Page 71 of My Sweetest Obsession

Alphonse’s jaw tightened, a muscle jumping in his cheek. “Where the hell has he been this whole time?” Alphonse’s question earned him a sharp, warning glare from Enzo.

Valarie took a shuddering breath before speaking again. “My grandfather had him locked up in a psychiatric hospital. They kept him hidden all these years.”

Enzo made a note on his pad. He paused, then looked back up at her, his gaze steady. “How did you and your mother end up down there, Valarie?”

A distant, pained look entered her eyes. “After Angelica left, my father... he lost it. He started beating me and my mother, blaming us for my sister disappearing and for protecting her. Massimo somehow managed to escape. He confronted my father and accused him of abandoning his own brother. The next thing I remembered was Massimo killing my father and waking up in a cell.”

“How can that be?” Alphonse interjected. “I was there. The house… it was gone. There was nothing left.”

Valarie’s gaze locked onto his. “I watched Massimo stab my father to death.”

“Did your uncle ever say why he kept you and your mother alive?” Enzo asked, his pen poised.

Valarie hugged herself. “He said something about... killing us being too easy. Too simple for his family’s betrayal.”

“Did he elaborate on that?”

“Yes,” she replied, rubbing her hands together. “He claimed that my father, being four years younger, had unjustly takenwhat was rightfully his. Massimo’s father—my grandfather—had him locked away for years, convinced he was… unfit to inherit the family’s legacy to lead.”

“What led him to that conclusion?” Enzo asked.

“He… he set one of his classmates on fire.”

Alphonse swore under his breath, running a hand down his face in disgust.

The fucker was unhinged. Crazy sick, bastard. And now my angel is with that goddamn psycho. I’m going to rip out his spine and beat him to death with it when I find him.

Enzo continued to scribble her responses on the notepad, his pen gliding across the paper. After a moment, he lifted his gaze from the page and turned to Malik. “What about you?” he asked. “How did you end up in the same place as Valarie?”

Malik shifted uncomfortably in his seat. “A group of men I didn’t recognize, barged into my apartment and beat me. When I regained consciousness, I woke up in the cell. The Puppet Master said his original plan was to kill me, to tie up loose ends after Angelica was killed. But he changed his mind. Decided it would be more effective to keep me alive. Not for the pain they inflicted on my body, but for what he forced me to watch.” He paused, dragging his hands down his face.

Enzo nodded and leaned back in his chair. “I’m sorry for what you experienced,” he stated, his voice a solemn, steady baritone.

Before Enzo could ask any more questions, the door creaked open and a nurse entered. She surveyed the room before settling her gaze on Valarie. “I think it’s time you got some rest, dear, don’t you?”

Valarie stifled a deep, shuddering yawn. “I could really use some sleep,” she admitted, her voice barely audible.

“It’s okay,” Enzo said, standing up smoothly. He tucked his notepad and pen into his coat’s inner pocket. “Thank you foryour time, Valarie. You’ve been incredibly helpful.” He reached into another pocket, producing a business card. “If you think of anything else at all, anything that could help us find the people who did this, please call me.” He placed the card on her bedside table.

Valarie slowly reached for it, her fingers trembling slightly as she took the card. She managed a small, tired smile. “I will. Thank you.”

He gave her a curt, professional nod, and started toward the door.

The nurse turned her attention to Malik, her tone conveying a playful scolding. “And you, sir, need to get back to bed.”

Malik met Valarie’s eyes, concern etched across his face. “I needed to make sure she was okay,” he defended himself softly.

A small smile broke through Valarie’s worry as she cupped his cheek affectionately. “Go get some rest. We’ll talk later.”

With a reluctant nod, Malik allowed Liam to assist him to his feet.

Alphonse ambled over to Valarie, his expression tender as he leaned down to place a gentle kiss on top of her head. “I’ll be back to check on you,” he whispered.

She smiled back at him as she closed her eyes.

As we stepped out of the room, Malik called my name. I turned to see a shadow of sadness etched on his features.

“What is it?” I asked.