Chapter 13: The Enemy Inside the House
Chapter 13: The Enemy Inside the House
The Valmont estate had never felt more dangerous.
Every hallway that once represented wealth now felt like a trap.
The security system had been restored, but nobody inside the mansion felt safe.
Someone had entered their world.
Someone who knew their secrets.
Someone who knew exactly where to strike.
Adrian stood in the control room with the security team.
"How did they get inside?"
The head of security shook his head.
"That's impossible, sir. The system wasn't hacked from outside."
Adrian turned.
"What do you mean?"
The man hesitated.
"The access came from an internal authorization."
Silence.
Someone inside the estate had opened the doors.
Mariana stood behind Adrian, her expression unreadable.
"So we have a traitor."
Nobody spoke.
Because everyone knew what that meant.
The enemy wasn't outside.
The enemy was already living among them.
Later that evening, Mariana gathered everyone in the main hall.
The servants.
The executives.
The family members.
Everyone who had access to the estate.
Adrian stood beside her.
A position nobody expected.
For years, he had stood against her.
Now he stood with her.
Mariana looked around the room.
"Someone here has been helping the person attacking this family."
Everyone became nervous.
She continued.
"I don't care who you are."
Her voice remained calm.
"But I will find you."
A servant stepped forward.
"Mrs. Valmont, we would never betray you."
Mariana looked at him.
"I believe that."
Then she turned toward the family.
"But betrayal doesn't always come from strangers."
Her eyes stopped on Vivienne.
The older woman remained calm.
"You think it's me?"
Mariana smiled slightly.
"No."
Vivienne raised an eyebrow.
"Then why look at me?"
"Because you know more than you admit."
For the first time, Vivienne looked uncomfortable.
That night, Adrian found Mariana alone in Victor's study.
"You believe my mother isn't the one behind this."
Mariana didn't look up.
"No."
"Why?"
"Because she's hiding something."
Adrian frowned.
"That's not exactly a defense."
"No."
Mariana closed the file in front of her.
"It's a warning."
She looked at him.
"Your mother is dangerous."
A pause.
"But she isn't the mastermind."
Adrian was quiet.
Then he asked:
"Do you think my father knew about Alexander?"
Mariana looked toward Victor's old desk.
"I think Victor knew everything."
"And he still trusted you."
"Yes."
"Why?"
Mariana didn't answer.
Because she had been asking herself the same question.
Suddenly, Lucas rushed into the room.
"Mariana."
She turned.
"What happened?"
"We found the person who accessed the security system."
Adrian stood.
"Who?"
Lucas looked uncomfortable.
Then he said:
"It was registered under your name."
Everyone froze.
Mariana stared.
"My name?"
Lucas nodded.
"Someone used your personal authorization."
Adrian looked at her.
For one dangerous second...
doubt appeared.
Mariana noticed.
And it hurt more than she expected.
May you like
Because after everything...
she still wasn't completely trusted.
