Chapter 7: The Enemy Who Wanted the Truth
Daniel stood in the doorway like he belonged there.
That was the part that frightened me most.
Not his appearance.
Not his calm voice.
Not even the fact that he had somehow entered a private room during my wedding without anyone stopping him.
It was the confidence.
The way he looked around the room told me he had already imagined this moment.
He wasn’t surprised to see me.
He was expecting me.
Livia pressed herself against my side.
I immediately moved in front of her.
“Stay behind me.””
Daniel’s eyes shifted toward her.
For a second, something changed in his expression.
Something almost human.
Then it disappeared.
“So this is Livia.””
My entire body tensed.
“Don’t say her name.””
Daniel looked back at me.
“You sound like Isabella.””
The mention of her name made my hands tighten.
“You don’t get to talk about my wife.””
His face remained calm.
“She was my sister.””
“She was my wife.””
“And she was the only person who ever tried to save me.””
The room went silent.
Bianca stepped forward.
“Daniel, leave.””
He turned slowly.
“Still protecting him?””
Her expression hardened.
“I said leave.””
Daniel smiled.
A cold smile.
“You always were better at pretending to care than telling the truth.””
Matteo moved beside me.
“Who are you really?””
Daniel looked amused.
“You heard my name.””
“That doesn’t answer the question.””
Daniel glanced at him.
“I’m the person your family erased.””
Nobody spoke.
He walked farther into the room.
Not rushing.
Not threatening.
Almost like he wanted us to listen.
“My father spent years working for Alessandro’s grandfather.””
I watched him carefully.
“Your grandfather destroyed him.””
“My grandfather built a company.””
Daniel laughed softly.
“That’s what history books say.””
I felt anger rise.
“You came here to accuse my dead grandfather?””
“No.””
His eyes locked onto mine.
“I came here because the people who caused my family’s suffering are still alive.””
“And you think that’s me?””
“No.””
That answer surprised me.
Daniel shook his head.
“You are not the reason.””
“Then why are you here?””
His expression became serious.
“Because Isabella found out who was.””
The room changed.
Every secret suddenly pointed somewhere else.
Not Bianca.
Not Daniel.
Someone else.
“Who?””
Daniel looked toward Bianca.
She looked away.
That told me everything.
“Bianca knows.””
My eyes moved to her.
“You know?””
She didn’t answer.
“Bianca.””
Her face tightened.
“I know some of it.””
“Some?””
Daniel laughed.
“You never were good at lying to him.””
Bianca looked at him.
“Neither were you.””
The tension between them was immediate.
Not strangers.
Not enemies.
Something more complicated.
I looked between them.
“What is happening?””
Neither answered.
My patience broke.
“What is happening?””
My voice echoed through the room.
“My wife left a message warning me about Bianca. Bianca says Isabella was investigating Daniel. Daniel says my family destroyed his. My daughter has been carrying secrets because adults around her couldn’t tell the truth.””
I pointed toward the door.
“And now you both walk into my wedding acting like I’m supposed to understand.””
Nobody spoke.
Then Daniel said quietly:
“You’re right.””
I wasn’t expecting that.
He looked at Livia.
“She should never have been involved.””
My anger softened slightly.
Only slightly.
“Then tell me everything.””
Daniel looked at Bianca.
She nodded.
A silent agreement.
That scared me more than anything.
They had a history.
A history I didn’t understand.
Daniel pulled out a small device from his coat.
Matteo immediately reacted.
“What is that?””
“A recorder.””
“Why?””
“Because I know Alessandro won’t believe us.””
He placed it on the table.
“Maybe he shouldn’t.””
I stared at him.
“Start talking.””
Daniel took a breath.
“Three years ago, Isabella discovered financial records connecting your company to my father’s downfall.””
I frowned.
“My grandfather?””
“Yes.””
“But he died years ago.””
“Exactly.””
The words hit me.
“What does that mean?””
“It means the person who benefited from what happened wasn’t your grandfather.””
Daniel looked directly at me.
“Someone inside your family continued what he started.””
A chill moved through me.
“Who?””
Daniel didn’t answer.
Instead, he looked at Matteo.
Then at Bianca.
“Ask them.””
My eyes narrowed.
“Ask who?””
Daniel’s expression hardened.
“Ask why Isabella was investigating your uncle.””
The room went completely still.
My uncle.
Victor.
My father’s younger brother.
The man who had helped me after Isabella died.
The man who stood beside me at the funeral.
The man who hugged Livia and told her he would always protect her.
“No.””
Daniel watched me.
“You trust him.””
“He’s family.””
“That’s why he was able to hide.””
My phone suddenly vibrated.
Everyone looked at it.
A message.
From an unknown number.
My fingers felt numb as I opened it.
There was a photo.
My uncle Victor standing outside a building.
Talking to someone.
The image was blurry.
But the person beside him was clear enough.
Daniel.
The message below said:
*“Ask your uncle why he paid me to find Isabella.””*
I looked up.
Daniel was watching my reaction.
“This is fake.””
Daniel shook his head.
“Then call him.””
I hesitated.
Nobody moved.
Then I pressed the call button.
Victor answered almost immediately.
“Alessandro? Is everything okay?””
His voice.
The same familiar voice I had trusted my entire life.
I looked at Daniel.
Then Bianca.
Then Livia.
“Uncle Victor.””
“Yes?””
“Where are you?””
A pause.
Small.
But noticeable.
“I’m at the reception area.””
I looked through the office window.
The reception area was visible.
Empty.
My heart sank.
“Victor.””
“Yes?””
“Don’t lie to me.””
Silence.
Longer this time.
“What happened?””
I gripped the phone.
“Did you know Daniel?””
The line went quiet.
Then Victor said:
“Who told you that name?””
I closed my eyes.
That was the answer.
I ended the call.
Nobody spoke.
Because we all knew.
Daniel was telling the truth.
At least about that.
Matteo looked at me.
“Alessandro…”
I ignored him.
I turned to Bianca.
“Why did Isabella warn me about you?””
Bianca’s eyes filled.
“Because she thought I betrayed her.””
“Did you?””
She didn’t answer immediately.
Then she whispered:
“Yes.””
My heart sank.
“What?””
“I betrayed her.””
Daniel looked down.
Even he seemed affected.
Bianca continued.
“But not the way you think.””
I stared at her.
“Explain.””
She wiped her eyes.
“I was the one who gave Victor information.””
The room went silent.
“What information?””
“About Isabella’s investigation.””
My anger returned instantly.
“You helped him?””
“I didn’t know what he planned.””
“You gave him information about my wife.””
“Yes.””
“Why?””
Bianca looked at Livia.
And what she said next changed everything.
“Because Victor threatened her.””
My blood ran cold.
“Threatened who?””
Bianca’s voice broke.
“Livia.””
My daughter.
I pulled her closer.
“What did he threaten?””
Bianca looked at me.
“He told me if I didn’t cooperate…”
She swallowed.
“…he would make sure Livia disappeared the same way Isabella did.””
Nobody moved.
Nobody breathed.
Then Daniel spoke quietly.
“And now you know why Isabella left that warning.””
I looked at him.
“Why?””
His eyes were filled with anger.
“Because she discovered Victor wasn’t just hiding the past.””
A pause.
“He was planning to repeat it.””
Suddenly, the office lights flickered again.
The door behind us slammed shut.
A second later, my phone received another message.
This time, there was no photo.
Only words.
*“You should have listened to me, Alessandro.””*
I stared at the screen.
Because I knew the sender.
Victor.
May you like
And beneath the message was one final line.
*“Your daughter is not safe anymore.””*
