"Yeah, why?" Luca glanced back and forth between Elena and his father, who wore an inscrutable expression. Before Elena could respond, the door swung open, revealing the center of their discussion. Rio stood there, unusually dashing in a red tuxedo. "Am I late?" he asked eagerly, met by three sets of eyes with varying expressions. "No, I don't think so," Luca replied, smiling. "Come on, let's go," he motioned, heading towards the door. But Elena spoke up. "I'm not going anymore," she declared, capturing everyone's attention."Why?" Andrea inquired."I'm not feeling well. I think it's best for me to rest instead. Besides, there's no point in me being there. No one would even notice if I'm absent," Elena explained, turning to leave. However, Luca managed to catch her arm before she could escape. "What do you mean?" he asked, concerned."You heard me. Now, please let me go," Elena responded, slipping her arm out of his grasp. All she yearned for was the solace of her bed, to be alone. Ev
As father and son strolled down the hospital corridor, Luca couldn't help but question his decision. The weight of the consequences he would face alone in the future loomed over him. Breaking the silence, Andrea placed a hand on Luca's shoulder and offered some reassurance, "I'm not supposed to comment on this, but you made the most rational decision, son." Uncertain, Luca turned to face his father and asked, "You think so?" He didn't feel good about it regardless.Andrea's words continued, "If you had chosen the child, you would blame yourself for her death for the rest of your life. Besides, she's the only woman you have ever loved. You would be a wreck if you didn't want her to live." Luca sighed, lacking the strength to argue against that fact."And if you had chosen the child, Elena would be hurt... and I'm guessing you don't want that," Andrea added."I don't care about her. I haven't forgotten her betrayal," Luca frowned, folding his hands. Andrea smiled knowingly. "Of course y
Elena paused for a while as she thought of what Licia had just said. “Elena? Elena?” Lucia called repeatedly.“Yeah. I’m with you,” she replied with a cálmele voice.“Did you zone out? Were you thinking about what I said? It might be nothing…Don’t stress yourself over it.” Lucia quickly reassured. “I’m not.” Elena lied as she tucked her hair behind her ear. “I’ll call you back later…” She said when Luca came out of the dressing room fully clothed in his nightwear. Elena tried to hide her worried look, but Luca caught a hint that all wasn’t well. One thing is also surprising all the same. Luca had become more attentive. “Hey…” he said as he approached her. He squatted beside her as he watched her calmly. “You okay?” He watched her intently.“Yeah…I’m good.”Elena feigned a smile. “I just need to rest I guess…” Elena said as Luca watched her for a while before nodding.“Alright.” He nodded and stood up. Elena smiled and lay on her side on the bed, her thoughts were still in turmoil. Luc
He didn’t pick up on the first call but on the second trial, Luca’s cool voice greeted him. “Hey, Rio. What’s up man?” Luca said his eyes glued on his system in his office.“Good. You?” Rio asked, as he thought carefully before saying anything.“Not too good…” Luca sighed as he rested back on the chair as he tried to comprehend what was displayed on the screen of his system.“I lied about Elena’s condition the other day you called. She was around me when you called. So I lied,” Luca said.“Ugh? Lied about what?” Rio asked, his interest piqued immediately. Luca sighed. “She has some complications with her pregnancy. And its not looking good, Rio. If I am not careful, I would lose both….” “What do mean?”“The doctor said we can’t have both mother and child. I will have to sacrifice one….” He drew a deep breath before he continued.“And I chose …”“Elena,” Rio interrupted.“Why do you think so?” A moment of silence passed before he asked.“Just a guess. You still haven’t gotten over ye
Rio watched Luca and the woman opposite him who turned out to be Elena. They were saying something and laughing at it.“That bastard.” He seethed and he formed a fist.As he made to stand up to confront him, Elena stood up and walked away. No. He thought. He would confront someone else, he thought, and followed after Elena. Before she got to the restroom, he intersected her by the way.“Enjoying your date?” He asked sarcastically as Elena's brow furrowed in a frown.“Rio?”Rio drew a deep breath. “Your husband…oh your pretend husband promised to have dinner with me tonight, but there is he is, with you…pretending to enjoy a bloody dinner he would rather not have,”“Excuse me?” Elena said irritatedly.“Oh…” Rio formed a surprised look. “You don’t know, do you?”“Know what?” Elena asked, her anger rising.“Pst pst….”Rio made the sound with his mouth. “He should have told you at least. You are the mother of the child.” He said.“What is it, Rio?” Elena's eyes shone, desperation creeping
“Taking her permanently away from Luca’s life….you would play an important role if it’s okay with you Rio…” Levante said.“What is it?” He asked, his voice going to something close to grim but he tried to hide it.“Listen to me carefully.” Levante said as he explained to a reluctant Rio of his role.********It has been exactly one week since Elena had been living with Lucia and it had proved to be the best decision she made. Apart from the nights she had cried herself to bed while thinking how she had been swooned for the past few days by Luca’s kind gesture, which was just a feigned attempt to help her give birth to their child safely. The truth always twinge her in the heart anytime she thought of it. Everything had been fake. All fake. Although he had been on her toe these past few days, calling and sending tons of message but it took lots of willpower to ignore them all because she couldn’t ignore the fact that she missed him. She wanted badly to hear him out, hear him say what sh
