Chapter 14: The Last Enemy
The name on the paper burned into my mind.
Evelyn Moretti.
My grandmother.
The woman everyone believed had died before I took control of the family.
The woman whose portrait hung in my father’s office.
The woman my father spoke about with respect.
“She’s alive?”” I whispered.
My father nodded.
“She always was.””
I stared at him.
“How many people knew?””
“Very few.””
“And you let me believe she was dead?””
My father looked away.
“She was dangerous.””
“She was family.””
“That was exactly why she was dangerous.””
I looked at the document again.
Everything connected.
Lorenzo.
Vanessa.
Daniel.
The accident.
The poison.
The lies.
All roads led back to her.
“But why?””
My father sat down.
“Because she believed the family belonged to her.””
“She’s my grandmother.””
“She was also the architect of everything you fought against.””
I remembered something.
A small detail.
Something I ignored.
The day of my wedding.
Evelyn’s old assistant had appeared.
A woman nobody knew.
She had delivered a gift for Vanessa.
At the time, I thought nothing of it.
Now everything felt connected.
“Where is she?””
Marco answered.
“We found her location.””
“Then why isn’t she here?””
Nobody spoke.
I looked at them.
“What?””
Marco’s face was serious.
“She knows.””
“Knows what?””
“That we found her.””
My phone rang.
Unknown number.
Everyone went silent.
I answered.
“Hello, Vincent.””
An elderly woman’s voice.
Calm.
Controlled.
“Grandmother.””
A soft laugh.
“So your father finally told you.””
My grip tightened.
“You destroyed my family.””
“No.””
Her voice was cold.
“I saved it.””
“By trying to kill me?””
“By removing weakness.””
I looked at Sophia.
My anger burned.
“You threatened a child.””
“I tested you.””
I froze.
“What?””
“A man who cannot protect his child cannot lead.””
I almost couldn’t believe what I was hearing.
“You poisoned me.””
“I needed to know if you were still capable of thinking.””
“You sent people after me.””
“I sent challenges.””
My voice lowered.
“You call this a challenge?””
“Yes.””
The confidence in her voice was terrifying.
“Because you finally became the man your father should have made you.””
I looked at my father.
He looked ashamed.
“You manipulated everyone.””
“Yes.””
“Vanessa?””
“A useful tool.””
I closed my eyes.
“And Lorenzo?””
“An ambitious fool.””
Everything she said was emotionless.
Like people were pieces.
Not lives.
“Where are you?””
She laughed.
“You think I would tell you?””
“No.””
I looked around.
“You’re telling me because you want me to find you.””
Silence.
For the first time, she hesitated.
I continued.
“You always wanted control. You wanted to prove you were smarter than everyone.””
My grandmother said nothing.
“You didn’t call to hide.””
I smiled coldly.
“You called because you wanted the final move.””
A pause.
Then:
“Come to the old Moretti estate.””
My father stood immediately.
“No.””
The call continued.
“Come alone.””
I ignored him.
“Why?””
Her voice softened.
“Because there is something you deserve to know.””
“What?””
The answer froze me.
“The truth about your mother’s death.””
The call ended.
Everyone looked at me.
My father shook his head.
“Vincent, don’t go.””
I looked at him.
“For fifteen years, I wanted answers.””
May you like
I picked up my jacket.
“Now I’m getting them.””
