Chapter 10 - THE PRICE OF THE TRUTH
I agreed to meet Victor.
Not because I trusted him.
Because I needed the truth.
The meeting took place behind glass.
Victor entered wearing prison clothes.
He looked smaller.
Without his expensive suit.
Without his family's mansion.
Without the illusion of power.
He sat.
I remained standing.
He smiled.
“You look different.”
“I am different.”
His eyes dropped to my stomach.
“How's the baby?”
“Don't ask about my child.”
He smiled.
“Still angry.”
“You beat me.”
“I know.”
“You almost killed our baby.”
“I know.”
“You let your family laugh.”
He looked down.
For the first time, he didn't have an answer.
I sat.
“What do you want?”
“The ring.”
“You're not getting it.”
“I don't need it anymore.”
“Then why am I here?”
“To warn you.”
“About what?”
He leaned closer to the glass.
“Alessandro.”
My heart stopped.
“What about him?”
“He isn't protecting you.”
I laughed.
“You expect me to believe that?”
“You should.”
“Why?”
“Because he knew about your mother.”
I stared.
Victor continued.
“He knew she was going to be killed.”
“No.”
“He could have stopped it.”
I shook my head.
“Liar.”
Victor smiled.
“Ask him.”
The guard signaled the end of the meeting.
I stood.
Victor called after me.
“One more thing.”
I turned.
“The person who ordered the hit wasn't Raul.”
I waited.
“It was someone much closer to your mother.”
I left.
When I returned to the safe house, Alessandro was waiting.
I looked at him.
“Did you know my mother was going to die?”
He didn't answer.
My heart sank.
“Answer me.”
“Yes.”
The room went silent.
I stepped backward.
“You knew?”
“I knew there was a threat.”
“Did you know she would be killed?”
“No.”
“You're lying.”
He closed his eyes.
“I suspected.”
“Why didn't you stop it?”
“Because I was too late.”
I stared at him.
“Then tell me everything.”
He nodded.
“My brother was involved.”
I froze.
“Victor's biological father?”
“Yes.”
“Why?”
“He wanted your mother's company.”
“And Raul?”
“They worked together.”
“Then why protect me?”
Alessandro looked at me.
“Because I made a promise to your mother.”
“What promise?”
“To protect you if they ever came for you.”
I remembered the message.
Help.
Please.
He had answered.
But Victor's words still haunted me.
Someone you trust.
I didn't know whom to believe anymore.
Then my phone rang.
A new message.
One sentence.
Ask Evelyn what happened the night your mother died.
I looked at Alessandro.
He saw the message.
His face changed.
“Who sent that?”
“I don't know.”
He took the phone.
“Don't answer.”
I stared at him.
For the first time, fear returned.
May you like
Because if Evelyn knew something—
then the woman who had spent years comforting me might have been hiding the biggest secret of all.
