Chapter 3: The Secret Behind Ruby’s Name
I did not sleep that night.
Neither did anyone inside the Falcone estate.
The birthday decorations remained hanging in the banquet hall, untouched.
The candles on the cake had burned down completely.
The expensive wine sat open on tables surrounded by empty chairs.
A celebration had become an investigation.
And the first person I questioned was my own wife.
Valentina sat across from me in my office, her hands folded tightly in her lap.
The same woman who had walked into the Falcone household years ago with confidence.
The same woman who had stood beside me during negotiations, funerals, and wars.
Now she looked like someone waiting for a sentence.
I placed my phone on the desk.
“Start from the beginning.””
She looked at me.
“I already told you—”
“No.””
My voice stopped her.
“You told me pieces.””
I leaned forward.
“I want the truth.””
For several seconds, she said nothing.
Then she looked toward the closed door.
“Is Ruby safe?””
I did not answer immediately.
Because that question bothered me.
Not because of what it meant.
Because of what it revealed.
Valentina was not asking whether she was angry.
She was not asking whether I believed her.
She was asking whether our daughter was safe.
That meant she knew something.
“Why did Alessandro Vieri mention Ruby’s birth?””
Valentina’s face changed.
A small movement.
Almost invisible.
But I noticed.
I noticed everything.
“Valentina.””
She looked down.
“Because he knows something.””
“What?””
Her fingers tightened.
“Something about Ruby’s mother.””
The room became silent.
Ruby’s mother.
A subject I rarely discussed.
Not because I wanted to forget her.
Because every memory carried pain.
Her name was Isabella.
She had died when Ruby was born.
At least, that was what everyone had told me.
A tragic accident.
A complication.
A loss that left me holding a newborn daughter while my entire world collapsed.
But now my wife was sitting across from me, telling me the man I believed was my enemy knew something about that night.
“What about Isabella?””
Valentina took a deep breath.
“Before she died, she contacted Alessandro.””
My hand tightened around the edge of the desk.
“Why?””
“I don’t know.””
“You don’t know?””
“No.””
Her voice cracked slightly.
“But I know she was afraid.””
I stared at her.
“And you waited until now to tell me?””
Valentina closed her eyes.
“I found out three weeks ago.””
That answer made everything worse.
“Three weeks?””
She nodded.
“There was a letter.””
“From who?””
“From Alessandro.””
I stood immediately.
“Where is it?””
Valentina hesitated.
That hesitation was enough.
“Where is it?””
“In my room.””
I walked around the desk.
“Get it.””
“Domenico—”
“Now.””
She stood and left.
I remained alone for less than five minutes.
But those five minutes felt like hours.
Because every possibility I had refused to consider was suddenly standing in front of me.
Why had Isabella been afraid?
Why had Alessandro known about Ruby?
Why had Valentina hidden everything?
And why had she packed my daughter’s room instead of simply telling me the truth?
When Valentina returned, she held a small envelope.
Old.
Folded.
Worn at the edges.
She placed it on the desk.
“I never opened it.””
I looked at her.
“You expect me to believe that?””
“I swear.””
I picked up the envelope.
The name written across the front made my stomach tighten.
Isabella.
My wife watched as I opened it.
Inside was a single page.
Only a few lines.
But those lines changed everything.
Domenico,
If anything happens to me, do not trust the people closest to you.
Ruby is not just your daughter.
She is the reason they will come.
Protect her.
Do not let anyone know what she carries.
I read the words again.
Then again.
“What does this mean?””
Valentina looked away.
“I don’t know.””
“You expect me to believe Isabella wrote this and nobody explained anything?””
“I told you. I don’t know.””
I slammed the letter onto the desk.
“Then why remove Ruby’s things?””
Her eyes filled with frustration.
“Because someone entered the house.””
That stopped me.
“When?””
“Four nights ago.””
I stared at her.
“Someone entered our home?””
“Yes.””
“Who?””
“I don’t know.””
“Then how do you know?””
Valentina looked toward the window.
“The security cameras.””
I immediately reached for the phone.
“Bring the footage.””
She did not move.
