Chapter 7 - THE ENEMY INSIDE THE MANSION
Enzo arrived at the old Ashford estate alone.
At least...
That was what Camilla believed.
Because Enzo Marchetti never truly went anywhere alone.
His security team watched from a distance.
The moment he entered the abandoned room, he saw Camilla standing by the window.
For once, she looked nervous.
“You came.”
“Talk.”
She looked at him.
“No hello?”
“No patience.”
Camilla almost smiled.
“The old Enzo would have been different.”
“The old Enzo believed people deserved the benefit of the doubt.”
“And now?”
He stared at her.
“Now I know better.”
That hurt her.
More than anger would have.
Camilla looked away.
“I didn’t attack Adeline because she embarrassed me.”
“Then why?”
She took a deep breath.
“Because I knew what she was looking for.”
Enzo’s eyes narrowed.
“What?”
“Your father’s files.”
The room became cold.
“How did you know?”
Camilla hesitated.
“My mother told me.”
There it was.
The answer he had been searching for.
“Your mother?”
Camilla nodded.
“Victoria Ashford.”
Enzo stared.
Her mother.
The woman who had raised Camilla.
The woman who had taught her how to survive among powerful families.
“You’re saying your mother knew my father?”
“Yes.”
“How?”
Camilla looked at him.
“They were working together.”
Enzo felt his stomach tighten.
“Working on what?”
Camilla looked terrified.
“Your father discovered that your family’s company was being used to move illegal money.”
Silence.
“And who was responsible?”
Camilla’s voice dropped.
“Your mother.”
Enzo stepped back.
“No.”
“I saw the documents.”
“No.”
“Enzo—”
“No.”
His voice became dangerous.
Not because he didn’t believe her.
Because part of him did.
Camilla continued.
“Your father wanted to expose her.”
“And she killed him?”
Camilla looked away.
“I don’t know.”
That answer was worse.
Because uncertainty meant there were still possibilities.
Enzo returned to the mansion before sunrise.
Adeline was waiting.
“You found something.”
He looked at her.
“Yes.”
“What?”
He hesitated.
Because saying it aloud made it real.
“My mother may have been responsible for my father’s death.”
Adeline’s expression softened.
“Enzo…”
Before she could finish, every light in the mansion turned off.
The entire house went dark.
Then the emergency system activated.
A message appeared on the security screen.
STOP SEARCHING.
A second message followed.
OR THE MAID DIES NEXT.
Enzo’s blood turned cold.
Because someone had just made their next move.
May you like
And this time...
They targeted Adeline.
