Chapter 2: The Locked Room
The next morning, Adeline woke before sunrise.
She barely slept.
The previous night’s events replayed in her mind.
Camilla’s humiliation.
Enzo’s unexpected intervention.
The shouting upstairs.
Mrs. Bellini’s terrified expression.
The question she couldn’t escape.
Who had made the head housekeeper afraid?
She dressed quickly and entered the kitchen.
The staff moved quietly.
Too quietly.
Usually mornings were filled with the sounds of preparation—the clattering of plates, the hiss of coffee machines, the low conversations between employees.
Today, nobody spoke.
Adeline approached Thomas, the young kitchen assistant who had been the only person kind to her since she arrived.
“What happened last night?””
Thomas immediately looked away.
“Nothing.””
“That’s not true.””
“Adeline.””
His voice lowered.
“You’re new here. You don’t understand.””
She placed the tray of freshly polished silverware on the counter.
“Then explain it.””
Thomas looked around before speaking.
“The room at the end of the east hallway.””
Adeline’s fingers stopped moving.
“What about it?””
“Nobody goes there.””
“Why?””
Thomas hesitated.
“Because Mr. Marchetti said so.””
“That doesn’t explain why everyone looks terrified.””
Thomas wiped his hands on his apron.
“Some rules exist because people are afraid of breaking them.””
Adeline studied him.
“You know something.””
“I know enough to know I want to keep my job.””
Before she could answer, the kitchen doors opened.
Mrs. Bellini entered.
The entire room immediately became silent.
Her gaze moved toward Adeline.
“Mr. Marchetti requested you.””
A strange tension passed through the room.
Adeline frowned.
“Me?””
“Yes.””
“When?””
“Now.””
Nobody looked at her.
That bothered her more than anything.
She followed Mrs. Bellini through the marble corridors toward Enzo’s private office.
Every step felt heavier.
The estate was different during the day.
Without guests and music, its beauty became colder.
The paintings on the walls seemed to watch.
The statues looked like silent guards.
Mrs. Bellini stopped outside the office door.
“You should be careful.””
Adeline looked at her.
“About what?””
The older woman lowered her voice.
“About thinking powerful men are kind just because they save you once.””
Then she walked away.
Adeline stared at the closed door.
A moment later, it opened.
“Come in.””
Enzo’s voice.
She entered.
The office was enormous.
Dark wood shelves lined the walls. A fireplace burned quietly. Documents covered a large desk, but everything was arranged with almost obsessive precision.
Enzo stood by the window, looking over the estate grounds.
“You asked for me, sir?””
He turned.
“You were working in the east corridor yesterday.””
Adeline stiffened.
“Yes.””
“Near the private rooms.””
“Yes.””
His eyes studied her reaction.
“What did you hear?””
The question surprised her.
“Nothing.””
A pause.
Enzo walked closer.
“You’re lying.””
Adeline looked down.
“I heard shouting.””
“From where?””
She hesitated.
“The east hallway.””
His expression didn’t change.
“Did you see anyone?””
“No.””
“Did anyone else see you?””
She thought of Mrs. Bellini.
“No.””
For several seconds, he said nothing.
Then he walked to his desk and picked up a folder.
“Your employment record.””
Adeline’s heart tightened.
“Sir?””
“You were recommended by someone.””
“I applied through the agency.””
“No.””
His voice was calm.
“You were placed here by someone.””
She stared at him.
“That’s not true.””
Enzo opened the folder.
“Your agency received a request for a specific employee.””
Adeline felt a chill.
“Who requested me?””
He looked at her.
“That is what I’m trying to find out.””
The room became silent.
“You don’t know?””
“No.””
For the first time, she saw something unfamiliar in Enzo Marchetti’s face.
Not anger.
Not control.
Uncertainty.
“You came here eleven days ago,” he said.
“Your background is clean. Almost too clean.””
Adeline crossed her arms.
“Are you accusing me of something?””
“No.””
“Then why question me?””
“Because someone wanted you inside this house.””
The words landed heavily.
Adeline looked away.
“I don’t know why.””
“I believe you.””
That surprised her.
“Why?””
“Because people who lie usually prepare their answers.””
His gaze moved to her bandaged finger.
“You didn’t.””
Adeline didn’t know what to say.
Then a loud knock interrupted them.
The office door opened.
Camilla walked inside without permission.
Her face was colder than the night before.
“Enzo, we need to talk.””
His expression immediately hardened.
“Leave.””
Camilla laughed softly.
“You’re really protecting her?””
Adeline turned.
Camilla’s eyes were fixed on her.
Not with amusement anymore.
With hatred.
“You don’t even know who she is.””
Enzo stepped between them.
“That is enough.””
“No, it isn’t.””
Camilla pulled something from her handbag.
A photograph.
She placed it on the desk.
Adeline saw her own face.
Her breath stopped.
It was a picture of her.
Taken years ago.
Before she ever entered the Marchetti estate.
Enzo picked it up.
His eyes narrowed.
“Where did you get this?””
Camilla smiled.
“Ask your little servant why she changed her name.””
Adeline felt the room tilt.
Because that was impossible.
She had never changed her name.
Had she?
Enzo looked at her.
“Adeline.””
Her throat went dry.
“Yes?””
His voice became quieter.
“Who are you?””
Before she could answer, the office phone rang.
Enzo picked it up.
His expression changed after hearing only three words.
“Impossible.””
He looked directly at Adeline.
Then he slowly lowered the phone.
“The person who hired you…”
A pause.
“He just arrived at the estate.””
Adeline’s blood ran cold.
“Who?””
Enzo stared toward the door.
And when he answered, his voice carried something she had never heard before.
May you like
Fear.
“Your father.””
