Chapter 5 - Marello Learned His Uncle Had Been Secretly Controlling the Family for Years, and His Own Mother Finally Admitted She Had Known About Leo Since BirthWe returned to New York.
Marello confronted his mother.
She was waiting in the family mansion.
“Marello.”
He stared.
“Did you know?”
“Know what?”
“That Leo was alive.”
She looked toward me.
Then closed her eyes.
“Yes.”
The word shattered the room.
“Since when?”
“Since the day he was born.”
Marello's jaw tightened.
“Why?”
“Because your father told me.”
“He knew?”
“Yes.”
“Why didn't you tell me?”
“Because Vittorio threatened me.”
Marello stepped closer.
“You watched me bury a child who was alive.”
“I was afraid.”
“You let me hate Elena.”
“I had no choice.”
Marello laughed bitterly.
“Everyone always has a choice.”
His mother started crying.
She gave him a hidden key.
“To what?”
“A room beneath your father's office.”
Inside was the original trust.
And a letter.
Marello opened it.
His father's handwriting.
My son,
If you are reading this, then Vittorio has betrayed you.
He believes the empire belongs to him.
It does not.
It belongs to whoever protects the family.
The letter continued.
Leo was the intended heir.
But there was a second clause.
If Marello voluntarily surrendered the empire, the trust would dissolve.
The money would be distributed among employees, charities, and victims.
No one would inherit it.
Marello stared.
“Then why didn't my father do it?”
His mother answered.
“He was killed before he could.”
Marello looked at me.
“That's why Vittorio wants me dead.”
“Yes.”
“If I die, Bianca becomes the temporary trustee.”
“And Leo disappears.”
I understood.
There was no wedding.
There was an execution scheduled three days from now.
Marello stood.
“We're not running anymore.”
May you like
“What are you going to do?”
“End it.”
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