Chapter 2 - The Name Hidden Inside The Drawing
Adrian Moretti had spent nineteen days trapped between life and death.
But the first thing he remembered after opening his eyes was not the pain.
It was her.
The woman sitting beside his bed.
The stranger holding a pencil.
The stranger who somehow knew a name that should have disappeared years ago.
"Where did you hear my brother's name?"
His voice was weak, but the question carried something that made Gina freeze.
She looked down at her sketchbook.
Then back at him.
"I didn't hear it from anyone."
Adrian stared at her.
The room suddenly felt smaller.
Every instinct that had kept him alive for years started screaming.
Danger.
Secrets.
A trap.
Because Adrian Moretti knew one thing better than anyone.
Nobody entered his world by accident.
Nobody.
Especially not someone who unknowingly wrote the name of a dead man beneath his portrait.
"My brother died eight years ago," Adrian whispered.
Gina swallowed.
"I don't know your brother."
The answer came quickly.
Too quickly.
Adrian watched her carefully.
Most people lied when they were afraid.
They looked away.
They touched their face.
They changed their story.
Gina did none of those things.
She looked confused.
Almost offended.
Like she couldn't understand why he was questioning her.
That bothered him more than a lie would have.
"Then explain this."
His hand slowly reached toward the sketchbook.
Gina hesitated before handing it to him.
Adrian opened the page.
There was his face.
Drawn carefully.
Every detail captured.
But underneath the drawing were words Gina had written while talking to him.
"Adrian Moretti."
And below that:
"Don't let them bury you twice."
Adrian stopped breathing for a second.
The sentence was not written in Gina's handwriting.
He knew because he had seen that handwriting before.
Years ago.
On letters.
On documents.
On a note left behind by the only person who had ever betrayed him.
His brother.
Matteo Moretti.
"Where did you get this?"
Gina frowned.
"I wrote the first line."
"You didn't write the second."
She looked confused.
"I don't understand."
Adrian turned the page toward her.
The second sentence was written faintly.
Almost invisible.
As if someone had written it years earlier and covered it with another drawing.
Gina stared.
"I swear I didn't write that."
Adrian believed her.
And that scared him.
Because if Gina wasn't responsible...
Someone else had been inside his room.
Someone else knew he would wake up.
Someone else wanted him to find that message.
The door suddenly opened.
Two men in black suits stepped inside.
Adrian immediately recognized them.
His security team.
Marco and Vincent.
They stopped when they saw him awake.
For the first time in years, Adrian saw fear on their faces.
Not surprise.
Not happiness.
Fear.
"Boss..."
Marco stepped forward.
Adrian's eyes narrowed.
"How long?"
Marco looked down.
"How long what?"
"How long have you known I was awake?"
Silence.
That was enough.
Adrian had built an empire by reading silence.
Vincent looked at Gina.
Then quickly looked away.
That small movement told Adrian everything.
"You know her."
Gina turned.
"You know me?"
Vincent immediately shook his head.
"No."
Too fast.
Adrian noticed.
Gina noticed too.
The room became filled with tension.
"I have been coming here every morning," Gina said quietly. "Nobody stopped me."
Marco looked uncomfortable.
"That wasn't supposed to happen."
"What wasn't supposed to happen?"
Nobody answered.
Adrian pushed himself slightly higher on the bed.
Pain shot through his body, but he ignored it.
Power was something you carried even when you were weak.
Especially when you were weak.
"Tell me why a stranger was allowed into my private room for nineteen days."
Marco looked at Vincent.
Vincent looked at the floor.
Adrian's patience disappeared.
"Now."
Marco finally spoke.
"Because we thought she was harmless."
Gina stared.
"Excuse me?"
Marco continued.
"You were the only person who came."
"I came because he was alone."
Adrian looked at her.
That answer was simple.
Too simple.
In his world, nobody stayed beside a dying man without wanting something.
But Gina wanted nothing.
That was impossible.
"Why me?" Adrian asked.
She looked at him.
"What?"
"Why did you keep coming?"
Gina lowered her eyes.
For the first time, Adrian saw sadness.
Not fear.
Not greed.
Sadness.
"Because everyone looked at you like you were already gone."
The words hit harder than he expected.
Gina continued.
"I don't know who you are. I don't know why people are scared of you. I just know that nobody should wake up alone."
Adrian said nothing.
Because he didn't know how to answer.
Nobody had spoken to him like that in years.
People either feared him or wanted something from him.
Gina did neither.
She simply stayed.
A nurse entered the room to check Adrian's condition.
But when she saw him awake, her expression changed.
Only for a moment.
But Adrian caught it.
Fear.
The nurse quickly checked the machines.
"Your recovery is unexpected."
Adrian watched her.
"Unexpected?"
She smiled nervously.
"Yes. You were not supposed to regain consciousness so soon."
The room went quiet.
Adrian looked at Marco.
"Leave."
Everyone froze.
"Boss?"
"Everyone except Gina."
Marco hesitated.
Adrian repeated:
"Leave."
Slowly, everyone walked out.
The door closed.
For the first time, Adrian and Gina were alone.
She stood beside the bed, unsure what to do.
"You should probably hate me."
Adrian looked at her.
"Why would I hate you?"
"Because I was in your room."
"No."
He looked at the sketchbook.
"Because someone used you to send me a message."
Gina became still.
"What message?"
Adrian studied her face.
"You really don't know."
It wasn't a question.
It was a realization.
Gina shook her head.
"No."
Adrian leaned back.
For years, he had believed Matteo was dead.
He had watched his brother's funeral.
He had watched the coffin lowered.
He had watched everyone cry.
But now...
A message appeared.
A handwriting returned.
A warning from someone who shouldn't exist.
Adrian reached for his phone.
The screen was full of missed calls.
Hundreds.
But one message caught his attention.
A number he had deleted eight years ago.
A number that belonged to Matteo.
The message had arrived while he was unconscious.
Only five words.
Adrian stared at the screen.
Gina noticed his expression change.
"What is it?"
He didn't answer.
His hand tightened around the phone.
Because after eight years...
His dead brother had finally contacted him.
And the message said:
"Don't trust the woman sitting beside you."
Adrian slowly looked at Gina.
Before he could speak, the hospital room lights suddenly went dark.
The door handle moved.
May you like
Someone was outside.
Someone who had a key.
