Chapter 6 - The Truth Adrian Tried To Bury
A man appeared behind the open door, holding a bloodstained envelope: "Isabella, Adrian never wanted you to see this." When Isabella Moretti discovered the envelope contained her own name written eight years before she met Adrian, she found a hidden photograph of herself beside Adrian's father. On the back of the photograph was one sentence: "The plan started before the wedding." I finally understood my marriage was built on a secret nobody wanted me to uncover.
The person standing at the entrance did not move.
Neither did we.
For a few seconds, the entire underground room felt frozen in time.
I stared at the man.
I didn't recognize him.
But everyone else did.
Daniel's expression changed first.
Not fear.
Not anger.
Pain.
"Michael."
The name echoed through the room.
Victor immediately stepped back.
Lauren lowered her eyes.
And I felt my stomach drop.
Because somehow, everyone knew another secret except me.
The stranger walked inside.
He looked older than Adrian.
His face carried the same sharp features.
The same cold eyes.
The same family resemblance that made my heart race.
But there was something different.
Adrian always looked like a man fighting to control his emotions.
This man looked like someone who had already lost everything.
Daniel took a step forward.
"You were dead."
The man smiled slightly.
"That's what everyone needed to believe."
I looked at Daniel.
"Who is he?"
Nobody answered.
The stranger looked at me.
"My name is Michael Vale."
Another Vale.
Another secret.
Another impossible piece of a puzzle I never knew existed.
"Adrian had a brother named Daniel," I said slowly.
Michael nodded.
"And another one."
My breath caught.
"Another one?"
Daniel looked away.
I felt anger rising inside me.
Not fear.
Not confusion.
Anger.
"How many secrets did your family have?"
Nobody responded.
Because nobody had a good answer.
Michael walked toward the table and placed the envelope beside the old key.
"The truth about Isabella isn't in the files."
He looked at Lauren.
"It isn't in the videos."
Then he looked at Daniel.
"And it isn't in Adrian's memories."
His eyes returned to me.
"It's in the one place nobody thought to look."
I stared at the envelope.
"Where?"
Michael didn't answer.
Instead, he pushed it toward me.
"Open it."
My hands hesitated.
I didn't know why.
Maybe because some part of me already knew.
Whatever was inside would change everything.
I opened the envelope.
Inside were documents.
Old documents.
The first page had my name.
Isabella Moretti.
My birthday.
My childhood address.
My entire history.
But then I saw the date.
Eight years earlier.
Before I met Adrian.
Before our first conversation.
Before the charity event where our lives supposedly crossed by chance.
I looked at Michael.
"Why was my information collected before I knew Adrian?"
His expression became serious.
"Because you weren't found by Adrian."
The room became silent.
"You were selected."
The word made my skin crawl.
"Selected for what?"
Michael looked at Daniel.
Daniel closed his eyes.
Like he had been carrying this answer for years.
"To become the one person Adrian would never suspect."
I felt sick.
"Suspect what?"
Michael opened another file.
Inside was a photograph.
My photograph.
Standing beside Adrian's father.
I had never seen it before.
But the person in the picture was clearly me.
Younger.
Different hairstyle.
But me.
I shook my head.
"That isn't possible."
Michael placed another document beside it.
A report.
A meeting record.
A name at the bottom.
Adrian's father.
And below it...
Lauren's name.
I turned toward her.
She didn't deny it.
"Why?"
My voice cracked.
"Why was I involved?"
Lauren looked at me.
"I never knew the entire plan."
I laughed bitterly.
"That's supposed to make me feel better?"
"No."
Her answer was immediate.
"I know it doesn't."
For the first time, I saw something real in her eyes.
Regret.
"I was told Adrian needed someone he could trust."
I stared.
"So you found me."
Lauren shook her head.
"No."
She looked at Michael.
"He did."
Everyone became silent.
I turned toward Michael.
"You chose me?"
Michael didn't answer immediately.
That silence was enough.
"Why?"
He looked down.
"Because you were the only person who could make Adrian vulnerable."
I felt something break inside me.
Because that was the one thing I had always believed.
That Adrian loved me because I was different.
Because I saw him.
Not the empire.
Not the power.
Not the fear.
But now I wondered.
Was I different?
Or was I simply useful?
My phone suddenly vibrated.
Everyone turned.
I looked at the screen.
A message from Adrian.
Only one sentence.
"I know who took you."
My heart jumped.
I immediately replied.
"Where are you?"
The message showed delivered.
No answer came.
Michael watched me.
"Don't contact him."
I looked up.
"Why?"
"Because Adrian is being watched."
The room went quiet.
"By who?"
Michael looked at the old files.
"The same person who has been controlling this from the beginning."
I looked at Lauren.
She shook her head.
"It's not me."
Michael nodded.
"I know."
That surprised everyone.
Especially Lauren.
Michael continued.
"Lauren made mistakes."
He looked at her.
"But she wasn't the one pulling the strings."
Daniel stepped forward.
"Then who was?"
Michael didn't answer.
Instead, he walked toward the computer.
He inserted a small drive.
A new video appeared.
No title.
No date.
Only a symbol.
A symbol I recognized.
Adrian's family crest.
The video started.
A man appeared on screen.
Adrian.
But not the Adrian I knew.
This Adrian was younger.
Angrier.
Terrified.
He looked directly into the camera.
"If you are watching this, then the person who planned everything has already found Isabella."
My heart stopped.
Michael looked at me.
The video continued.
"Isabella, I need you to understand one thing."
Adrian paused.
"I never met you by accident."
I felt tears forming.
Not because I was surprised.
Because I already knew.
But I wasn't ready to hear him say it.
The video continued.
"The first time I saw you, I thought I was choosing you."
The screen flickered.
Then Adrian whispered:
"But the truth is..."
The video froze.
Everyone stared.
The power suddenly cut.
Darkness filled the room.
Then my phone lit up.
One new message.
From Adrian.
Three words.
"She is there."
I looked toward the entrance.
May you like
The underground door slowly opened.
And standing in the doorway was the one person Adrian had been trying to protect me from.
