CHAPTER 5: Dangerous Truths

"What do you mean... murdered?"

Adriana froze. The moment the word left Enzo's lips, every thought inside her mind came to a screeching halt. She slowly turned around to face him. His hand was still wrapped tightly around her wrist, refusing to let her go.

"W-What did you just say?" she asked, her voice barely above a whisper.

Curiosity, confusion, and fear. All three emotions were written across her face.

Enzo did not answer immediately. Instead, he swept his gaze around the memorial grounds, carefully checking their surroundings. His expression grew cautious as if he expected someone to be watching them. Only after making sure no one was close enough to overhear did he finally look back at her.

"Your father didn't die in an accident." His voice was calm but unusually heavy. Slowly, he released her wrist before continuing. "The night before he was found dead, he was perfectly healthy. He wasn't suffering from any illness. He never skipped his weekly medical checkups. Every report said the same thing—he was in excellent condition." Enzo paused for a moment. "Someone like Don Alejandro doesn't just die overnight."

Adriana stared at him. "So... you're saying there was foul play?"

Enzo nodded. "I believe so." He inhaled deeply before continuing. "A week before his death, he mentioned receiving threats."

"What kind of threats?"

"He never gave me the full details, but I have a feeling they were connected to the Ferrer Group." His eyes darkened. "I think someone wanted control of your family's empire. And the only way to get it was to silence your father."

Adriana instinctively stepped backward. Her breathing became uneven. Everything she thought she knew about her father's death suddenly collapsed.

"I wasn't planning on telling you this today," Enzo admitted quietly. "I wanted you to mourn your father first before carrying this burden. But you insisted." He looked directly into her eyes. "Miss Adriana... from this moment onward, you cannot leave my side."

She frowned. "Why?"

"If my suspicions are correct... and your father was murdered because of the Ferrer Group..." His expression hardened. "...then you're next."

Instead of panicking, Adriana narrowed her eyes. "What about you?"

Enzo blinked. "What do you mean?"

She crossed her arms. She took another step closer. "Think about it! My father trusted you more than anyone. You know every confidential file. You manage his schedules. You have access to the company's operations. So, technically speaking… you're more valuable than I am."

“It’s not what you think.”

A bitter smile appeared on Adriana’s lips. "I only carry the Ferrer surname, but you carry everything my father built. If someone wanted to eliminate everyone standing in their way… wouldn't you be an even bigger target than me?"

For the first time since they started talking, Enzo was speechless. She was right and he knew it.

"So?" Adriana continued. "You don't have anything to say now? You went quiet because you know I'm right. The people who know the most are always the first ones they silence."

Enzo swallowed hard. Again, he glanced around them before lowering his voice.

"We need to leave."

Without waiting for her answer, he gently took hold of her arm and guided her toward the Bugatti.

"Where are we going?" Adriana asked. She repeated it multiple times but he didn’t respond. "I've asked you three times already. Where are you taking me?"

Enzo finally opened the passenger door. "Get in."

She remained standing. "I am not getting inside until you tell me where we're going."

His expression remained serious. "We'll talk inside. I don't like this place." He scanned the surroundings once more. "It feels like someone is watching us. And someone else is listening."

A few moments later, silence filled the interior of the luxury car. The outside world disappeared behind the heavily tinted windows. Only then did Adriana finally speak.

"Now that we're alone..." She leaned back against her seat, keeping her eyes fixed on the windshield instead of looking at him. "Tell me what really happened to my father. Were the police involved?"

Enzo took a slow breath before answering. "The official report states that Don Alejandro died after falling down the grand staircase inside Ferrer Mansion."

Adriana frowned. "He fell down the stairs?"

Enzo nodded. "That was the official conclusion."

She looked at him in confusion. "Then what's wrong with that? If that's what the investigation concluded, why are you convinced he was murdered?"

Instead of answering, Enzo reached into the glove compartment. He pulled out a small brown envelope and handed it to her.

"What's this?" She slowly opened it. Inside were several photographs.

"Oh my God..." She covered her mouth. "I... I can't believe this."

Her trembling fingers hurriedly returned the photographs to the envelope. She could not bear to look any longer.

Enzo's voice remained steady. "Did you notice the dark bruises around your father's neck? And the injuries on his body?" He looked directly at her. "Those bruises couldn't have been caused by a simple fall. They don't match the official report."

Adriana felt her chest tighten. Her breathing became shallow. Without saying anything, Enzo reached into the cup holder and handed her a bottle of water. She accepted it with shaking hands. After taking several slow sips, her breathing gradually steadied.

"When you were still with my father..." she asked softly. “Did you notice anything unusual about him?"

Enzo shook his head. "No. He seemed perfectly normal. In fact..." A faint smile appeared before quickly disappearing. "He was excited. He kept talking about a new project he was preparing."

Adriana slowly lowered the water bottle. Her eyes burned with anger.

"Whoever did this will pay..." She clenched her fists until her knuckles turned white. "I don't care who they are. I don't care how powerful they are. They should enjoy their freedom while they still can because I will make sure they will pay for what they did to my father."

Enzo nodded. "But before we start hunting your father's killer, there's something even more important you need to focus on."

Adriana immediately turned toward him. "Wait! Before we discuss anything else...I want answers." She took a deep breath. "About my brother, Marco.”

“What about him?” Enzo asked.

"You were my father's right-hand man. You knew everything. So don't tell me you have no idea." She swallowed the lump in her throat. "How did I suddenly end up with a brother? Why did my father hide him from me?"

Enzo lowered his eyes. "I wasn't in a position to tell you."

"And my father?" Adriana's voice cracked. "What was his reason? Why didn't he tell me? Why didn't he even mention Marco?" Tears finally gathered in her eyes. Her voice trembled with every word. "I've always believed I was his only child. Didn't he ever stop to think about how I would feel after finding out the truth like this? Did he think I was made of stone? Did he think I wouldn't understand?"

Adriana stared at Enzo with tear-filled eyes.

"Answer my damn question, Lorenzo." Her voice finally broke. She pressed a trembling hand against her chest. "Because right now, my mind is falling apart. And I feel like I'm going insane."