Chapter 14: The Truth Isabella Took to Her Grave
Victor Varric was arrested before sunrise.
But Matteo did not feel victorious.
Because victory required an ending.
And he had learned something about secrets.
They never ended.
They only revealed deeper secrets beneath them.
Back at the estate, the house felt different.
Not safer.
Just quieter.
Liana sat in the nursery with both babies.
Nico slept beside his brother.
The sight still felt impossible.
Two children who had been separated by lies.
Now together.
Matteo stood outside the door.
Watching.
Liana noticed.
“You can come in.””
He entered slowly.
For once, he looked uncertain.
“You’re their father,” she said.
“I know.””
“Then stop standing outside like you’re not allowed in.””
The words surprised him.
Because for most of his life, Matteo Varric had entered every room like he owned it.
But this room was different.
This room represented something he had almost lost.
Something he could not buy.
Trust.
He sat beside her.
“I don’t know how to fix this.””
Liana looked at him.
“Fix what?””
“Everything.””
She looked at the children.
“Maybe you don’t fix the past.””
“Then what?””
“You protect the future.””
The words reminded him of Isabella.
He looked down.
“She would have liked you.””
Liana smiled sadly.
“I wish I knew her.””
“She would have liked you because you scared her.””
Liana frowned.
“What?””
Matteo almost smiled.
“She hated people who gave up.””
“I don’t scare people.””
“You challenged me the first night you met me.””
“I was holding your crying baby.””
“Exactly.””
A quiet moment passed.
Then the door opened.
Daniel entered.
“We found something.””
Matteo stood.
“What?””
Daniel placed a file on the table.
“Isabella’s final investigation.””
Matteo opened it.
Inside were documents.
Names.
Photos.
One name appeared repeatedly.
A name Matteo recognized.
But not as an enemy.
As family.
His mother.
Teresa.
He looked up.
“No.””
Daniel nodded.
“She wasn’t working with Victor.””
“Then what?””
“She was working against him.””
Matteo frowned.
“I don’t understand.””
Daniel continued.
“Your mother knew Victor was planning something. She tried to stop him.””
“Then why hide the truth?””
“Because she made a deal.””
“With who?””
Daniel looked at the file.
“With the person behind Victor.””
Silence.
The final enemy.
The person controlling everything.
Matteo turned the page.
And stopped.
Because there was a photograph.
A man standing beside Victor.
Beside Teresa.
Beside Isabella.
A man Matteo knew.
A man everyone believed was dead.
His father.
Matteo stared.
Impossible.
“No.””
Daniel said nothing.
Because the photograph was real.
His father had not disappeared.
He had been hiding.
For years.
Liana looked at Matteo.
“Your father is alive?””
Matteo could not answer.
His entire life had been built around one belief.
His father abandoned him.
His father died.
His father left him alone.
Now everything was changing again.
Daniel pointed to the final document.
“Your father wrote this.””
Matteo read.
Matteo.
If you found this, then I failed again.
His hands tightened.
I left because staying would have killed you.
Your uncle wanted the empire.
But someone else wanted something more dangerous.
They wanted the children.
A pause.
Then:
The person behind everything is the person who knows you best.
Matteo’s heart stopped.
The final line was worse.
Trust nobody who calls themselves family.
The room became silent.
Then the nursery door opened.
Teresa stood there.
Her face was pale.
“You found it.””
Matteo turned.
“Mother.””
She looked at the file.
Then at him.
“I wanted you to find the truth differently.””
“Who is behind this?””
Teresa did not answer.
“Tell me.””
A tear moved down her face.
“It’s me.””
Nobody moved.
Liana froze.
Daniel reached for his weapon.
Matteo stared.
“What?””
Teresa whispered:
“I was the reason they survived.””
The words made no sense.
“You?””
“Yes.””
“Then why?””
“Because your father asked me to.””
Matteo looked lost.
“Asked you to do what?””
May you like
Teresa looked at the children.
“Destroy the Varric family.””
