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"So, it must have been my old man," I mused, my tone laced with disbelief.
Enzo's solemn nod confirmed my suspicions, our shared realization sinking in with a heavyweight. It explained a hell of a lot, that was for sure.
"Let's put this all together," I suggested, my mind working overtime to organize the influx of information. "There must have been some serious bad blood between Riccardo and my old man. Whatever happened led to this perceived betrayal, which got Riccardo kicked out of the Mancini family. He was practically disowned."
Enzo interjected, his voice brimming with realization.
"Esposito...it means 'exposed' in Italian," he explained.
I nodded. This was shedding a new light on the situation. Who knew a name could carry so much significance?
The implications of it all were mind-boggling. This was the kind of twist that not even the most imaginative storyteller could dream up. I had to admit, I never expected something of this magnitude.
Then, like a bolt from the blue, Crino's dying words came rushing back to me. 'It's not the end. There's someone behind all this.'
That cryptic warning suddenly felt more relevant than ever.
"I'm thinking the same thing," I muttered to Enzo, my voice barely above a whisper. "Do you think it could be Riccardo?" I asked, already dreading the answer.
The idea that Griselda's father could be the architect of all the chaos that had haunted us for years seemed too grim to consider. Enzo's silence spoke volumes, our unspoken agreement hanging heavy in the air. He shifted the conversation, directing it towards Griselda.
"What about her? Are you going to tell her?" he inquired, his gaze probing mine.
"I'll have to," I sighed, the weight of that responsibility cementing my resolve. "She was already angry with her mother for keeping this from her. She deserves to know, and she has every right to make her own decisions."
Besides, the thought nagged at me that Griselda might already have an inkling of the truth. After all, she had gone to her mother to finally get to the bottom of her father’s supposed death.
Enzo's gaze darted back to his phone, his expression deep in thought.
"If it's Riccardo pulling the strings, we can pretty much guess his reason for stirring up trouble between the Mancini and Fiore families," he suggested. "It's payback for what he thinks your old man did to him."
I mulled over Enzo's theory, pondering what it meant now that my father had already passed away. Would Riccardo give up seeking revenge, or would he keep going, seeking blood in my father's family?
Enzo's next question was a sharp turn.
"What if Riccardo was behind your old man's death?" he proposed.
I tried not to look surprised, though deep down, I'd always had my doubts about my father's supposed heart attack. Back then, I didn't care much to dig into the truth, but now it felt like there might be more to his death than I thought.
Racking my brain, I remembered that any proof would've likely been erased by the time my old man was laid to rest, leaving us with nothing but baseless claims.
"Why not talk to your brother?" he suggested, breaking the silence that had settled in the office.
Enzo's idea seemed reasonable. Even if my brother refused to speak with me, it hardly mattered.
"I'll go see him now," I declared, already tapping away on my phone to reach my brother.
If he chose not to answer, I could track him down.
However, my intentions were sidelined by an unexpected call from Griselda. "Hey.”
"Hey, Emilio," she said softly. "I'm ready to be picked up."
Her tone seemed subdued and lost, as if she were in a daze. It made me wonder just what her mother had revealed to her. What truth had she learned about her father? I glanced at Enzo. Was our theory about her father's involvement accurate, or were we completely off the mark?
"I’m leaving the office now," I replied, concern evident in my voice. After hanging up, I turned to Enzo. "I'll pick up Griselda first before I see my brother."
Amidst the many uncertainties and questions surrounding us, one thing remained crystal clear: Griselda's well-being was my top priority.
