Chapter 4: The Truth Buried in the Past
Chapter 4: The Truth Buried in the Past
For three days, Lorenzo Rossi became impossible to reach.
Not unavailable.
Not busy.
Impossible.
The man who normally attended meetings across continents, negotiated billion-dollar contracts, and controlled every detail of his empire now spent most of his time inside his private residence.
The reason was simple.
Mia.
And Karen.
After Adrian Rossi returned, Lorenzo refused to take any chances.
Security increased.
Every entrance was monitored.
Every employee was checked.
Every possible threat was investigated.
But the one person who seemed least bothered by the situation was Karen.
She noticed everything.
The guards.
The tension.
The way Lorenzo’s eyes constantly scanned the room.
The way he stopped sleeping.
And it bothered her.
Not because she was afraid.
Because she could see what he was doing to himself.
He was carrying everything alone.
Again.
“You need to sleep.”
Lorenzo looked up from the documents on his desk.
It was past midnight.
Karen stood in the doorway, holding two cups of coffee.
He stared at them.
Then at her.
“You’re telling me to sleep while bringing coffee?”
She shrugged.
“It’s complicated advice.”
For a second, something almost like amusement appeared.
Almost.
“You always do this?”
“Do what?”
“Act like everything is normal when it isn’t.”
Karen walked closer and placed the coffee on the desk.
“No.”
She looked at the mountain of documents.
“I act like people still matter even when things are falling apart.”
The words hit him.
Because that was exactly what he had forgotten.
After Isabella died, Lorenzo believed survival required becoming harder.
Colder.
Less human.
He convinced himself that emotions were weaknesses.
That attachment created opportunities for enemies.
And maybe he had been right.
Until Karen.
“You should leave,” he said quietly.
Karen froze.
“What?”
“This situation is dangerous.”
“I know.”
“You don’t understand.”
His voice became sharper.
“This isn’t a normal argument. Adrian doesn’t fight fairly.”
Karen stared at him.
“Neither do you.”
The answer surprised him.
“What?”
“You’ve spent years fighting like someone who expects everyone to betray you.”
Silence.
Because she was right.
Lorenzo looked away.
“People usually do.”
Karen’s expression softened.
“Everyone?”
He didn’t answer.
That was the answer.
The next morning, Mia woke up upset.
Karen noticed immediately.
The child sat in the corner of the room, covering her ears.
Too much noise.
Too many people.
Too much tension.
“Mia?”
The little girl didn’t respond.
Karen slowly lowered herself to the floor.
Just like before.
Not forcing.
Not rushing.
Giving her space.
“It’s okay.”
Mia’s breathing was uneven.
“Everyone is angry.”
Karen looked at her.
“I know.”
“They’re scared.”
Karen glanced toward the hallway.
Lorenzo stood there.
Watching.
And she realized something.
Mia didn’t just sense noise.
She sensed emotions.
Especially his.
“Your uncle is scared because he loves you.”
Mia looked up.
“Scared?”
“Yes.”
“But he never looks scared.”
Karen smiled sadly.
“Some people hide fear by becoming very serious.”
Mia thought about this.
Then whispered:
“Like him?”
Karen looked toward Lorenzo.
“Exactly like him.”
For a moment, Lorenzo said nothing.
Then he walked away.
Because hearing that hurt.
Not because it was wrong.
Because it was true.
That afternoon, the truth finally arrived.
Daniel entered Lorenzo’s office.
His expression was different.
Not professional.
Concerned.
“We found something.”
Lorenzo immediately stood.
“What?”
Daniel placed a file on the desk.
“We traced the original leak.”
“And?”
A pause.
“It came from inside Rossi Corporation.”
Lorenzo’s face became unreadable.
“Who?”
Daniel hesitated.
Then:
“Your father’s old legal department.”
Lorenzo went still.
His father.
A man who had died years ago.
A man whose name still carried influence.
“Impossible.”
“We thought so too.”
Daniel opened another document.
“There are old records.”
Lorenzo read them.
