Chapter 47
“Mr. Salvatore,” she replied, her voice equally composed. “I didn’t expect to see you here. It an honor meeting you.”“Nor I you. But it’s a pleasure to finally meet you,” he said, his eyes scanning her appreciatively“Same here. Mr. Salvatore.” She took his hand, her grip firm and confident. “Likewise, I’ve heard much about you.”“Just call me Adrian.” Adrian said, gesturing for her to sit. “But it seems we have some common interests to discuss.”They both sat down, and a waiter promptly arrived to take Melissa’s order. Melissa arched an eyebrow after the waiter left. “Is that so? And what interests might those be?”Adrian leaned back, studying her carefully. “The rumors about Estefan and Kaitlyn. I believe you had a hand in starting them.”“So, I suppose you are the one I am to meet here today.”“Yes, Laura is my assistant.” Adrian was glad she was able to pick up quick, while Melissa only noddChapter 48As earlier planned, the first dinner Grandma Elena had scheduled did not hold because Estefan was out of the city for a two-day business meeting. Elena had made sure she rescheduled the meeting; immediately Estefan returned from his trip.Elena had never been one to let family disputes grow, especially when it came to her grandsons, Adrian and Estefan. The tension between them had been growing more noticeable with each passing day, and Elena knew it was time to step in. A matriarch in every sense of the word, she took it upon herself to try and settle the dispute between both siblings. She had invited the both for dinner, believing that a family dinner would be the perfect moment to address the issue.Since her husband, Williams Salvatore, man of his word and full of grace, had been in poor health a few years ago. She had stepped in as the matriarch of the family to relieve him of some duties while nursing him back to health.Elena then called Adrian at his office earlier t
Chapter 49Isabella, who had been quietly observing the discussion, decided it was time to intervene also. Seeing her both sons make enemies of themselves had been devastating and was already killing her. Her and her husband had tried several times to mend the situation, but it only grew worse. She was glad grandmother Elena had called for this moment.”“Adrian, Estefan, you both have valid points. But this isn’t about who’s right or wrong. It’s about finding a way forward together. The media is already having a field day with rumors about this family; we can’t afford to give them any more fuel.”“I think we all want the same thing; what’s best for this family. Maybe we should focus on that instead of what divides us.” Kaitlyn, who had been listening intently, decided to speak up.Elena nodded in agreement, her gaze softening as she looked at her grandsons. “She’s right,” Elena said. “We’re stronger together. And that’s how we’re going to move forward, working together in unity, not d
Chapter 50Estefan Penthouse Over the upcoming days, Kaitlyn and Estefan put their plan into action. They attended several high-profile events together, each appearance carefully planned to project an image of unity and strength. Kaitlyn wore outfits that showed off her confidence.One evening, as they prepared to attend a charity gala hosted by one of Estefan’s business associates, Kaitlyn stood in front of the mirror, adjusting the diamond necklace that sparkled against her collarbone. Estefan watched her from the doorway, a small smile playing on his lips.“You look stunning,” he said, walking over to stand behind her. He placed his hands on her shoulders, their eyes meeting in the mirror. Kaitlyn was shocked but quick to mask it up. She hadn’t heard him knock or come in.Kaitlyn smiled back, proud at how far she had come. “Thank you,” she replied. “I’m starting to get the hang of these events. It’s not as intimidating as it used to be.”Estefan chuckled, “You’ve been doing except
Chapter 51Estefan PenthouseAmidst all the social engagements and public appearances, Kaitlyn made sure to carve out time for Sarah. One evening, they planned another get-together at the penthouse, this time with no formalities, no media; just two friends catching up.Kaitlyn invited Sarah to the penthouse for lunch. She had the chefs prepare a light, elegant meal, and they set up a table on the balcony facing the city. As Sarah arrived, Kaitlyn greeted her with a warm hug.“It’s so good to see you!” Kaitlyn exclaimed, pulling back to look at her friend. “I’ve missed you.” she said, leading her inside.Sarah smiled, “I’ve missed you too, Kaitlyn. You look amazing, as always.”“Thanks,” Kaitlyn said. “Come, let’s sit. We have so much to talk about.”Sarah looked around the penthouse, still in admiration of the luxury that surrounded her. “This place never ceases to amaze me, Kaitlyn. It’s like something out of a movie.”Kaitlyn chuckled, gesturing for Sarah to sit on the plush sofa. “
Chapter 52“It means you’re still in love with her! Melissa accused Michael of his obsession over Kaitlyn trying hard to divert the attention away from herself. “You’ve never gotten over her, and now you’re using these rumors as an excuse to obsess over her all over again.”Michael was taken aback by her outburst, but he couldn’t deny the truth in her words. He had been thinking about Kaitlyn more than he should, and it was getting at him. But that didn’t change the fact that Melissa was just as obsessed with her.“And what about you?” Michael shot back. “You’re just as obsessed with Kaitlyn as I am. You’ve been trying to tear her down ever since she got married. Why can’t you just let it go?”“Because she doesn’t deserve to be happy!” Melissa cried, her voice breaking. “She had everything, Michael. And now she’s married to a billionaire while we’re stuck here, watching our marriage fall apart.”Michael’s heart sank as he realized how deep Melissa’s resentment ran. He could see the pa
Chapter 53Contains Flashback to the Last Salvatore Family DinnerAdrian Salvatore had always been a man who knew what he wanted and how to get it. However, the recent discussion at the family dinner days ago had left him with more questions than answers. The dinner grandma Elena had planned was intended to address the growing rift between him and Estefan, but for Adrian, it had only served to solidify his suspicions.As Adrian sat in his office, his thoughts drifted back to that evening. The entire family had been aware of the rift between him and his brother, but no one dared to speak openly about it, except for Elena.He could still hear her firm and authoritative voice as she addressed the table. "We’re family, and family comes first. Whatever is going on between you two needs to be resolved. I’ve seen enough division in this family, and I won’t stand for it."He had been doing a lot of thinking lately; had his brother really worked out his present position as the managing directo
Chapter 54Back at home, Melissa had spent the day idle. The fight with Michael had left her feeling exposed, and she couldn’t stop replaying his words in her head. She knew she should apologize and try to make things right, but a part of her was too stubborn to back down.Instead, she focused on her own obsessions. Her jealousy of Kaitlyn had become all-consuming, and she found herself fixated on finding ways to sabotage her. Melissa knew it was unhealthy, but she couldn’t help herself. Every time she saw a picture of Kaitlyn and Estefan in the news, every time she heard someone talking about how perfect their marriage was, it fueled the fire inside her.She spent hours on her laptop researching Kaitlyn, looking for any scrap of information she could use against her. It was a way to channel her anger and resentment. But nothing felt enough about how she intends to bring Kaitlyn.Melissa was so absorbed in her thoughts that she didn’t hear the front door open or the sound of Michael’s
Chapter 55The days that followed were intense for both Michael and Melissa, but there were changes. They were both making an effort to communicate more, to be more present with each other, and it seemed to be helping. But there is no denial that the rift between them was still there.Michael threw himself into his work, trying to clear out the doubts about Melissa that still bother his mind. He knew that he couldn’t afford to let his obsession with Kaitlyn consume him, but it was easier said than done. Every time he saw a photo of her in the media, every time he heard her name mentioned in passing, it was like a knife twisting in his gut.But he kept his promise to Melissa. He didn’t reach out to Kaitlyn, didn’t try to find out what was going on in her life.Meanwhile, Melissa had decided to keep her struggles to herself. She had minimized her activities and her outings, if not work-related. All in an attempt to divert Michael’s attention away from her. But it was a constant battle f