Chapter 7 - THE REVELATION OF THE MASTERMINDIn the pitch-black basement of the mansion, the kitchen worker was tied to an iron chair, bleeding and groaning. Alessandro stood calmly in front of him, playing with a silver switchblade.
Sophia stood right beside Alessandro, her arms crossed, watching with cold eyes.
"Who paid you?" Alessandro asked softly. "Tell me, and I'll give you a quick death. Lie to me, and you will bleed for three days."
"It... it was Matteo!" the worker cried out. "He promised me a million dollars! He gave me the poison!"
Alessandro raised the knife, but Sophia stepped forward, stopping his hand.
"He's lying," Sophia said suddenly.
Alessandro looked at her, surprised. "How do you know?"
"Because Matteo doesn't use ricin," Sophia explained, her voice remarkably sharp. "When I worked as the head maid in the main estate, I cleaned the Don's personal study every day. I found letters. Matteo prefers quick, brutal violence—guns and blades. Ricin was used ten years ago to kill your mother, Alessandro."
Alessandro’s entire body went rigid. "What did you say?"
"Your mother didn't die of cancer," Sophia said, looking directly at Vincent, who was standing quietly in the corner holding a tray of tools. "She was poisoned with ricin. And the only person who had access to her medicine back then... was the family steward."
Silence slammed into the room like a physical blow.
Alessandro slowly turned his head to face Vincent.
Vincent’s loyal, humble expression slowly vanished, replaced by a cold, arrogant smile. He dropped the metal tray, letting it clatter loudly against the concrete floor.
"You always were too perceptive for a simple maid, Sophia," Vincent sighed, pulling a suppressed firearm from his suit jacket.
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"Vincent..." Alessandro’s voice was a whisper of pure death. "You?"
"Your father was weak, Alessandro!" Vincent sneered, aiming the gun at Alessandro's heart. "He spent thirty years playing politics while I ran the shadow operations! I killed your mother because she was going to expose my offshore embezzlement. I killed your father and blamed Matteo and this maid so you two brothers would tear each other apart! And once you were both dead... the Moretti empire would finally belong to me!"
