Chapter 7 - The Betrayal in the Ballroom
Adrian Bell was not hiding.
He was hosting a charity gala.
Three hundred guests filled the ballroom of the Moretti Grand Hotel.
Politicians.
Judges.
Businessmen.
Socialites.
And men who had spent decades pretending they had never heard the Moretti name.
Luca entered through the main doors.
Every conversation stopped.
Clara walked beside him.
Isabella remained safely upstairs with Marco and two armed guards.
Victor was nowhere to be seen.
Adrian stood beneath a chandelier.
He smiled.
“Luca.”
Luca walked toward him.
“You knew my wife.”
“Of course.”
“You knew she was investigating Victor.”
Adrian's smile faded.
“Be careful.”
“I've been careful for three years.”
The orchestra continued playing.
Adrian leaned closer.
“You don't understand the world your father built.”
“I understand enough.”
“You think Elena died because of money?”
“No.”
Luca stepped closer.
“She died because she found you.”
Adrian's expression changed.
Then he laughed.
“You've finally grown up.”
Clara felt a chill.
Adrian looked at her.
“And you must be the maid.”
“Clara Bennett.”
“I know.”
Clara's blood went cold.
“You know me?”
“I know everyone who enters the Moretti house.”
Luca grabbed Adrian by the collar.
“Where is Victor?”
Adrian smiled.
“Gone.”
“Where?”
“Far away.”
Luca slammed him against the wall.
“You have ten seconds.”
Adrian whispered,
“Your daughter is the key.”
Luca froze.
“What does that mean?”
“Your wife recorded everything.”
Adrian's eyes flicked toward Clara.
“She knew Isabella had seen enough to destroy us.”
Luca's face hardened.
“What did Isabella see?”
Adrian smiled.
“The night Elena died, your daughter wasn't supposed to be in the hallway.”
Clara whispered,
“She witnessed it.”
“Yes.”
“Witnessed what?”
Adrian leaned toward Luca.
“She saw Victor shoot Elena.”
Luca's breath stopped.
“And then?”
“Then she saw who gave the order.”
“Who?”
Adrian looked toward the balcony.
Victor stood there.
A gun pointed at Isabella.
Luca's entire body went rigid.
“Daddy!”
Isabella screamed.
Chaos exploded.
Guests ran.
Tables overturned.
The orchestra scattered.
Victor dragged Isabella toward the balcony doors.
Clara sprinted upstairs.
Luca followed.
“Let her go!”
Victor laughed.
“You should have listened to Elena.”
“You killed her.”
“No.”
Victor shook his head.
“I didn't pull the trigger.”
Luca stopped.
“Then who did?”
Victor looked toward Adrian.
Adrian stood below.
Smiling.
“Ask him.”
Victor suddenly shoved Isabella away.
Clara caught her.
A gunshot rang out.
Victor collapsed.
Adrian disappeared into the crowd.
Luca rushed toward Victor.
Blood spread across his shirt.
“Who shot you?”
Victor coughed.
“Adrian.”
Luca stared.
“Why?”
Victor grabbed his sleeve.
“Because he wanted you to kill me.”
Then Victor whispered:
“Your mother is alive.”
Luca froze.
Victor's eyes closed.
Clara looked at Isabella.
The girl was shaking.
But this time, she wasn't silent.
She whispered,
“Daddy…”
Luca turned.
“Mommy said the woman with the blue ring was still alive.”
Clara looked at Luca.
“Who wore a blue ring?”
Luca knew.
His mother.
And suddenly his phone rang.
An unknown number.
He answered.
An old woman's voice said:
“Luca, if you want your daughter alive, come to the house where you buried me.”
The call ended.
May you like
Luca looked at Clara.
“The cemetery.”
