Chapter 6 - The Enemy Who Knew Her Pain
The box was still locked.
Alessandro stared at it.
The message on his phone remained unchanged.
You were never supposed to find what is inside that box.
For the first time in years, he hesitated.
Not because he was afraid of what was inside.
Because he was afraid of what it meant.
Someone had been watching.
Someone had known.
Someone had been closer to Grace than he was.
He reached for the box.
The old wood was covered in dust.
But the lock was new.
Someone had opened it recently.
Someone had closed it again.
Alessandro noticed the small scratch beside the keyhole.
A mark.
A warning.
His father used to use that symbol.
A hidden message between family members.
Only the Bellandi bloodline knew what it meant.
Danger inside.
His breathing slowed.
"Marco."
His bodyguard stepped closer.
"Yes, boss?"
"Nobody enters this room."
Marco looked at the box.
"Not even you?"
Alessandro looked at him.
"Especially not me."
Because for once, he didn't want protection.
He wanted the truth.
He inserted the key.
The lock clicked.
The sound echoed through the empty room.
The lid opened slowly.
Inside were documents.
Photographs.
Old files.
And a small envelope with Grace's name written across it.
Alessandro froze.
Not because of the name.
Because of the handwriting.
It was his father's.
He picked up the envelope.
The date on it was six years ago.
The same year Leo was born.
His hands tightened.
He opened it.
The first line destroyed him.
Alessandro, if you are reading this, then Grace has already left you.
He stopped.
His father's words continued.
And if Grace left you, it means I failed to protect both of you.
Alessandro sat down.
His father had been dead for four years.
Yet somehow, he was still controlling the truth from beyond the grave.
He read faster.
You believe our enemies are outside this family. You are wrong.
His eyes narrowed.
The person who threatened Grace was someone who had access to everything. Someone who knew her movements. Someone who knew about Leo before you did.
Alessandro's jaw tightened.
Inside the room.
In the middle of his family's secrets.
The truth was finally appearing.
But every answer created another question.
Who?
Who had betrayed them?
He continued.
I tried to remove this person from the organization. I failed.
A cold feeling moved through him.
His father had failed?
The man who built the Bellandi empire?
The man who controlled an entire network?
Failed?
Then he reached the next sentence.
And his entire world shifted.
Because the person responsible carries our last name.
Alessandro stopped reading.
No.
Impossible.
His family.
His blood.
Someone close.
Someone trusted.
A sound came from outside.
Alessandro immediately closed the folder.
"Marco."
The door opened.
Marco entered quickly.
"Boss."
"What happened?"
Marco looked serious.
"We found Grace."
For one second, Alessandro forgot how to breathe.
"Where?"
Marco hesitated.
That was enough.
Alessandro stood.
"Where?"
"She is in the northern district."
"Is Leo with her?"
Marco nodded.
"Yes."
Relief appeared for only a moment.
Then Marco continued.
"But someone else is there."
Alessandro's expression changed.
"Who?"
Marco placed a photograph on the table.
It showed Grace.
Standing outside an old house.
And beside her...
Victor Moretti.
Again.
Alessandro stared at the image.
His first emotion wasn't anger.
It was confusion.
Because Grace didn't look afraid.
She looked like she trusted him.
That hurt more.
"Why is she with him?"
Marco didn't answer.
Because nobody knew.
Alessandro grabbed his coat.
"I'm going."
Marco followed.
"Boss, it could be a trap."
Alessandro stopped.
A year ago, he would have sent an army.
Today, he only said:
"I don't care."
Marco looked surprised.
Alessandro looked back.
"My wife is there."
A pause.
"And my son."
Grace sat across from Victor in the old house.
Leo was upstairs.
Sleeping.
For the first time in days, Grace allowed herself to relax.
Victor poured tea.
She didn't touch it.
"You knew he would find out."
Victor looked at her.
"Eventually."
"You knew Alessandro would come."
"Yes."
Grace looked away.
"Then why did you give him the key?"
Victor was silent.
Because he knew this was not a simple question.
It was a question filled with years of pain.
"Because he deserves the truth."
Grace laughed softly.
"The truth?"
Her eyes became emotional.
"The truth is that he had a family and didn't even know."
Victor lowered his gaze.
"You wanted to tell him."
Grace said nothing.
Because it was true.
She had wanted to.
So many times.
She remembered the night she discovered she was pregnant.
She remembered standing in their kitchen.
Holding the test.
Waiting for Alessandro to come home.
She waited until midnight.
Then two.
Then three.
When he finally arrived, he was injured.
Blood on his shirt.
Anger in his eyes.
Problems following him everywhere.
She looked at him.
Ready to tell him.
But then he received a phone call.
Another emergency.
Another enemy.
Another reason why she came second.
That was the moment she decided.
She would raise her child alone.
Not because she wanted revenge.
Because she wanted peace.
"I loved him," Grace whispered.
Victor nodded.
"I know."
"But love isn't enough."
"No."
Victor looked at her.
"It isn't."
Then the front door opened.
Grace froze.
She knew that sound.
She knew those footsteps.
Slow.
Controlled.
Familiar.
Victor stood.
"He's here."
Grace's heart raced.
"No."
She wasn't ready.
Not after everything.
Not after seeing his face in the restaurant.
Not after remembering how alone she felt.
The door opened.
Alessandro stepped inside.
For a moment, neither of them spoke.
Six years of secrets.
Six years of pain.
Six years of missing moments.
All standing between them.
His eyes moved to her.
Then to Leo's room upstairs.
Then back to her.
"Is it true?"
Grace knew what he meant.
She looked down.
"Alessandro..."
His voice broke slightly.
"Is he my son?"
The question hurt.
Because even now, after everything...
He still sounded like the man she fell in love with.
Not the king.
Not the monster.
Just Alessandro.
She slowly nodded.
"Yes."
The word destroyed him.
His eyes closed.
A thousand emotions crossed his face.
Pain.
Regret.
Love.
Fear.
Then a small voice came from upstairs.
"Mom?"
Everyone froze.
Leo appeared at the top of the stairs.
His eyes moved toward Alessandro.
And Alessandro looked at him.
For the first time.
Father and son.
The boy stared.
Then whispered:
"Why does he look like me?"
Grace stepped forward.
"Leo..."
But before she could answer, the lights in the entire house suddenly went out.
Victor's expression changed instantly.
"Everyone down."
A loud crash came from outside.
Glass shattered.
Then Alessandro's phone received a message.
One picture.
Taken seconds earlier.
A picture of Leo standing on the stairs.
Under it was one sentence.
May you like
I told you he was never yours to protect.
And then the front door slowly opened from the outside.
