Chapter 7 - What Bianca Knew Four Years Ago

Adrian returned to the ballroom.

Bianca was waiting.

Her father stood beside her.

The engagement contract remained untouched.

Adrian placed the letter on the table.

Bianca saw the handwriting.

Her face went pale.

“You met my grandfather.”

She closed her eyes.

“Yes.”

“Four years ago.”

“Yes.”

“Before we started dating.”

“Yes.”

Silence.

Adrian looked at her father.

He stared back.

Adrian returned to Bianca.

“What did Giovanni tell you?”

She swallowed.

“That my father shot him.”

Her father spoke.

“Bianca.”

She raised one hand.

“No.”

Then looked at Adrian.

“He said my father planted the gun.”

Adrian’s jaw tightened.

“Did you believe him?”

“I didn’t know.”

“What did you do?”

“I asked my father.”

Adrian looked at Mr. Vale.

“And?”

Bianca’s father said:

“I told her the truth.”

Samuel entered behind Adrian.

“No.”

Mr. Vale looked at him.

Samuel continued.

“You told her your version.”

Adrian’s voice stayed calm.

“What is the truth?”

Bianca’s father exhaled.

“I shot Giovanni.”

“That part we know.”

“He was going to kill Adrian’s father.”

Adrian looked at his father across the room.

His father said:

“I never saw Giovanni draw a weapon.”

Mr. Vale continued.

“Because I moved first.”

Adrian stared.

“And the gun?”

Silence.

Bianca whispered:

“Dad.”

He looked at her.

Then at Adrian.

“I planted it.”

Bianca covered her face.

Adrian’s expression hardened.

“Why?”

“Because I could not risk a murder charge.”

Samuel laughed bitterly.

“So you staged self-defense.”

“Yes.”

“And made Adrian’s father disappear.”

“To protect him.”

“No.”

Adrian shook his head.

“To protect yourself.”

Mr. Vale said nothing.

Adrian looked at Bianca.

“You knew he planted the gun.”

Her eyes filled.

“Yes.”

“How long?”

“Four years.”

“And you still started dating me.”

“Yes.”

“Why?”

She cried now.

“Because I loved you before I understood what our families had done.”

Adrian stared.

“And when did you understand?”

“When I met Giovanni.”

Silence.

“So before our first date.”

“Yes.”

Adrian looked away.

Bianca continued.

“I wanted to tell you.”

“But?”

“My father said if the truth came out, your father would be charged too.”

Adrian turned.

“For what?”

Mr. Vale answered:

“Obstruction.”

“Witness tampering.”

“Conspiracy.”

Adrian’s father nodded.

“I had helped hide some records.”

Adrian stared.

“You too.”

His father looked ashamed.

“Yes.”

Adrian laughed once.

Then stopped.

Because it wasn’t funny.

Bianca stepped closer.

“I thought I was protecting you from losing another parent.”

Adrian looked at her.

“You were protecting a version of my life I did not choose.”

May you like

[COMPLETED] “GET YOUR HANDS OFF MY DRESS! YOU’RE NOTHING BUT AN OLD SEAM...

[COMPLETED] At the Mafia Boss's Engagement Party, I Served His Hungry So...

[COMPLETED] The Mafia Boss’s Fiancée Tried to Dismiss His Father’s Loyal...

She nodded through tears.

“Yes.”