A wide smile spread across Giovane's face as he gazed at the photographs in his hands. Laughter bubbled from his chest, unable to contain the joy he was feeling.
"You're doing great, Bern," he said, patting the man beside him—an employee in his mid-forties.
"You promised my family wouldn't get involved," Bern reminded him quietly, eyes betraying worry.
"Hmm? Did I really make that promise back then?" Giovane asked, feigning thoughtfulness while slipping the photographs—proof that his two sisters were still alive—back into his coat.
Bern didn't respond. He was the driver who worked at the Dionson mansion, the same man who used to pick up and drop off Chesca.
"So, you're confirming that Chesca remembers who she really is?" Giovane asked calmly.
Bern nodded in reply.
Giovane's smile widened. "Thank you for your hard work," he said sincerely—before slowly pulling out a gun.
Without hesitation, he fired.
"Oh, and by the way," he added coldly, "you won't have a home to return to. Only corpses will greet you."
Shock and confusion were the only responses Bern managed before Giovane sprayed him with bullets, his body collapsing in a bloodied heap.
"I guess I'm just too happy today," Giovane muttered to himself with a sigh of twisted satisfaction.
"Throw that away," he ordered his men, motioning to the lifeless body.
They obeyed without a word while Giovane returned to his car. Just as he was about to drive off, his phone buzzed.
A message from Charles lit up the screen.
Let the fun game begin…
Giovane smirked.
He sped toward the mansion, eager to share the good news with his father. But despite the small victory, one unresolved issue gnawed at him: they still hadn't identified the person sabotaging their business.
A puzzle yet unsolved.
He suspected his cousin—Roman blood or not, corruption ran deep in their family.
Even without solid evidence, Giovane knew that snake was operating in secret.
"Well, let's see who wins this game," he muttered under his breath, finally pulling into the estate's long driveway.
As soon as he reached the gate, the housekeeper opened it for him.
"Where's Dad?" Giovane asked while stepping out of the car.
"He's in the garden, sir," the housekeeper replied politely.
Without another word, he made his way to the sprawling garden. From a distance, he spotted the familiar silhouette of his father sitting in a chair, newspaper in hand. A hot cup of coffee and his phone rested beside him.
"You're back already, Giovane," his father said without looking up.
"Yeah," Giovane replied, sitting down beside him and momentarily enjoying the serenity of the blooming flowers around them.
"How did the task go?"
Giovane smiled. "Chesca—my youngest sister—her memory has returned. That's good news."
"Excellent," his father said. "And her foster parents?"
"Come on, Dad. Don't look at me like that," Giovane chuckled. "You'll hear about it in the news tomorrow, just as you wanted."
"I expect a lot from you, Giovane. Your sisters—if they're not dead—are still out there, playing games under my watch."
"What's your plan for the other two?" Giovane asked.
"That Mikaela is still alive," his father said, cracking a rare smile. "Hard to kill a wild weed, isn't it?"
"Yeah. So, what's next?"
"I'm going to lure them back here," his father said darkly. "Once they're in the mansion, I'll make sure they never see daylight again."
"You really hate them that much, huh?"
"And what about that annoying cousin of yours?" his father added.
Giovane frowned. "Bad news on that one—I still don't have proof against him."
"Don't worry about him. Have you established a connection with the person who was involved with Fernan?"
Giovane scratched his head. "Fernan? Damn, I forgot. I've been so busy with the warehouse issues, I lost track of who was tied to him."
"Where's your right-hand man?" his father asked sharply.
That was just like his father—always thinking ahead, always meticulous. Every move calculated.
"Don't worry, Dad. He's under control. Charles—I've tasked him with manipulating Mikaela."
His father looked uneasy. "I don't trust that man, Giovane. Be careful with what you feed him. My instincts are screaming. He's working in the shadows."
Giovane leaned over and patted his father on the back. "You've always been good at sensing things. But if Charles slips up, I'll deal with him myself."
His father didn't respond right away. He simply scanned the garden, then said:
"Keep your eyes on the warehouse. There's a snake infestation."
"Already on it, Dad."
His father gave a small nod. "I have some loose ends to take care of."
"Take your time. I'll handle the rest."
As Giovane headed back to his car, he noticed dozens of missed calls on his phone—his business partners growing increasingly restless.
People. So greedy. So self-serving.
He got inside the car and started the engine.
Despite his progress, one thing still haunted him: he didn't know the identity of the man tied to Fernan.
Killing his siblings wasn't enough.
I will kill them all once I learn the truth. I will kill them without mercy.