Chapter 4 - The Betrayal Hidden Behind the Empire
Adrian Cross entered Roman’s office without knocking.
He always did.
Because Adrian was one of the few people who could.
“Something wrong?”
Roman sat behind his desk.
“No.”
Adrian smiled slightly.
“You’re lying.”
Roman looked up.
“Interesting.”
“What?”
“You always know when I’m lying.”
Adrian shrugged.
“I’ve known you too long.”
Roman leaned back.
“Maybe too long.”
The smile disappeared.
“What does that mean?”
Roman placed Samuel’s letter on the desk.
Adrian froze.
Only for half a second.
But Roman noticed.
That was enough.
“Where did you find that?”
Not:
What is that?
Not:
Who wrote it?
Where did you find that?
Roman’s eyes hardened.
“You already know.”
Adrian said nothing.
The silence answered everything.
“You knew.”
Adrian looked away.
“Roman…”
“You knew Samuel survived.”
A long pause.
“Yes.”
The admission felt heavier than a gunshot.
Roman stood.
“For twelve years?”
“I was protecting you.”
Roman laughed once.
A cold, empty sound.
“Protecting me?”
Adrian stepped closer.
“You were young. Angry. Hungry for power. Samuel knew what would happen if you found out the truth.”
“What truth?”
Adrian hesitated.
And that hesitation told Roman everything.
“Who betrayed him?”
Adrian looked at the floor.
“Roman…”
“Answer me.”
The room became silent.
Finally, Adrian spoke.
“Your father.”
Roman froze.
“My father died before Samuel.”
“Yes.”
“Then explain.”
Adrian took a breath.
“Your father ordered the hit.”
Roman stared.
Impossible.
His entire life had been built around one belief.
His father was a ruthless man.
But loyal.
“Why?”
“Because Samuel wanted to destroy the old syndicate.”
Adrian continued.
“He wanted to end the business.”
Roman’s face changed.
“He wanted peace?”
“Yes.”
“And my father killed him for that?”
Adrian nodded.
Roman looked at the city outside.
For years he had believed power was the only way to survive.
Now he discovered his entire empire was built on a lie.
---
That night, Nora found Roman sitting alone.
No guards.
No meetings.
Just silence.
“You look different.”
Roman glanced at her.
“Different?”
“Like you’re questioning everything.”
He looked away.
“Samuel was right about me.”
Nora sat across from him.
“He would hate hearing you say that.”
Roman looked surprised.
“Why?”
“Because Samuel never wanted you to hate yourself.”
A pause.
“He wanted you to choose differently.”
Roman studied her.
“You sound like him.”
Nora smiled sadly.
“He was the closest thing I had to family.”
Roman lowered his eyes.
For the first time, Nora saw the man behind the reputation.
Not the mafia boss.
Just Roman.
A man who had lost someone.
May you like
And never allowed himself to admit it.
---