“Domenico.””
“What?””
“There is something you need to understand.””
I waited.
“The person who entered the house did not steal anything.””
My expression hardened.
“Then what did they do?””
Valentina swallowed.
“They went directly to Ruby’s room.””
A cold feeling moved through me.
“What did they take?””
“Nothing.””
“Then why?””
She looked at me.
“Because they were looking for something.””
The room felt smaller.
“What?””
“I don’t know.””
I walked toward the door.
“Where is Marcus?””
Valentina stood.
“Domenico.””
“Where is my brother?””
“He was trying to help.””
I stopped.
“Help?””
“Yes.””
I turned back.
“By grabbing me?””
Her face tightened.
“He panicked.””
“No.””
My voice was calm.
Too calm.
“He knew something.””
Valentina said nothing.
That silence confirmed it.
I found Marcus in the underground training room.
He was alone.
Hitting a punching bag.
One strike.
Another.
Another.
He stopped when he saw me.
“I assume you’re here for answers.””
I walked inside.
“Why did you pack Ruby’s room?””
Marcus removed his gloves.
“Because Valentina asked me.””
“Why?””
He looked away.
“Because she was scared.””
“Everyone keeps saying that.””
I stepped closer.
“Scared of what?””
Marcus laughed quietly.
“You really don’t know, do you?””
I grabbed the front of his shirt.
Not violently.
But enough.
“Choose your next words carefully.””
Marcus looked at my hand.
Then at my face.
“You think Valentina was trying to hurt Ruby?””
I said nothing.
“She wasn’t.””
“Then explain.””
Marcus pulled away.
“She was trying to keep her alive.””
The words hung between us.
I stared at him.
“You expect me to believe that after what happened tonight?””
Marcus’s expression changed.
For the first time, I saw something besides arrogance.
Regret.
“Domenico, Alessandro Vieri is not back because he wants revenge.””
“Then why?””
Marcus looked toward the door.
Then lowered his voice.
“Because of Ruby.””
“Why?””
“Because Ruby has something Isabella hid.””
I stepped closer.
“What?””
Marcus shook his head.
“I don’t know.””
A dangerous silence followed.
“You’re lying.””
“I’m not.””
“Then why attack me?””
His eyes lowered.
“Because you were about to make everything public.””
I remembered the banquet.
The guests.
The witnesses.
The moment I protected Ruby in front of everyone.
Marcus continued.
“Alessandro watches the Falcone family. He wants a reaction.””
“And you thought humiliating my daughter would solve that?””
Marcus looked ashamed.
“No.””
“Then what?””
He took a breath.
“Valentina wanted Ruby moved somewhere safer.””
I looked at him.
“She wanted her in storage.””
“No.””
His voice became defensive.
“She wanted her away from windows. Away from the main areas. Away from anyone watching.””
I froze.
“What?””
Marcus looked at me.
“She never told you because she knew you would refuse.””
I thought about Ruby’s room.
The packed boxes.
The empty shelves.
The chair.
The fear in my daughter’s eyes.
A cruel plan.
Or a desperate one.
Maybe both.
Before I could ask another question, my phone rang.
The same unknown number.
Everyone stopped moving.
Marcus looked at the screen.
His face changed.
“Don’t answer.””
I looked at him.
“Why?””
Because Marcus, the man who had challenged me hours earlier, suddenly looked terrified.
The phone continued ringing.
Once.
Twice.
Three times.
Then I answered.
“Alessandro.””
A slow breath came through the speaker.
“Good.””
His voice was calm.
“I was wondering when you would finally listen.””
My grip tightened.
“What do you want?””
A pause.
Then:
“I want you to ask your wife why she lied about the night Ruby was born.””
My eyes moved to Marcus.
Then back to the phone.
“What are you talking about?””
Alessandro’s voice lowered.
“Your daughter was never supposed to survive that night.””
The room went completely still.
“And Valentina knows why.””
The call ended.
I stood there holding the phone.
Unable to move.
May you like
Because for the first time in three years, I wondered if the biggest secret in my house was not about an enemy outside the walls.
It was about the people who had been living inside them.
