THE BROTHER WHO RETURNED
796 Words
The Mafia King’s Forbidden Wife
Chapter Eleven: The Brother Who Returned
The name echoed in Adrian’s mind.
Luciano De Luca.
A name buried with the past.
A name that was supposed to belong only to memories.
And yet, somehow…
It had returned.
Elena watched Adrian carefully.
She had seen him angry.
She had seen him cold.
She had even seen him afraid.
But this was different.
This was something deeper.
Something that looked like betrayal.
“Who is Luciano De Luca?”
Adrian didn’t answer.
“Adrian.”
Still nothing.
She stepped closer.
“Talk to me.”
His eyes finally met hers.
“Luciano was my brother.”
The words were simple.
But the pain behind them wasn’t.
“Was?”
Adrian looked away.
“Everyone believed he died fifteen years ago.”
“But he didn’t.”
“No.”
His voice became quiet.
“He survived.”
---
They returned to the private office.
For once, Adrian didn’t tell Elena to leave.
He didn’t hide anything.
He opened an old file and placed it on the desk.
Inside were pictures of two young men.
Adrian.
And Luciano.
They looked different.
Adrian had the same sharp eyes.
The same commanding presence.
But there was something else in the picture.
Happiness.
A version of Adrian Elena had never seen.
“You were close.”
Adrian stared at the photograph.
“He was my best friend before he was my brother.”
Elena listened quietly.
“Luciano was everything I wasn’t. He was charming. Patient. He believed people could change.”
A faint smile appeared on Adrian’s face.
“He was the only person who could make me laugh.”
Elena looked at him.
“What happened?”
The smile disappeared.
“Our father died.”
Silence.
“And after that, everything changed.”
---
Adrian walked toward the window.
“My father left behind an empire built on fear. Everyone expected me to take control.”
“And Luciano?”
“He didn’t want that life.”
Elena frowned.
“Then why did he disappear?”
Adrian’s expression darkened.
“Because someone betrayed us.”
“Who?”
He looked at her.
“I don’t know.”
That answer surprised her.
Adrian De Luca admitting he didn’t know something felt impossible.
“After Luciano disappeared, everyone believed he was dead. My enemies used it as a warning.”
Elena looked at the file.
“And now he’s back.”
“Yes.”
“Do you think he’s the one behind everything?”
Adrian didn’t answer.
But his silence said enough.
---
Later that evening, Elena found Adrian in the training room.
He was hitting a punching bag repeatedly.
Not with anger.
With frustration.
“You think destroying that will give you answers?”
He stopped.
“You should be resting.”
“And you should be talking.”
A small smile almost appeared on his face.
Almost.
“You always do that.”
“Do what?”
“Challenge me.”
“Maybe someone needs to.”
For a moment, the room was quiet.
Then Elena asked:
“Are you scared?”
Adrian looked at her.
The question caught him off guard.
“Of Luciano?”
“No.”
She stepped closer.
“Of being hurt again.”
The silence answered.
Elena softened.
“You trusted him.”
“Yes.”
“And he betrayed you.”
“Yes.”
“That’s why you don’t trust anyone.”
Adrian looked away.
“You think you understand me?”
“No.”
She paused.
“But I’m trying.”
Those words affected him more than she realized.
Because Adrian De Luca had spent years surrounded by people who wanted his money, power, or protection.
Nobody tried to understand him.
Except Elena.
---
That night, Adrian received a message.
No number.
No name.
Just a picture.
His blood ran cold.
It was Luciano.
Alive.
Standing outside the Rossi mansion years ago.
Beside Elena’s mother.
Adrian stared at the image.
Impossible.
Then another message appeared.
You spent fifteen years searching for the wrong enemy.
Another message followed.
Your wife’s mother knew the truth before you did.
Adrian’s hands tightened.
A final message appeared.
Ask Elena who really killed her mother.
---
At the same moment, Elena received her own message.
Different sender.
Same picture.
Same man.
Luciano De Luca.
But underneath it was a sentence that made her heart stop.
"Your husband knows more about your mother’s death than he has admitted."
Elena looked across the room.
Adrian was standing there.
Watching her.
Both of them holding a secret.
Both of them wondering the same thing.
Who was telling the truth?
Because in their world…
The most dangerous lies were often hidden inside the truth.
To be continued…
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