Chapter 12: The Truth My Father Buried
Adrian entered the mansion like he still belonged there.
That bothered me more than if he had arrived with an army.
He wasn’t afraid.
He didn’t need to threaten anyone.
He believed he already had the advantage.
My father stood across from him.
“You have no right to walk into this house.””
Adrian smiled.
“This house?””
He looked around.
“You mean the house built on my father’s money?””
Nobody answered.
I looked at my father.
“What is he talking about?””
Adrian noticed.
And smiled.
“There it is.””
He pointed at me.
“The son who was never told.””
My father’s expression hardened.
“Don’t.””
Adrian ignored him.
“Your father always protected you from the ugly parts.””
He walked closer.
“But now you deserve the truth.””
I looked at my father.
“Is there something else?””
Silence.
That was enough.
I stepped back.
“Father.””
He closed his eyes.
“There are things I should have told you.””
I laughed quietly.
“Apparently there are a lot of those.””
Adrian looked satisfied.
“Twelve years ago, your father didn’t just discover betrayal.””
He paused.
“He caused it.””
The room became still.
My mother looked angry.
“Don’t rewrite history.””
Adrian turned.
“Did I?””
My father said nothing.
That scared me.
“Tell me.””
My father looked at me.
“When your uncle and I were younger, we built everything together.””
Adrian smiled bitterly.
“Until he decided I was no longer useful.””
My father shook his head.
“That isn’t what happened.””
“Then explain.””
My father took a breath.
“I found out Adrian was making deals behind my back.””
Adrian laughed.
“Deals?””
His voice sharpened.
“You mean the deals you made without me?””
I looked between them.
Two brothers.
Two different versions of the same story.
My father continued.
“I removed him from the business.””
Adrian stepped closer.
“You destroyed me.””
“I stopped you from destroying everyone else.””
Adrian’s face changed.
For the first time, the calm disappeared.
“You always believed you were the hero.””
Then he looked at my mother.
“But she knew.””
My mother frowned.
“Knew what?””
Adrian smiled.
“She knew the truth about the night your father disappeared.””
Everyone turned toward her.
My mother went silent.
My heart sank.
“Mother?””
She looked at me.
And I knew.
There was another secret.
Another piece she had hidden.
“Tell him,” Adrian said.
My mother’s eyes filled with tears.
“Salvatore…”
I waited.
She whispered:
“The night your father disappeared…”
A pause.
“I was there.””
The room stopped.
My father looked at her.
“Adelaide.””
She looked at him.
“I can’t protect him anymore.””
I felt my chest tighten.
“You were there?””
She nodded.
“And I saw who helped your father leave.””
I looked at Victor.
But my mother shook her head.
“No.””
Then she looked at me.
“It wasn’t Victor.””
Everyone froze.
My mother whispered the name.
The name that explained everything.
“The person who helped your father disappear…”
May you like
She took a shaky breath.
“Was Nolan.””
