Chapter 17 - The Man Who Served My FatherThe identity was hidden behind a layer of black ink.
Mara examined the photograph.
"We can restore it."
Twenty minutes later, the name became visible.
Daniel Carter.
Lorenzo stared.
"Daniel?"
Emma's father.
The man who had helped expose Victor.
The man who had supposedly protected Lorenzo's family.
The man standing beside his father in the photograph.
Lorenzo found Daniel in the kitchen.
Elena was there.
Emma was upstairs.
"Daniel."
Daniel looked at him.
He immediately knew.
"You found it."
Lorenzo placed the photograph on the table.
"How long?"
Daniel sighed.
"Since before you were born."
"You're the Architect?"
"No."
"Then why are you in this photograph?"
"Because your father recruited me."
"For what?"
"To build the Circle."
Lorenzo's hand tightened.
"You helped him."
"Yes."
"And my mother?"
"I helped her escape."
"After helping your father build the organization."
Daniel looked down.
"I was young."
"That's not an excuse."
"No."
He raised his eyes.
"But I eventually understood what we had created."
"What happened?"
"Your father wanted out."
"And Victor?"
"Victor wanted control."
Daniel continued.
"The Circle split."
"Who became the Architect?"
Daniel hesitated.
"Someone neither of us could control."
"Who?"
Daniel looked toward the stairs.
Then he whispered:
"Your father's lawyer."
Lorenzo froze.
His father's old attorney had been dead for fifteen years.
At least according to every record.
Daniel handed him another document.
"He didn't die."
Lorenzo read the name.
Samuel Crowe.
The man who had handled every Duca inheritance.
Every trust.
Every property.
Every legal transfer.
Including the clause that could transfer Lorenzo's empire to his wife.
Lorenzo understood.
The wedding wasn't merely about killing him.
It was about controlling what happened after his death.
Then Emma came running downstairs.
"Uncle Lorenzo!"
He turned.
She was crying.
"What's wrong?"
She pointed toward the front door.
"There's a man outside."
Lorenzo looked.
A black sedan waited beyond the gates.
Someone stepped out.
An elderly man.
Gray hair.
Walking cane.
He looked directly at Lorenzo.
Then raised one hand.
A familiar gesture.
Two fingers against his lips.
Shh.
Lorenzo's blood ran cold.
He had seen that gesture before.
Emma had used it when she first warned him about Vivien.
The man smiled.
May you like
Then said:
"Tell Lucia I found her."
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