His expression slowly changed.
Because the records showed something impossible.
A series of payments.
Hidden accounts.
Secret transfers.
All connected to the months before Isabella’s death.
His fingers tightened.
“What is this?”
Daniel lowered his voice.
“We believe Isabella discovered something.”
The room became silent.
“What?”
Daniel looked at him.
“That her accident…”
He stopped.
Lorenzo’s eyes darkened.
“Finish.”
“That it may not have been an accident.”
The words destroyed the air.
For years.
Years.
Lorenzo had believed he knew the truth.
A car accident.
Bad weather.
A tragic loss.
But now…
Everything changed.
Karen found him later in the garden.
She immediately knew something happened.
Lorenzo stood motionless.
A man who looked like he had just discovered the entire foundation of his life was built on a lie.
“What happened?”
He didn’t answer.
Karen approached slowly.
“Lorenzo.”
Finally, he spoke.
“My sister’s death.”
His voice was quiet.
“Maybe it wasn’t an accident.”
Karen froze.
“I’m sorry.”
He laughed softly.
But there was no happiness.
“Do you know what’s funny?”
She stayed silent.
“I spent years blaming myself.”
He looked at the sky.
“I thought if I had protected her better…”
His voice cracked.
Just slightly.
“But I never imagined…”
He couldn’t finish.
Karen saw it.
The pain beneath everything.
The wound he had hidden for years.
She stepped closer.
“Lorenzo.”
He looked at her.
And for the first time, she saw him without the armor.
Not the billionaire.
Not the powerful man.
Just someone who lost his sister.
Someone who had been carrying grief alone.
“I promised her I would protect Mia.”
Karen’s voice softened.
“And you did.”
“Did I?”
“Yes.”
“You don’t know what I failed to do.”
Karen shook her head.
“You saved her daughter.”
A pause.
“You became her family.”
His eyes moved to hers.
“And who protects you?”
The question surprised her.
“What?”
“You protect everyone else.”
His voice lowered.
“But who protects you?”
Karen had no answer.
Because nobody had asked her that before.
Not like this.
That night, Adrian finally made his move.
The lights went out.
The entire mansion fell into darkness.
Security alarms immediately activated.
People shouted.
Guards moved.
And Lorenzo knew.
This was not an attack.
It was a message.
A message meant for him.
His phone rang.
Unknown number.
He answered.
“Adrian.”
A slow laugh came through.
“So you found the files.”
Lorenzo’s face turned cold.
“Where are you?”
“You still think this is about location?”
A pause.
“It’s about everything you stole from me.”
Lorenzo’s voice became dangerous.
“I stole nothing.”
“You stole Father’s approval.”
A bitter laugh.
“You stole the company.”
“You chose your own destruction.”
The other end became silent.
Then Adrian said:
“You always thought you were better than me.”
Lorenzo didn’t answer.
“More disciplined.”
“More talented.”
“More worthy.”
His voice grew darker.
“But you never understood the one thing I had.”
A pause.
“Patience.”
Suddenly, another sound came through.
A door opening.
Lorenzo froze.
Not because of Adrian.
Because of the voice behind him.
“Uncle Lorenzo?”
Mia.
His heart stopped.
He turned.
Mia stood in the hallway.
Confused.
Scared.
And behind her…
Karen.
Trying to protect her.
The phone slipped lower.
Adrian’s voice came through.
“Now you understand.”
Lorenzo’s blood ran cold.
“Don’t touch them.”
For the first time in years…
Lorenzo Rossi sounded afraid.
Adrian smiled.
“Finally.”
A pause.
“The great Lorenzo Rossi is afraid.”
The call ended.
The mansion remained dark.
Everyone waited.
And Lorenzo realized the truth.
Adrian had not returned to destroy his company.
He had returned to destroy the only thing that made Lorenzo human.
His family.
His heart.
Karen looked at him.
And in the darkness, she saw something she had never seen before.
Fear.
Pure fear.
May you like
For her.
And that terrified her more than any enemy.
