Chapter 8: The Daughter They Buried
Adeline couldn’t move.
The old man’s words repeated in her mind.
You were never ordinary.
She hated the way he said it.
Not like a compliment.
Like a possession.
“What am I?”” she asked.
The old man smiled.
“That is the wrong question.””
“Then what’s the right one?””
“Who are you?””
The answer should have been simple.
Adeline Croft.
A woman who worked hard.
A woman who grew up without answers.
A woman who had spent years trying to build a normal life.
But suddenly even her name felt borrowed.
Enzo stepped beside her.
“Enough.””
The old man looked amused.
“You’re still protecting her.””
“Yes.””
“After everything?””
“Yes.””
The old man sighed.
“You always were sentimental.””
Adeline looked between them.
“You know each other too well.””
Enzo’s expression remained cold.
“He was my father.””
The old man smiled.
“And she is my granddaughter.””
The words finally landed.
Not as information.
As a wound.
Adeline stared.
“No.””
The old man tilted his head.
“You can deny it, but blood does not disappear.””
“My mother never told me.””
“Your mother lied often.””
Adeline’s anger rose.
“Don’t talk about her.””
The old man studied her.
“Still defending her.””
“She protected me.””
“She stole you from me.””
The sentence revealed everything.
Not regret.
Not sadness.
Ownership.
Adeline looked at Enzo.
“She ran because of him.””
“Yes.””
The old man’s eyes narrowed.
“Careful, Enzo.””
A warning.
Not a threat.
Something worse.
A reminder.
“You forget who gave you power.””
Enzo’s voice became quiet.
“I know exactly who did.””
The old man looked disappointed.
“You were always weak when it came to Evelyn.””
Adeline froze.
“What does Evelyn have to do with you?””
The old man walked toward the window.
“Your mother discovered the truth about this family.””
“She discovered you.””
“Yes.””
“And she tried to expose you.””
“Yes.””
“Then why did she survive?””
The old man looked back.
“She didn’t.””
The room became silent.
Adeline felt her heart stop.
“What?””
“She died because she chose the wrong side.””
Enzo moved instantly.
But Adeline stopped him.
“No.””
Her voice shook.
“I need to hear this.””
She looked at the old man.
“Where is her body?””
A pause.
The old man didn’t answer.
That was enough.
“You don’t know.””
His expression changed.
Only slightly.
Adeline saw it.
“You lied.””
For the first time, the old man looked angry.
“You sound like your mother.””
“I’ll take that as a compliment.””
The corner of Enzo’s mouth almost moved.
Almost.
Then the old man turned toward him.
“You brought her here because you wanted revenge.””
Enzo said nothing.
“You thought she could destroy me.””
Still nothing.
“But you forgot one thing.””
The old man smiled.
“She is not just Evelyn’s daughter.””
He looked at Adeline.
“She is mine.””
Adeline felt sick.
“I am not yours.””
The old man stepped closer.
“You will understand eventually.””
“No.””
Her voice became stronger.
“I won’t.””
The confidence surprised even her.
“I spent my whole life with people telling me who I was.””
She looked at Enzo.
“Then I came here and found out everyone lied.””
She looked back at the old man.
“But I’m done letting other people write my story.””
For a moment, nobody spoke.
Then the old man laughed.
A quiet laugh.
Not because she was funny.
Because he was impressed.
“Evelyn truly did raise you well.””
He turned to leave.
Adeline watched him.
“Wait.””
He stopped.
“What happened to my mother?””
The old man didn’t turn around.
“You want the truth?””
“Yes.””
“She trusted someone who loved her.””
Adeline looked at Enzo.
The old man smiled.
“And that was her mistake.””
Then he left.
The silence afterward felt heavier.
Adeline turned slowly.
“Did you love her?””
Enzo didn’t answer.
She already knew.
But she needed to hear it.
“Yes.””
The word was barely audible.
“She knew?””
“Yes.””
“And?””
Enzo looked down.
“She loved me too.””
Adeline swallowed.
“Then why didn’t you save her?””
The question destroyed the calm between them.
For the first time, Enzo looked broken.
“Because I chose wrong.””
A pause.
“I thought I could defeat my father alone.””
He looked at her.
“And while I was fighting him, he was hurting the person I was trying to protect.””
Adeline felt tears forming.
Not for Enzo.
Not yet.
For her mother.
For the years stolen.
For the life she never got.
Then Thomas rushed into the room.
His face was pale.
“Enzo.””
Everyone turned.
“What happened?”” Enzo asked.
Thomas looked at Adeline.
Then lowered his voice.
“Mrs. Bellini found something.””
“What?””
“A hidden file.””
Adeline stepped forward.
“What file?””
Thomas swallowed.
“One that proves what happened the night your mother disappeared.””
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A pause.
“And it has your name on it.””
