Chapter 10: The Master Behind the Shadows
Chapter 10: The Master Behind the Shadows
Marcus left the Valmont estate without saying another word.
But everyone inside the mansion knew something had changed.
The confident businessman who walked through the doors moments earlier had left like a man running from a fire.
Adrian watched him disappear through the window.
"He was my friend."
Mariana stood behind him.
"That is why it hurt more."
Adrian looked at her.
"You knew before I did."
"I suspected."
"Why didn't you tell me?"
Mariana looked away.
"Because I needed proof."
Adrian shook his head.
"You still don't trust me."
Her silence was enough.
Because she didn't.
Not completely.
Five years of betrayal could not disappear overnight.
Adrian lowered his voice.
"I know I hurt you."
Mariana looked at him.
"You didn't just hurt me."
The words were quiet.
But powerful.
"You made me believe I was alone."
Adrian had no answer.
Because there wasn't one.
That night, Mariana returned to Victor's old study.
The room had remained untouched since his death.
The books.
The desk.
The old photographs.
Everything was exactly the same.
Lucas entered.
"We found something."
He placed a laptop on the desk.
A video file appeared.
"Where did this come from?"
"A hidden server connected to Valmont Holdings."
Mariana clicked play.
The screen showed Victor.
Older.
Tired.
But alive.
The recording was made days before his death.
"If you are watching this, then someone failed to stop the truth."
Victor looked directly into the camera.
"Mariana, I know you will find this."
Her eyes narrowed.
"Because you are the only person I trust."
Victor continued.
"The person who betrayed me is not acting alone."
A pause.
"There is someone above them."
Mariana leaned closer.
Victor's next words changed everything.
"The person controlling this operation is someone you would never suspect."
The video suddenly glitched.
Then stopped.
Lucas frowned.
"Someone deleted the rest."
Mariana stared at the screen.
"Not deleted."
"What?"
"Interrupted."
She looked toward the window.
"Someone still has access to Victor's files."
Then her phone received a message.
One sentence.
Stop searching, or you will lose Adrian next.
May you like
Mariana's expression turned cold.
Because whoever sent it knew exactly where to hurt her.
