"No."
"Does he know who you are?"
"No."
Vittorio's expression changed.
Fear replaced grief.
"Then you must leave this house."
Elena frowned.
"What?"
"You must leave tonight."
"Why?"
"Because if Alessandro discovers—"
A knock interrupted him.
Two firm knocks.
The door opened.
Alessandro stood in the doorway.
His eyes moved from Elena to the photograph.
Then to his father.
"What is happening here?"
Neither answered.
Alessandro stepped inside.
He noticed the tears on Vittorio's face.
For the first time in eleven years, his father looked frightened of him.
"What did you tell her?"
Vittorio slowly placed the photograph on the table.
"Alessandro..."
"Who is she?"
Elena stood.
"Sir, I can explain."
Alessandro turned toward her.
"I wasn't speaking to you."
He picked up the photograph.
His eyes settled on the woman holding the child.
He recognized Isabella immediately.
And the young woman beside her.
Sofia.
His sister.
His hand tightened around the photograph.
"Where did you get this?"
Elena did not answer.
"Where?"
"My grandmother."
Alessandro looked at her.
"Your grandmother?"
"Sofia Moretti."
The room became silent.
Alessandro stared at Elena for several seconds.
Then he looked at his father.
"Is this some kind of joke?"
"No."
"Tell me she's lying."
Vittorio shook his head.
"She isn't."
Alessandro took a step backward.
For eleven years, he had believed his sister had abandoned them.
Now a stranger was standing in front of him, claiming to be her granddaughter.
And his father was confirming it.
"Everyone out," he said.
Elena looked at Vittorio.
The old man reached for her hand.
"Please."
Alessandro's eyes darkened.
"Now."
Elena gently released Vittorio's fingers.
She walked past Alessandro without looking at him.
When the door closed, the Don turned toward his father.
"Start talking."
Vittorio looked at the photograph.
Then at his son.
"I should have told you years ago."
Alessandro laughed once, without humor.
"That's an interesting way to begin."
"Your sister didn't betray us."
Alessandro's expression hardened.
"What?"
"She didn't leave because she hated this family."
"Then why did she disappear?"
Vittorio looked toward the window.
"Because I ordered her to."
Alessandro stared at him.
His father continued.
"Your mother discovered that some of the men working for our family had been using our legitimate companies for things I had never authorized. She wanted to take the evidence to the authorities."
"And you stopped her."
"I tried."
"Why?"
"Because I was afraid."
Alessandro's jaw tightened.
"Of what?"
"Of losing everything."
Vittorio looked directly at his son.
"Your mother was going to expose men who had served me for decades. They had money, influence, and friends in places we could not reach. I told her to wait. She refused."
Alessandro said nothing.
"Then Sofia found the documents."
The old man paused.
"She wanted to help her mother. She planned to take the evidence and leave the country."
"And you stopped her."
"I wanted to protect her."
"By making her disappear?"
Vittorio closed his eyes.
"I sent her away. I told her she could never return."
Alessandro's voice became colder.
"You let me believe she betrayed us."
"Yes."
"Why?"
"Because I believed you would search for her. And the men who wanted those documents would have followed you."
Alessandro stared at him.
"Who were they?"
Vittorio hesitated.
Then he spoke a name.
"Raffaele Conti."
Alessandro's expression changed.
Raffaele Conti.
His father's closest adviser.
The man who had helped him take control of the family after Vittorio's stroke.
The man who still attended every major meeting.
The man Alessandro trusted with the most sensitive affairs of the organization.
"Raffaele?"
Vittorio nodded.
"He was there when your mother died."
Alessandro's eyes narrowed.
"What are you saying?"
"I don't know exactly what happened on that road. I only know that your mother had received a threat the night before. Raffaele told me it was handled."
"Handled?"
"I asked no questions."
Alessandro looked at his father.
For the first time, he understood that the silence between them had never been empty.
It had been hiding something.
Something enormous.
"Why are you telling me this now?"
Vittorio's voice weakened.
"Because I am running out of time."
Alessandro turned away.
He walked to the window and stood with his hands behind his back.
Outside, the garden was dark.
Somewhere beyond the estate walls, a guard's radio crackled.
"What does Elena know?"
"Only what her grandmother told her."
"Does she have the documents?"
"I don't know."
Alessandro turned.
"Then we find out."
Vittorio shook his head.
"No."
"No?"
"Do not make her pay for my mistakes."
Alessandro's eyes hardened.
"She is already involved."
"She came here because she wanted to know where her family came from."
"She lied about her identity."
"Because she was afraid."
"Of me?"
Vittorio did not answer.
That silence was enough.
Alessandro looked down at the photograph.
For the first time in years, he felt something more painful than anger.
He felt ashamed.
***
At 10:15 p.m., Alessandro entered his office.
Marco was waiting.
"Sir, I have the background report on Elena Rossi."
"Give it to me."
Marco handed him a folder.
"Her grandmother was Sofia Moretti. She changed her surname after leaving the country. Elena's mother was born in a small coastal town. Sofia raised her there."
Alessandro opened the folder.
"Why did Elena come here?"
"Her mother passed away two years ago. Her grandmother died four years before that. Elena inherited a few personal belongings, including photographs and letters."
"Did she know who I was?"
"Yes."
"Did she know I was her uncle?"
Marco nodded.
"She knew."
Alessandro closed the folder.
"Why didn't she say anything?"
"She may have been afraid you would send her away."
Alessandro looked at him.
"Did she come here for money?"
"Her employment records don't suggest that. She has received the standard salary. No unusual financial activity."
"Did anyone contact her before she applied?"
Marco hesitated.
"There's something else."
Alessandro waited.
"Three days before she started working here, someone visited her apartment."
"Who?"
"We're still checking."
"Did she recognize him?"
"She told one of the household staff that he was an old family acquaintance."
Alessandro stood.
"Find him."
Marco nodded.
"Immediately."
"Quietly."
"Understood."
Alessandro looked at the security monitor.
The eastern corridor was empty.
"Where is Elena?"
"In the staff quarters."
"Bring her to the library."
Marco paused.
"Sir, perhaps she needs time."
Alessandro turned.
"Did I ask for your opinion?"
"No, sir."
"Then bring her."
***
Elena arrived ten minutes later.
She stood near the library entrance.
Alessandro was behind his desk, reading the folder Marco had given him.
"Sit down."
She remained standing.
"I'd rather stand."
He looked up.
"You're not in trouble."
"That's difficult to believe."
Alessandro closed the folder.