Chapter 4 - The Secret Adrian Left Behind
A woman dropped a photograph onto the floor and whispered:
"Your brother died trying to protect Lily."
When Gabriel Moretti entered Emma's room, he found an old envelope hidden beneath her bed.
Inside was a letter with Adrian Moretti's handwriting.
The final line was clear:
"Trust the woman who saves my niece."
Gabriel suddenly realized Emma was never his enemy.
For several seconds, nobody moved.
Gabriel stood in the doorway.
Emma stood beside the small table.
The photograph remained in her hand.
The same photograph that had been sent to him minutes earlier.
A picture of Lily as a newborn.
A picture someone had used to threaten him.
But Emma wasn't afraid of the photograph.
She was afraid of him seeing it.
"Explain."
Gabriel's voice was calm.
Too calm.
Emma swallowed.
"Mr. Moretti..."
"Not my title."
His eyes narrowed.
"Explain."
Emma looked down.
For the first time since she entered his home, she looked uncertain.
Not guilty.
Not defensive.
Just tired.
"I didn't want you to find out this way."
Gabriel stepped into the room.
"You knew Adrian."
Emma slowly nodded.
"Yes."
The answer hit harder than he expected.
Eight years.
Eight years since his brother's funeral.
Eight years since Gabriel buried the only person who knew him before power changed him.
And now a woman he barely knew was standing in his house saying she knew the truth about Adrian.
"How?"
Emma looked toward the photograph.
"Because Adrian found me first."
Gabriel said nothing.
She continued.
"Before he died."
The words made the room feel smaller.
"Tell me everything."
Emma sat down.
Gabriel remained standing.
Because sitting felt impossible.
"Eight years ago, I was working at a children's rehabilitation center."
Gabriel listened.
"Adrian came there under a different name."
"Why?"
"Because he believed someone was following him."
Gabriel's expression changed.
"My brother?"
Emma nodded.
"He didn't trust anyone close to him."
A pause.
"Not even you."
That sentence hurt.
But Gabriel didn't react.
He had spent years learning how to hide pain.
"What did he find?"
Emma looked at him.
"He found out someone inside the Moretti organization was using your companies to move money."
Gabriel's eyes hardened.
"Who?"
"I don't know."
"You're lying."
"I'm not."
Emma's voice became stronger.
"Adrian never told me the name."
"Why?"
"Because he said if I knew, I would become a target."
Silence.
Gabriel looked around the room.
The woman who had been caring for his daughter.
The woman who had hidden a connection to his dead brother.
The woman who somehow knew things about his family that even he didn't know.
"You expect me to believe this?"
Emma nodded slowly.
"No."
That surprised him.
"I expect you to be angry."
She looked at him.
"I would be."
Gabriel stared.
"You lied to me."
"Yes."
"Why?"
Emma's eyes moved toward the hallway.
Toward Lily's room.
"Because Adrian asked me to protect her."
Gabriel froze.
"Protect who?"
Emma looked back.
"Lily."
The name sounded impossible.
Eight years ago, Lily didn't exist.
At least not in Gabriel's memory.
Emma noticed his confusion.
"Adrian knew something was wrong before the girls were born."
Gabriel's face changed.
"What are you saying?"
Emma reached into a drawer.
She pulled out a small envelope.
Old.
Damaged.
The edges were worn.
"I was supposed to give this to you when Lily turned two."
Gabriel stared at it.
"Why didn't you?"
"Because I was afraid."
"Of me?"
Emma shook her head.
"Of what would happen after you opened it."
Gabriel took the envelope.
His fingers recognized the handwriting before his eyes did.
Adrian.
His brother's handwriting.
The same handwriting from childhood birthday cards.
The same handwriting from the last message Adrian ever sent him.
Gabriel opened it.
Inside was one page.
Only a few lines.
Gabriel,
If you are reading this, it means I failed to tell you everything myself.
Do not trust the people who tell you Lily's condition is random.
Do not trust the reports.
Someone wanted you to believe she was weaker than she is.
Someone wanted you distracted.
Protect her.
Protect both girls.
And trust Emma Brooks.
She is the only person who knows what happened.
Gabriel stopped reading.
His hands tightened around the paper.
The room disappeared for a moment.
Because there was one sentence he couldn't ignore.
Lily's condition wasn't random.
For years, doctors had explained it.
A complication.
A medical issue.
Bad luck.
But Adrian believed otherwise.
"Where is the rest?"
Emma looked away.
"There was more."
Gabriel looked up.
"Where?"
"I don't know."
"Emma."
His voice changed.
The dangerous voice.
The one that made people confess.
She didn't move.
"Adrian hid everything."
"Where?"
"He said you would find it when you were ready."
Gabriel almost laughed.
Not because it was funny.
Because it sounded exactly like Adrian.
Always believing there was another move.
Another secret.
Another plan.
Gabriel looked at the letter again.
Then at Emma.
"Why become a maid?"
Emma answered immediately.
"Because I needed to be close to Lily."
"And you thought I would let a stranger near my daughter?"
"No."
A pause.
"I thought you would never let someone near your daughter."
That hurt because it was true.
Gabriel had built walls around Lily.
Walls made of guards.
Doctors.
Rules.
Nobody entered without approval.
Nobody got close.
Except Emma.
Somehow, Lily had chosen her.
A sound came from the hallway.
Small footsteps.
Gabriel turned.
Lily stood there.
Holding her walker.
Her eyes moved between him and Emma.
"Daddy?"
His expression softened instantly.
"What are you doing awake?"
The little girl looked at Emma.
Then back at him.
"Are you mad?"
Gabriel looked at his daughter.
The question wasn't about Emma.
It wasn't about the letter.
It was about him.
He walked toward Lily.
"No."
She studied his face.
"Promise?"
Gabriel kneeled.
A mafia boss kneeling on the floor of his own mansion.
Again.
"I promise."
Lily reached forward.
Then hugged him.
Gabriel closed his eyes.
For a moment, everything else disappeared.
But then Lily whispered something.
Something so quiet he almost missed it.
"That bad man came again."
Gabriel opened his eyes.
"What bad man?"
Lily pointed toward the hallway.
"The one who watches."
The temperature in the room changed.
Emma went pale.
Gabriel slowly stood.
"When?"
Lily looked down.
"Last night."
Gabriel looked at Emma.
"Why didn't you tell me?"
Emma's face changed.
"Because I thought..."
She stopped.
Gabriel's voice sharpened.
"You thought what?"
Emma looked terrified.
"That he already knew you were watching."
Nobody spoke.
Then Gabriel's phone rang.
Marcus.
He answered.
"What?"
The security chief sounded rushed.
"Boss, we found the person who accessed the hidden camera system."
Gabriel looked at Emma.
"Who?"
A pause.
Then Marcus said:
"You need to see this yourself."
Gabriel walked toward the office.
The entire house moved with him.
Guards followed.
Emma carried Lily.
Sophia held her sister's hand.
Nobody understood what was happening.
Except Gabriel.
Something inside his home had been waiting.
Watching.
When they reached the security room, Marcus was standing in front of the largest monitor.
His face was pale.
Gabriel looked at the screen.
A video was paused.
A person stood in the hallway outside Lily's nursery.
The date was from last night.
The person slowly turned toward the camera.
Gabriel stepped closer.
Because he knew that face.
He had buried that face eight years ago.
The screen flickered.
May you like
Then the person opened their mouth.
And said Gabriel's name.
