"I think people can change. But they must first admit what they've done."
Isabella nodded.
"Father doesn't know how to do that."
"Maybe he never learned."
"Can someone teach him?"
Elena smiled faintly.
"Sometimes."
Isabella turned toward the shelves.
"There is something I've never told anyone."
Elena waited.
"The accident wasn't exactly an accident."
Elena's expression changed.
"What do you mean?"
Isabella lowered her voice.
"I remember the car."
She closed her eyes.
"It was raining. Mama was driving. We were on the mountain road, and another vehicle was following us."
Elena listened carefully.
"At first, I thought it was someone trying to overtake us. But it stayed behind us for several minutes."
"Do you remember anything about it?"
"A black car. No headlights."
Isabella opened her eyes.
"Then Mama looked in the mirror and told me to hold on."
Elena felt her stomach tighten.
"What happened next?"
"A loud noise. The car moved. Mama lost control."
Isabella's fingers tightened around the armrest.
"I remember the crash. I remember glass. I remember waking up in the hospital."
She looked at Elena.
"And I remember hearing my father say that nobody would ever find out what happened."
Elena said nothing.
"Do you think he knew?"
"I don't know."
Isabella shook her head.
"I've asked him before. He always says it was an accident."
"Have you told the police?"
Isabella gave a sad smile.
"The police work for people like my father."
Before Elena could answer, the library doors opened.
Vittorio stood there.
He had heard enough.
"Isabella."
His daughter turned.
"Father."
"Leave us."
Elena stood.
"I should go."
Vittorio nodded.
When the door closed, he approached his daughter.
"Who told you to discuss the accident?"
"Nobody."
"Then why are you bringing it up?"
"Because I remember something."
Vittorio's face became unreadable.
"What?"
"A car followed us."
He stared at her.
"You're mistaken."
"No."
"Isabella—"
"I remember it!"
Her voice echoed through the library.
Vittorio looked at her for a long moment.
Then he said something that changed the direction of everything.
"I know."
Isabella stopped breathing.
"What?"
Vittorio turned toward the fireplace.
"Your mother had discovered something."
"What?"
He did not answer immediately.
"Someone inside my organization had been stealing money. Your mother found evidence."
"Who?"
"Lorenzo Bellandi."
Isabella stared at him.
"Why didn't you tell me?"
"Because I thought I could handle it."
"Was he responsible for the accident?"
Vittorio closed his eyes.
"I don't know."
For the first time, Isabella saw uncertainty in her father's face.
Not anger.
Not authority.
Fear.
***
Lorenzo Bellandi had been part of Vittorio's life for nearly twenty years.
He had attended family dinners. He had celebrated Isabella's birthdays. He had stood beside Vittorio at his wedding and carried the coffin at his wife's funeral.
He had been trusted.
That was why his betrayal was so difficult to accept.
Three nights later, Vittorio invited him to dinner.
The dining room was illuminated by candles.
The table was set for three.
Vittorio sat at one end.
Isabella sat at the other.
Lorenzo arrived wearing a dark blue suit.
He kissed Isabella's hand.
"You're looking well, cara."
"Thank you."
He turned toward Vittorio.
"You asked to see me."
"Sit."
Lorenzo took his place.
For several minutes, they discussed business.
Then Vittorio placed a photograph on the table.
Lorenzo glanced at it.
His expression did not change.
"Interesting."
"Is it?"
"Who took it?"
"Does that matter?"
Lorenzo folded his napkin.
"You're accusing me of something."
"I'm asking you a question."
"Then ask."
Vittorio leaned forward.
"Why were you meeting the De Lucas?"
Lorenzo looked at him.
"Business."
"What business?"
"Business that concerns the organization."
"Not the family?"
A small smile appeared on Lorenzo's face.
"Family is a complicated word, Vittorio."
Isabella looked between them.
Vittorio noticed.
"Isabella, go upstairs."
"No."
"Please."
She shook her head.
"I want to hear this."
Lorenzo looked at her.
"Your father has always been protective."
Isabella's expression hardened.
"Don't pretend you care about me."
For the first time, Lorenzo's smile disappeared.
Vittorio placed another document on the table.
"This payment was made to a hospital on behalf of Elena Rossi's brother."
Lorenzo looked at the paper.
Then he laughed softly.
"Ah."
Vittorio did not move.
"You know her?"
"I know many people."
"Why did you pay her brother's medical bills?"
Lorenzo picked up his glass.
"Because I am a generous man."
Vittorio's eyes remained fixed on him.
"No. You're a careful man."
Lorenzo put down the glass.
"Perhaps you should be careful too."
The room became silent.
Then Lorenzo looked toward Isabella.
"Your mother was also very curious."
Isabella's face turned pale.
Vittorio stood.
"Don't."
Lorenzo continued.
"She believed she could interfere with matters she didn't understand."
Vittorio's voice dropped.
"Finish your sentence."
Lorenzo smiled.
"She paid for that mistake."
Isabella covered her mouth.
Vittorio looked at the man across the table.
Twenty years of loyalty had disappeared in a single sentence.
"You were there."
Lorenzo did not answer.
"You arranged it."
Lorenzo leaned back.
"Your wife was a wonderful woman. But she should have stayed away from your business."
Vittorio's hand tightened around the edge of the table.
For years, he had wondered whether his wife's death was truly an accident.
Now he had his answer.
And it came from the mouth of the man he had trusted most.
***
Lorenzo did not leave the mansion peacefully.
Before midnight, he attempted to contact his associates.
But Vittorio had already moved.
The security team discovered that several men had been positioned outside the estate.
Marco secured the main entrance while another team escorted Isabella to the protected wing.