Chapter 5 - The Woman Who Was Supposed to Be Dead
Her name was Elena Marquetti.
And for twenty-six years, Enzo had believed she was dead.
Alfonso finally told the truth.
Elena had discovered financial corruption inside the family before Enzo’s father did.
She tried to leave with evidence.
Someone sabotaged her car.
She survived.
But the people responsible believed she had died.
To protect Enzo, Alfonso arranged for Elena to disappear.
Even her son was told she was gone.
Enzo stared at his grandfather with devastation.
“You let me bury an empty coffin.”
“I kept you alive.”
“You took my mother from me.”
“I know.”
For the first time, Alfonso looked less like a patriarch and more like a broken old man.
Enzo walked out.
Adeline found him outside near the gardens.
He was holding the compass.
His hands shook.
She said nothing.
Eventually he whispered:
“My entire life was built on a lie.”
Adeline sat beside him.
“Then build the next part on the truth.”
He looked at her.
That sentence stayed with him.
They found Elena in Vermont.
She lived under another name.
When Enzo reached her small house, he stopped at the gate.
For perhaps the first time in his adult life, he was afraid to move.
Adeline stood beside him.
“You don't have to do this today.”
“Yes, I do.”
Elena opened the door.
She recognized him instantly.
A mother does not need introductions.
Her hand covered her mouth.
“Enzo?”
He had imagined anger.
Questions.
Accusations.
Instead, when she touched his face, Enzo became a boy again.
She pulled him into her arms.
He didn't cry easily.
That day he did.
Elena explained everything.
Thomas Whitaker had helped her escape.
Adeline’s father had not merely been an accountant.
He had been the one person outside the family Elena trusted.
Years later, Thomas secretly helped Enzo’s father investigate Bruno’s theft.
But Bruno was only part of the conspiracy.
The mastermind had been Enzo’s father’s own cousin, Lorenzo Marquetti, who wanted control of the organization.
Lorenzo had supposedly died years earlier.
Elena shook her head.
“He didn't.”
Enzo felt the same cold realization again.
Another dead man who wasn't dead.
“Where is he?”
“I don't know.”
But Bruno did.
Bruno had stolen money because Lorenzo was blackmailing him.
The murders, disappearances and sabotage had all protected a secret network Lorenzo intended to reclaim when Enzo appeared weak enough to overthrow.
The marriage clause was part of that plan.
If Enzo reached thirty-five without an heir, the council could remove him.
Lorenzo planned to install a puppet.
Bruno.
Suddenly everything made sense.
Bruno had prepared the potential brides before Enzo even agreed to marry.
Any of them could have created alliances Bruno controlled.
Then Alfonso chose Adeline.
An outsider.
Someone connected unknowingly to Thomas Whitaker.
Someone Bruno could not control.
That was why he panicked.
Enzo returned to New York.
But Bruno was gone.
So was Alfonso.
The mansion had been breached.
Marisol was found unconscious but alive.
Alfonso’s bed was empty.
On the pillow sat Adeline’s paper crane.
Its wings were stained with a single drop of blood.
Enzo stood motionless.
Adeline picked it up.
There was writing inside.
She unfolded it carefully.
Three words.
Bring the compass.
Enzo reached into his jacket.
The brass compass was still there.
Then his phone rang.
Unknown number.
He answered.
A man’s voice spoke.
“Hello, cousin.”
Enzo’s expression hardened.
May you like
Lorenzo Marquetti was alive.
And he had Alfonso.
