Chapter 5 - The Woman Who Knew The Truth
"Alexander..."
The voice from the mansion speakers filled the hidden room.
Nobody moved.
Nobody spoke.
Because everyone in the room knew that voice.
Alexander Romano had spent fifteen years believing he would never hear it again.
His mother's voice.
The woman who disappeared the same night his father vanished.
The woman Matteo Romano said had left by choice.
The woman Alexander had buried in his mind long ago.
But she was alive.
Standing inside his home.
Waiting for him.
Alexander stared at the security monitor.
The woman on the screen looked older.
Her dark hair had turned silver.
Her face carried years of pain.
But there was no mistake.
It was Isabella Romano.
His mother.
Luca looked at Alexander.
"She wasn't supposed to be here."
Alexander didn't look away from the screen.
"You knew."
Luca remained silent.
That was enough.
Alexander turned slowly.
"You knew she was alive."
"I knew she survived."
The answer made the room colder.
"Survived?"
Alexander's voice sharpened.
"You let me believe she was dead."
Luca looked down.
"I believed it was safer."
Alexander laughed once.
A bitter sound.
"Everyone keeps deciding what's safer for me."
His eyes moved to Elena.
"Everyone except me."
Elena didn't defend herself.
Because she knew he was right.
For his entire life, people had hidden things from him.
His father.
His enemies.
His own family.
And now a maid who somehow knew more about his past than he did.
The intercom activated again.
Isabella's voice returned.
"Alexander, if you are hearing this, then you opened the vault."
Alexander stepped toward the speaker.
"You have five seconds to explain why I shouldn't consider you an enemy."
Silence.
Then his mother's voice softened.
"I know you hate me."
Alexander froze.
Because she was right.
"I know you think I abandoned you."
His jaw tightened.
"I know you think Matteo left you alone because he didn't care."
The room became still.
"But you were wrong."
Alexander looked away.
He hated those words.
Not because they hurt.
Because some part of him wanted them to be true.
"You don't get to rewrite fifteen years."
"I know."
Her voice cracked slightly.
"I don't deserve forgiveness."
A pause.
"But you deserve the truth."
Alexander looked at the screen.
"Then come down here."
Another silence.
"I can't."
His expression changed.
"Why?"
"Because the person who betrayed your father is still watching."
Everyone looked around.
The hidden room suddenly felt smaller.
Alexander's instincts took over.
"Who?"
His mother didn't answer immediately.
When she finally spoke, her voice was barely a whisper.
"Someone you call family."
The screen went black.
The connection ended.
Alexander stood motionless.
Family.
The word had become a weapon.
Luca moved toward the security panel.
"We need to leave."
Alexander looked at him.
"Why?"
"Because if Isabella is right, this room is compromised."
"How?"
Luca pointed at the screens.
"Someone already knew we were here."
Alexander looked at the monitor.
The cameras had gone dark.
Every single one.
Except one.
The camera inside the underground hallway.
A figure was standing outside.
Watching.
Waiting.
Alexander immediately recognized the posture.
The confidence.
The complete lack of fear.
"Who is that?"
Nobody answered.
Elena walked closer.
Then stopped.
Her face changed.
"No."
Alexander looked at her.
"What?"
She stared at the screen.
"That can't be."
"Who is it?"
Elena's hands began shaking.
"It's the person my mother warned me about."
Luca moved beside her.
His expression turned serious.
"Who?"
Elena whispered.
"The person who erased Luca's name."
The figure outside slowly stepped closer to the camera.
The face became visible.
Alexander felt his entire body go cold.
Because the person standing outside wasn't a stranger.
It was someone who had been beside him for years.
Someone he trusted.
Someone who knew every weakness inside the Romano family.
His right hand.
His closest advisor.
Victor Hale.
Alexander's expression hardened.
"No."
Luca looked at him.
"You know him?"
Alexander didn't answer.
Because he did.
Victor had worked for the Romano organization since Alexander was twenty-four.
He had helped him rebuild the empire after Matteo disappeared.
He had been there during the hardest years.
He had attended family dinners.
He had protected Alexander's life.
Or at least that's what Alexander believed.
The underground door opened.
Victor walked inside.
Calm.
Unhurried.
Like he owned the place.
Two guards followed him.
But they weren't Alexander's guards.
They wore no uniforms.
They carried weapons.
Alexander immediately noticed.
Victor stopped several feet away.
"Alexander."
Nobody had ever said his name that way.
Like they were equal.
Like they had always been equal.
Alexander stared at him.
"How long?"
Victor looked confused.
"How long what?"
"How long have you been lying to me?"
A small smile appeared on Victor's face.
Not guilt.
Not fear.
Something worse.
Respect.
"You finally opened it."
Alexander's eyes narrowed.
"You knew about the vault."
"I knew your father left something behind."
"You knew Elena could open it."
Victor looked toward her.
For the first time, his expression changed.
Disgust.
Fear.
Recognition.
"You should have stayed hidden."
Elena stepped back.
Alexander noticed.
"What does that mean?"
Victor ignored him.
He looked at Elena.
"Your mother made the same mistake."
The words hit her.
"My mother?"
Victor smiled.
"She thought Matteo could protect her."
Alexander moved forward.
"What did you do to Clara Marlow?"
Victor looked at him.
"I didn't do anything."
"Then why does Elena look terrified?"
Victor looked at the vault.
"Because she knows the truth."
Alexander turned toward Elena.
"Tell me."
She remained silent.
"Elena."
Her eyes filled with memories.
"My mother didn't disappear."
The room went quiet.
"She was running."
"From who?"
Elena looked directly at Victor.
"From him."
Victor didn't deny it.
That was the worst part.
Alexander's hand tightened.
All these years.
All these secrets.
All these lies.
And Victor had been standing beside him the entire time.
"You betrayed my father."
Victor smiled.
"No."
He looked at Alexander.
"Your father betrayed me."
Alexander frowned.
"What?"
Victor stepped closer.
"Matteo promised me everything."
Luca's expression changed.
"Victor."
Victor ignored him.
"He promised I would inherit the empire."
Alexander stared.
"You wanted my father's position."
"I earned it."
"No."
Alexander's voice became colder.
"You stole it."
Victor laughed softly.
"You still don't understand."
He looked around the hidden room.
"Your father wasn't hiding evidence against me."
He walked toward the old documents.
"He was hiding evidence against himself."
Nobody moved.
Alexander looked at the files.
"What are you talking about?"
Victor picked up a folder.
"Matteo Romano wasn't the hero you think he was."
Alexander's eyes narrowed.
"I never thought he was a hero."
"Good."
Victor smiled.
"Then you're ready for the truth."
He threw the folder onto the table.
Photos spilled out.
Documents.
Records.
Names.
Alexander looked down.
Then stopped.
Because among the files was one photograph.
A photograph taken fifteen years ago.
The night his father disappeared.
Alexander picked it up.
His hands tightened.
Because in the background of the photo...
was Alexander himself.
Standing beside Matteo.
Holding a gun.
A gun he didn't remember touching.
Victor watched his reaction.
"You don't remember that night, do you?"
Alexander looked up.
His voice was quiet.
"What did you do to me?"
Victor smiled.
Then the hidden room lights suddenly turned red.
A final security message appeared on the wall.
Not from Victor.
Not from Isabella.
From Matteo Romano.
May you like
And the first sentence made Alexander stop breathing.
Alexander, if Victor Hale is standing in front of you, then you are already too late.
