Chapter 9: The Last Promise
Julian was gone.
That was the first thing Adeline noticed.
His room was empty.
His suitcase was missing.
The only thing left behind was the photograph from the envelope.
The one of her and her mother.
She held it tightly.
“He left.””
Enzo stood behind her.
“He knew.””
“Knew what?””
“That someone would come for him.””
Adeline turned.
“You think he ran?””
Enzo didn’t answer.
That meant yes.
She hated how quickly she was beginning to understand his silence.
“Find him.””
Enzo looked at her.
“Adeline.””
“Find him.””
“There’s something you need to know.””
She stared.
“Every time someone says that, my life gets worse.””
“I know.””
“Then tell me anyway.””
Enzo walked toward the desk.
He picked up a file.
“This was found in the old Croft house.””
Adeline opened it.
Inside were reports.
Medical records.
Photos.
And one document.
Her name was at the top.
She read the first line.
*Subject: Adeline Croft.*
Her hands shook.
“What is this?””
Enzo’s voice was quiet.
“A memory treatment report.””
She looked up.
“What?””
“After the fire, someone altered your memories.””
Adeline stared.
“No.””
“Yes.””
“Who?””
Enzo hesitated.
That hesitation destroyed her.
“Who?””
“My father.””
The room went silent.
She laughed once.
A broken sound.
“So everyone was right.””
“About what?””
“I never had a normal life.””
Enzo stepped closer.
“Adeline.””
“No.””
She looked at the papers.
“My childhood was edited.””
Her voice became softer.
“My memories were taken.””
She looked at him.
“And you knew.””
“I suspected.””
“You always suspect.””
The words hurt him.
Good.
She wanted him to feel something.
Anything.
Then the office door opened.
Julian stood there.
Everyone froze.
Adeline stared.
“You came back.””
Julian looked exhausted.
“I never left.””
Enzo immediately reached for the weapon hidden beneath his jacket.
Julian raised his hands.
“I’m not here to fight.””
“Then why disappear?””
Julian looked at Adeline.
“Because I found the person who erased your memories.””
Her heart stopped.
“Who?””
Julian swallowed.
“Someone you trust.””
The room became cold.
Adeline looked at Enzo.
He looked back.
Then Julian said:
“Mrs. Bellini.””
Silence.
“No.””
Adeline shook her head.
“She’s worked here for decades.””
“Yes.””
“She protected me.””
Julian’s expression was painful.
“She was the one who kept you alive.””
Adeline frowned.
“What does that mean?””
Julian looked at Enzo.
“Tell her.””
Enzo’s face hardened.
“I can’t.””
“Then I will.””
Julian stepped forward.
“The night your mother disappeared, Mrs. Bellini was the one who took you away.””
Adeline stared.
“Why?””
“Because your mother asked her to.””
A strange relief appeared.
Then disappeared.
“But why erase my memories?””
Julian looked down.
“Because you saw something.””
“What?””
“A murder.””
The room went silent.
Adeline felt cold.
“No.””
“Yes.””
“You’re lying.””
“I wish I was.””
Julian looked at her.
“You saw who killed the person who started everything.””
“Who?””
Julian’s voice became barely a whisper.
“Your mother’s own brother.””
Adeline froze.
“I don’t have an uncle.””
“Yes.””
Julian looked toward the window.
“You do.””
A shadow moved outside.
Enzo immediately turned.
Too late.
The window shattered.
A figure entered.
Not with a weapon.
Not with fear.
With a smile.
Camilla.
Everyone froze.
Adeline stared.
“What are you doing?””
Camilla looked at her.
The cruelty was gone.
The arrogance was gone.
Only exhaustion remained.
“I came to tell you the truth.””
Enzo stepped forward.
“Why should we believe you?””
Camilla looked at him.
“Because I know who your father really is.””
A pause.
Then she looked at Adeline.
“And I know why he was willing to destroy an entire family.””
Adeline whispered:
“Why?””
Camilla’s eyes filled with something close to guilt.
“Because your mother wasn’t protecting a secret.””
She looked at the necklace.
“She was protecting the person who could expose him.””
Adeline touched the pendant.
“Who?””
Camilla answered:
“Your mother.””
The room went silent.
“She didn’t disappear.””
Camilla took a breath.
“She was imprisoned.””
Adeline felt the world tilt.
“Where?””
Camilla looked toward the door.
And whispered:
“By my father.””
A phone rang.
Everyone froze.
Enzo looked at the screen.
Unknown number.
He answered.
A woman’s voice spoke.
Weak.
Distant.
But unmistakable.
“Adeline?””
She stopped breathing.
Because she knew that voice.
Her mother.
And the next words changed everything.
“Don’t trust anyone in that house.””
A pause.
May you like
Then:
“Especially the man standing beside you.””
