Chapter 3 - The Truth Amelia Did Not Ask For
Two days later, Isabella arrived at Brooks Blooms carrying coffee and a worried expression.
Amelia noticed it immediately.
“You look like someone gave you bad news.”
Isabella placed the coffees on the counter.
“Not bad news. Difficult news.”
Amelia tied off a bouquet of peonies.
“That usually means bad news wearing a nicer coat.”
Isabella smiled faintly.
Then she looked toward the front window.
“Have you seen Adrian again?”
“The tall man with the expensive sleeves?”
“Yes.”
“He came by once. He bought flowers for you.”
“And did you like him?”
Amelia looked up.
The question surprised her.
“I barely know him.”
“But did you like him?”
Amelia thought about it.
“He is serious.”
“Yes.”
“Quiet.”
“Yes.”
“And he has the strange confidence of a man who has never been told no by a parking attendant.”
Isabella laughed softly.
“That is also true.”
“But he carried boxes without complaining,” Amelia added. “That counts for something.”
Isabella’s smile faded.
“My son has not had an easy life.”
Amelia paused.
“Whose life is easy?”
“His father died when Adrian was young. After that, he inherited responsibilities no one should carry alone.”
Amelia placed the scissors down.
“Isabella, is there something you are trying to tell me?”
Before Isabella could answer, the front door opened.
A young delivery driver stepped inside holding a long cardboard box.
“Delivery for Brooks Blooms?”
Amelia frowned.
“I did not order anything.”
The driver placed the box on the counter.
“There is no sender listed.”
Isabella’s face changed.
“Do not open it,” she said quickly.
Amelia looked at her.
“Why?”
But the driver had already left.
For a moment, no one moved.
Then Amelia carefully lifted the lid.
Inside was a wilted bouquet of white lilies.
The flowers were bruised and crushed.
At the center lay a handwritten card.
YOUR KINDNESS WILL NOT SAVE YOU.
Amelia went still.
Isabella reached for her hand.
“Call Adrian.”
Amelia looked at the card.
“No.”
“Amelia—”
“I do not know what is happening, but I do not want to involve your son.”
The front door opened again.
This time, Adrian walked inside.
He had no flowers.
No smile.
His charcoal coat was wet from rain, and his expression changed the second he saw Isabella’s face.
Then he saw the box.
The card.
The dead lilies.
The air in the shop became cold.
“What happened?” he asked.
Amelia folded her arms.
“Apparently, someone has opinions about floral arrangements.”
Adrian stepped toward the box.
His eyes moved over the message once.
That was all.
But Rafe, who entered behind him, immediately reached for his phone.
“Do not,” Adrian said.
Rafe stopped.
Amelia looked at Adrian.
“You know who did this.”
“I know someone who may have done it.”
“Who?”
Adrian did not answer.
That was answer enough.
Amelia’s voice sharpened.
“This has something to do with you.”
Adrian looked directly at her.
“Yes.”
The honesty stunned her.
Isabella closed her eyes.
“Adrian,” she whispered.
“I should have told her.”
Amelia stepped back.
“Told me what?”
Adrian’s jaw tightened.
He looked like a man choosing between two terrible options.
Then he spoke.
“My name is Adrian Moretti.”
Amelia stared.
“I know. Isabella called you Adrian.”
“No,” he said. “You do not understand.”
Rafe lowered his eyes.
Isabella looked at Amelia with quiet regret.
Adrian continued.
“Moretti is not only a family name. It is a name people fear in this city.”
Amelia’s face went pale.
She had heard it before.
Everyone had.
Moretti Shipping.
Moretti Holdings.
Moretti Security.
The Moretti family appeared in newspapers beside politicians, gala events, and billion-dollar construction projects.
But there were other stories too.
Stories people never said loudly.
Stories about men who disappeared after crossing the wrong person.
Stories about the Midwest’s criminal underworld.
“You are that Adrian Moretti,” Amelia whispered.
“Yes.”
Her eyes moved to the black sedan outside.
The security men.
Rafe’s controlled posture.
The way every person in the room changed when Adrian spoke.
“You lied to me.”
“I withheld the truth.”
“That is a prettier word for the same thing.”
Adrian accepted the blow without flinching.
“I wanted you to meet me before you met the name.”
“You did not give me that choice.”
“No,” he said. “I did not.”
Amelia looked at the dead lilies.
Then at Isabella.
Then back at Adrian.
“Did someone send this because of you?”
“Yes.”
“And you brought danger to my shop?”
“I did.”
“Then leave.”
Isabella touched Amelia’s arm.
“Amelia—”
“No,” Amelia said softly. “I am grateful for you. But I cannot have people sending threats to my door because your son thought I should know him before I knew the truth.”
Adrian’s eyes darkened.
For a moment, Amelia saw the dangerous man everyone feared.
Not because he threatened her.
Because he looked like he hated himself for proving her right.
“I will leave,” he said.
Then he turned toward Rafe.
“Find who sent this. Quietly. No retaliation. No one touches them.”
Rafe looked surprised.
“No retaliation?”
Adrian’s gaze remained on Amelia.
“Not in her name.”
Then Adrian walked out.
Amelia stood in the silent shop, looking at the box of ruined flowers.
Isabella reached for her hand again.
This time, Amelia let her.
“You did the right thing,” Isabella said.
“Why does it feel terrible?”
“Because doing the right thing often hurts before it heals.”
Outside, Adrian stood beside the sedan in the rain.
Rafe approached him.
“Vanessa Clark was seen meeting with a man connected to Victor Sanz.”
Adrian’s expression changed.
Victor Sanz was not merely a rival businessman.
He was a man who had spent years trying to weaken the Moretti family by finding the people Adrian cared about most.
And now Victor knew Amelia Brooks existed.
May you like
For the first time in years, Adrian Moretti was not afraid for himself.
He was afraid of losing someone who had never asked to be part of his world.
