico…”
I held up the page.
“Why?””
She started crying.
“I can explain.””
“Then explain.””
She stepped inside.
“I never wanted to hurt Ruby.””
“Then why did you sign this?””
She looked at the paper.
Then at me.
“Because I was trying to save her.””
I almost couldn’t believe it.
“Everyone says that.””
Valentina covered her face.
“Because it is true.””
I stared at her.
“Then tell me the truth.””
She took a deep breath.
“When Ruby was born, your father discovered someone wanted to use her inheritance to destroy the Falcone family.””
I listened.
“But there was one problem.””
“What?””
“The person behind it was someone nobody suspected.””
She looked toward the door.
Toward Marcus.
Marcus froze.
I turned.
“What are you saying?””
Valentina whispered:
“The person your father feared was not outside the family.””
A cold feeling moved through me.
“Then who?””
She looked directly at Marcus.
And said:
“Your most loyal man.””
Nobody moved.
Marcus stared at her.
“You know that is a lie.””
Valentina shook her head.
“No.””
Her voice trembled.
“I saw the evidence.””
I looked between them.
Two people.
Two stories.
Two versions of the same betrayal.
Then Marcus slowly reached into his coat.
Every guard raised their hands.
But he did not pull a weapon.
He pulled out a small envelope.
And placed it on the table.
“This is the evidence I kept hidden.””
I stared at him.
“What evidence?””
He looked at me with tired eyes.
“The evidence proving Valentina is not the person who started this.””
He pushed the envelope toward me.
“And the evidence proving the real person behind everything has been inside this house the entire time.””
I opened the envelope.
The first page had one name.
May you like
And when I saw it…
I finally understood why everyone had been afraid to tell me the truth.
