(Renata Pelegrini)“cough-cough!” I wake up feeling my face getting wet, the cold water has entered my nose. It stings.“I thought I would never wake up.” An unknown man's voice speaks near me, I open my eyes and see him with a bucket in his hand.“What do you want?” I ask in a weak voice, my whole body still aches.Yesterday, they came into the room where I was, and as soon as the door opened, I tried to run away, but before I could reach the door, I was punched so hard in the pit of my stomach that I felt the metallic taste in my mouth, I ended up vomiting too, and soon after I passed out on top of my vomit mixed with blood. And now, I wake up here, in a totally different place. “Behind that door is a bathroom, take a shower.” The man throws a towel and a dress on my face. “You have five minutes, if you don't leave, I'll come in and finish bathing you.”A horrifying shiver runs down my spine, even though I feel weak and a little dizzy, I get out of bed and with hurried steps foll
(Renata Pellegrini)“I gave your mother to me.” James asks with his hand outstretched.I have cried for so long that I have lost track since the time James left to answer the phone. I don't know if it has been minutes or hours, I am lying there hugging my legs, the tears still falling bitterly down my eyes. Amanda... Caio...did they report me missing?“I'm in a hurry!” He bristles angrily.James grabs my wrist forcing me to break my upper arm, my wrist burns with his grip, he slides down my finger a ring with a solitary stone in the center, I try to pull my hand away but he squeezes even tighter forcing me to remain still.“If you take the ring off, I will cut off your hand.” He threatens me and jumps my hand.I massage my wrist; my skin is burning.“Why did you put that thing on my finger?” I ask, my voice hoarse from crying.“To let everyone, know that you are now my bride.”“You fool! I'll never marry you!” I shout and at the same instant my face turns sharply to the side, my cheek
(Filippo Valentini)The silence that stretches across this room is heavy. I look at old Dominic and in his wrinkled face I can see that, like me, he too is waiting for an answer from Vicenzo.“Renata ended up in Filippo's company because of Matteo, he always knew where your granddaughter was and helped her father to keep her hidden from you.” Vincenzo looks at the old man, whose face starts to turn red with anger.“I have spent years asking for your help to find my granddaughter, and you are the ones who have kept her hidden from me for all these years!?” Although Dominic speaks with restraint, I can tell in his raspy tone of anger. “Do you realize how much…”“You killed your only daughter, in front of everyone as an example of what happens to those who disobey your orders.” Vincenzo interrupts him. “You flogged her and then you shot her, your own daughter! You didn't even give her a burial, you had her thrown into some hole claiming that she brought shame to your famiglia!” My broth
(Renata Pellegrini)“Put it on!” Tiago throws a bag in my direction, I make no effort to grab it, I let it fall at my feet.He leaves the room and locks the door from the outside. It's been half an hour since I got off that helicopter, I threw up twice and now I'm wearing only a robe. I have no idea where I am, I passed out after being slapped in the face for throwing up on it twice.I pick up the bag from the floor and pull out the clothes, my heart bleeding at the sight of the completely white dress, I lay it on the bed and touch the little stones that adorn the heart-shaped neckline. It looks like a princess dress, full of frills that go all the way to the floor.Unable to control the tears, and consequently also unable to control the sobs, I sit down on the floor supporting my back on the bed.I always wanted to get married, to wear a dress as beautiful as that and be happy with my family, I thought I would marry Filippo, sweet illusion... He abandoned me, he just had fun with me
(Filippo Valentini)Even with a bullet lodged in my arm and blood dripping out of my left eye from the blow I took to the forehead with an iron bar, what pains me the most is to see her face swollen - clearly because she was beaten - and completely wet with tears. I feel hatred coursing through my veins.“Togliete le mani da mia donna!” - "Get your hands off my wife!", I say blunt angrily as I raise my gun, pointing it at the worm holding Renata by the waist.“Did you know it's ugly to show up at a party you weren't invited to, ragazzo?” Tiago sneers as he points the gun at Renata's head. “But your priest didn't have enough time to educate you, did he? Poor man, he died too young.”“Kidnapping another man's fiancée is not polite.” I fight back and unlock the gun, hearing the sound of his gun doing the same thing, I control myself not to show nervousness.I need to keep cool; the plan must go forward.“Oh, so you found out. But it's too late now, she has accepted and is now my wife.” H
(Renata Pellegrini)I feel my hair shiver as I feel Filippo's touch on my waist, God! How I missed those hands. Controlling the sigh of joy at having him so close once again, I look from his hand to his face and Filippo's jaw is clenched, I see it in his eyes, his hand clasps my waist even tighter. I stare at the figure of a gentleman standing in the middle of the room and his eyes are fixed on Filippo, it looks like they are dueling.The gray-haired gentleman is the first to break the exchange of glances, his eyes land on me and a shadow of a smile appears, but soon disappears. For a moment, I think I see pain in his gaze, as if upon seeing me, bad memories are tormenting him.“I heard that they went to rescue my granddaughter, so I came to get her.” You speak, Filippo's grip increases.“She won't go anywhere with you, Dominic.” Filippo says and I just listen to the strange conversation between them. Who are they talking about? I want to pull away, but Filippo seems to be trying to p
(Renata Pellegrini)I stare at the object in his hands, I don't know why, but my heart squeezes, I have no idea what he has on the other side and for some inexplicable reason I feel... afraid? But I'm already in deep shit anyway. I take the picture frame and turn it over, I lock my jaw as I recognize the male figure in the picture... it's my father... he's holding a baby and next to him is a woman, I feel my heart beating faster, it's like I'm looking in a mirror...“That woman…” I start to speak, but Vicenzo interrupts me.“Marieta Martinelli, the principessa della famiglia Martinelli.” He speaks. “Your mother gave her life for you.”“I-that can't be true.” I speak nervously. “I am Brazilian, I was born and raised in Brazil, I…”“You are Italian, you were born here, in Italy, your priest ran away with you to Brazil.”“This can't be true…” I say, still staring at the picture frame in my hands.“Haven't you ever found it strange that your father's name is not on your documents?” Vincen
(Renata Pellegrini)“I... don't want to talk to you.” I say and look away, I know that it is not fair to judge someone without first hearing the other side of the story, and I also have no reason to believe Vincenzo, but the memories are too strong.“Understand, I know…” Dominic starts to speak.“She said no.” Vicenzo interrupts him roughly, emphasizing my answer. “It's time to go home, Dominic.”“I'm not leaving here without la mia nipotina!” - “My granddaughter," Dominic says authoritatively. “And don't give me that she said no, here the woman only has speech if her guardian allows it, and I am her guardian. You know how things work…”“You are not mine!” I shout and stand up. “I don't even know who you are, how do you think you can have any kind of authority over me?”“I am your nonno!” - “Grandpa,”- “I have been looking for you for many years.”“You are nothing to me!” I speak with disgust, I may not have heard his side of the story, but just the fact that he is treating me like an