Chapter 5: The Hidden Room
I reached the second floor in seconds.
The hallway was empty.
Too empty.
My family’s security team had been alerted, but whoever entered the mansion had moved quickly.
That bothered me.
Because this was not a random attack.
Someone knew the house.
Someone knew the security patterns.
Someone knew where to look.
The door at the end of the hallway was open.
The hidden room.
My father’s private office.
I pushed it wider.
Inside, everything was destroyed.
Drawers pulled open.
Books thrown onto the floor.
The painting behind the desk removed from the wall.
But the safe remained.
Open.
Empty.
My heart sank.
“No.””
I walked inside slowly.
The safe door moved slightly.
Someone had forced it.
But they had not taken everything.
On the floor beside the safe was a small envelope.
My father’s handwriting was on the front.
My name.
Salvatore.
I picked it up.
My hands shook.
I had not seen his handwriting in twelve years.
Behind me, Victor entered.
“Don’t open that.””
I turned.
“Why?””
He didn’t answer.
That was enough.
I opened it.
Inside was one piece of paper.
Only a few lines.
But the words changed everything.
*If you are reading this, then Adelaide has been forced to reveal what she knows.*
I looked at my mother.
She covered her mouth.
The letter continued.
*Do not trust Victor Bellini.*
The room became silent.
Victor stepped forward.
“That is not what it means.””
I looked at him.
“You want to explain why my father wrote your name?””
“He was protecting you.””
“By warning me about you?””
Victor’s face tightened.
“You don’t understand the entire story.””
I held up the letter.
“Then tell me.””
He remained silent.
I walked closer.
“Tell me why my mother was locked away.””
Victor looked at Adelaide.
“She was protecting you.””
My mother shook her head.
“No.””
Everyone looked at her.
For the first time that night, she looked angry.
“She was protecting herself.””
Victor’s expression changed.
“Adelaide.””
“You lost control,” she said.
“You thought fear would make me surrender.””
I stared at my mother.
“What were they trying to get?””
She looked at the empty safe.
“The original contract.””
“What contract?””
“The one your father created before he died.””
Victor suddenly moved.
Fast.
Too fast.
But my security team arrived through the doorway.
Two men immediately blocked him.
Victor stopped.
Not because he was afraid.
Because he knew the situation had changed.
“Salvatore,” he said quietly.
“You need to understand something.””
I looked at him.
“What?””
“Your father was not protecting you from enemies.””
He paused.
“He was protecting you from the people closest to you.””
The words stayed in the air.
My phone buzzed.
Another message.
Unknown number.
This time, there was a photo attached.
I opened it.
My blood froze.
It was a picture taken five days earlier.
My mother sitting alone.
The chain around her neck.
But behind her stood someone I knew.
Someone who had claimed they were trying to help.
Someone who had been in my house every single day.
I looked up slowly.
Because the person in the photo was not Victor.
May you like
It was someone much closer.
Someone who had smiled at me that same morning.
