Chapter 3 - The Locked Room Behind Isabella’s Portrait Revealed the Secret Adrien’s Brother Wanted Buried ForeverThe shot had been fired from outside the property.
The attacker escaped.
Adrien became furious.
But not at me.
At himself.
“You should never have been involved in this.”
“I was involved before I met you.”
He stared.
“What do you mean?”
“My father died because of these people.”
“Your father?”
Daniel wasn't my biological father.
My real father was the construction manager who raised me.
He had died when I was seventeen.
Daniel had been my fiancé.
Adrien's confusion grew.
I finally told him everything.
Daniel had worked for a company connected to Marco.
He had discovered illegal contracts.
He was supposed to testify.
Then he vanished.
Months later, I learned I was pregnant.
No body was ever recovered.
Adrien listened without interrupting.
Then he asked,
“Why didn't you tell the police?”
“I did.”
“They didn't believe you.”
“No.”
He looked away.
“They never do when powerful people are involved.”
That night, we entered Isabella's old room.
It had remained locked for three years.
Adrien had never opened it.
He hadn't been able to.
Mia slept upstairs.
The house was quiet.
He held a key.
I stood beside him.
“You don't have to do this.”
“I do.”
He opened the door.
Dust covered everything.
Isabella's perfume still lingered faintly.
A piano.
A writing desk.
A painting.
Adrien stopped.
His eyes filled.
I realized something.
He still loved his wife.
He had simply buried it.
We searched.
Nothing.
Then I noticed the painting.
Isabella standing beside a red curtain.
“What is that?”
Adrien looked.
“Her favorite.”
I touched the frame.
It moved.
Behind it was a door.
Locked.
Adrien stared.
“I didn't know this existed.”
I pulled out a key from the desk.
It fit.
Inside was a small room.
Files.
Photographs.
A computer.
And one chair.
Adrien froze.
On the wall was a photograph.
Isabella.
Daniel.
Marco.
And another man.
Victor Romano.
Their father.
Adrien whispered,
“No.”
The files revealed the truth.
Victor had built a secret financial network.
Marco had helped.
Isabella had discovered it.
Daniel had helped her.
She tried to expose them.
They killed her.
But Daniel escaped.
He took evidence.
And he disappeared.
Adrien sat down.
“Then who killed Daniel?”
We kept reading.
One name appeared repeatedly.
Marco.
But Marco was not the real mastermind.
The evidence pointed to Victor.
Victor had died five years earlier.
Or so everyone believed.
A medical record showed a different truth.
The body had been substituted.
Victor was alive.
Adrien stared.
“He's controlling everything.”
“From where?”
A video appeared on the old computer.
Victor looked into the camera.
“Adrien.”
He spoke calmly.
“You were never supposed to find this room.”
Adrien's jaw tightened.
“You killed Isabella.”
Victor smiled.
“She knew too much.”
“You killed Daniel.”
“He was inconvenient.”
I covered my mouth.
Adrien looked at the screen.
“What do you want?”
“Your company.”
“You can have it.”
Victor laughed.
“No.”
He paused.
“I want your daughter.”
Adrien went completely still.
“Why?”
“Because your brother believes the inheritance belongs to him.”
“What inheritance?”
Victor smiled.
“The one your mother left Isabella.”
The recording ended.
Adrien looked at me.
“Mia isn't just your daughter.”
“What?”
“She may be the legal heir to an enormous family trust.”
My heart pounded.
“I didn't know.”
“I did not either.”
Then a noise came from upstairs.
May you like
Mia screamed.
We ran.
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