Chapter 9: The Last Lie
Victor Romano had always been the calmest person in the room.
That was what made him dangerous.
When he entered the mansion that night, he didn’t run.
He didn’t hide.
He simply walked through the front doors.
Like he belonged there.
Because for twelve years, he had.
Luca stood waiting.
“You betrayed me.””
Victor looked tired.
Not guilty.
Tired.
“That’s what Michael said too.””
The sentence hit everyone.
Rachel stepped forward.
“You knew?””
Victor looked at her.
“I knew Michael was going to destroy everything.””
Luca’s voice became colder.
“What did you do?””
Victor looked around the mansion.
At the photographs.
The memories.
The family.
“I fixed a problem.””
I felt sick.
Because people who called cruelty a solution were the most frightening.
“You killed him,” Luca said.
Victor didn’t answer.
That was enough.
Ben moved closer to his mother.
Luca stepped forward.
“You killed my brother.””
Victor finally looked angry.
“Your brother was going to throw away everything our fathers built.””
“No.””
Luca shook his head.
“You were.””
Victor laughed.
“You think Michael was perfect?””
“No.””
Luca stared at him.
“But he was loyal.””
Victor’s expression changed.
And that was when he revealed the truth.
“Michael found out about the money.””
Everyone went silent.
“The missing accounts. The hidden transfers.””
Luca looked shocked.
“You stole from us.””
Victor smiled.
“I invested.””
“You stole.””
Victor looked at Vanessa.
“And she helped me.””
The room froze.
Vanessa closed her eyes.
Luca turned toward her.
“Is that true?””
Tears appeared in her eyes.
“Yes.””
Rachel whispered:
“Why?””
Vanessa looked broken.
“Because Anthony threatened me.””
Everyone stared.
“He knew about Victor. He knew what was happening. He said if I didn’t help, he would destroy my family.””
Luca looked at her.
“You still lied.””
“Yes.””
Her voice cracked.
“I was afraid.””
That didn’t erase what she did.
But for the first time, everyone understood.
There had never been one villain.
There had been people making terrible choices.
And one person who chose greed.
Victor.
He stepped backward.
“I’m leaving.””
Luca shook his head.
“No.””
Victor smiled.
“You think you won?””
Then he looked at me.
“Ask Emma why Michael trusted her.””
I froze.
“What?””
Victor smiled.
“Because she found something two years ago.””
My heart stopped.
The broken watch.
The hallway.
The warning.
Victor knew.
Luca looked at me.
“Emma?””
I swallowed.
“I didn’t know what it meant.””
Victor laughed.
“But Michael did.””
He reached into his coat.
Pulled out a small object.
A broken piece of metal.
A watch piece.
The same symbol.
The same one I had found.
Victor threw it onto the table.
“Michael hid the evidence inside that watch.””
Everyone stared.
I picked it up.
And suddenly I understood.
Michael hadn’t chosen me because I was important.
He chose me because I was invisible.
Nobody noticed the housekeeper.
Nobody suspected the woman cleaning the floor.
Nobody realized I remembered everything.
Then Luca’s phone rang.
This time, he answered.
After a few seconds, his face changed.
“What?””
He listened.
Then looked at me.
“Emma.””
“What?””
“The police found another message from Michael.””
My hands shook.
“What does it say?””
Luca read it silently.
Then whispered:
“He wasn’t killed because he discovered Victor.””
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A pause.
“He was killed because he discovered who hired Victor.””