“The child.” The doctor said. “I’m sorry.” He said as he tried to sound empathetic when he was used to saying the kind of word to others.Luca felt his leg weakened as the doctor’s words reverberated in his head. Elena’s gone.“She was in a bad state when she was rushed here, we tried to save both mother and child but we couldn’t.” The doctor said. Luca stood there as he heard his father say something to the doctor which he didn’t pay attention to.“Luca?” That was Lucia’s voice that brought him back to the harsh reality he escaped in a moment.“She’s gone,” Luca said almost in a whisper. Andrea who had now turned his attention to Luca watched him with a careful gaze. “It wasn’t your fault…” he said as Luca took a deep breath. “Do you want to see the child? Although He is stillborn, he’ll live according to the doctor. He said we could see him….” Andrea asked as it took a while for Luca to process the question. And to be honest, the child was not his major concern. Yes, he was happy
Six years later….“Yayyy…..Dad’s gonna make dinner!” Angelo hopped about the kitchen as Luca turned to look at his son who hovered behind him while he tried to concentrate on the ingredients he was preparing for his favorite food.“Yeah. Even though it looks unreal.” Another voice said as Luca and Angelo turned their heads to the doorway, where the sound came from. “Rio!” Angelo screamed happily as he lunged at a smiling Rio who had his eyes on Luca. Although, he turned his attention to the hoy when he was close enough. “Look who missed his favorite godson.” Rio crouched beside him so that he was the same height as him, he ruffle his hair as Angelo revealed his perfect white set of teeth as he smiled.“Where is my gift?” The enthusiastic boy asked, ignoring the older man's remark.“Of course, I can’t forget that for anything in the world. It’s in the house but you will get them on one condition.” Rio said as Angelo frowned.“Dad! Rio’s cheating again! He promised he would get me a gi
“Rio,” Rossi said. “There’s a commotion in the hospital he was admitted in. He is on the rooftop with Elena. Luca should have received a call by now. He keeps asking for him.” Rex turned to look at Luca who stared anxiously at him. “I’m with Luca right now. We’ll head there right away.” Rex said and hung up.“What…”“Your crazy Boyfriend has her.” Rex seethed.“What?”“There’s no time. Let’s leave.” Rex said as he walked out of the house, trailed after by Luca.As they entered Rex’s car, Luca was still oblivious to what was happening.“Aren’t you wrong? Rio is in a psychiatric hospital.”“And he has my sister. He is threatening to kill her.”“What?” Luca's eyes shone in surprise. How is that….”“I don’t fucking know!” Rex snapped as he faced the road and hit the accelerator. Luca stared at him and looked at the road ahead. What the fuck is happening?When they got to the hospital, there was greeted by the crowd in front of the hospital as Rio stood at the edge of the rooftop, with a
Rex paced around the living room frantically. It was late in the night and there was no sign of Elena. He has been trying to reach her since they left King’s Hotel. After the argument with Rossi, it was as of Elena had disappeared into thin air. She wasn’t even in the motel she has been hiding all this while. He dialed his father….they had both exchanged contacts earlier, both promising to give each other updates on how things would proceed.“I can’t seem to find her,” Rex said immediately after he heard the beep.Rex could hear him sigh from the receiver’s side. “Where she’s staying?”“Not there. And she isn’t picking up my calls. The call doesn’t seem to go through no matter how many times I try.” Rex said in frustration. “Does Levante have her?”“I will ask my people to track her. She’ll be fine, Rex.” Rossi said.Rex hung up but the gut feeling that his sister was in danger was overwhelming. He couldn’t just sit and wait without doing anything. What if Elena was in danger? A tho
Luca moved instinctively towards her and drew her into his embrace. Elena's lips curved into a smile as she snuggled close to him. “What happened with Rio wasn’t your fault.” She said.“I know. I know. But I can’t seem to stop blaming myself.” He murmured in her hair. Elena rubbed his back like a child that needs consoling.“Let’s get married. And leave this place.” Luca said as Elena’s body stilled in his arms. She didn’t expect things to be going this way.She freed herself from him and looked at him. “Really?”Luca smiled at her. “And it’s not because of the child. I haven’t felt attracted to anyone the way I am to you since Angelo’s mother died. I’ve only loved her.” He said as Elena forced a smile. She hated the fact that she couldn’t tell him the truth yet. It wasn’t the time. When everything’s settled, they would have the whole time in the world. She promised herself.“For now…” Luca stared lovingly at her as he removed the strand of hair that was covering her face. “Let’s help
“What development?” Elena asked.“Someone with the same goal as us contacted me.”“What?” Elena raised a brow. “What do you mean?”“I don’t know. He wants to stay anonymous till the day we meet.” Rex said, frustration evident in his voice.“Does that make sense? Do you want to meet up with some stranger? Because of what?” Elena asked with a sarcastic look.“I don’t care. I lost Victoria. I don’t want to lose you too. As far as I know, Levante thinks you’re dead. We need to strike now. When they least expect.” Rex said with determination.“Do what you want.” Elena stood up and picked up her cell phone on the bed. “I’m going to meet the father of my unborn child.” “What? By this time? Why are so stubborn? What if Levante sees you?”“I don’t care. I might as well tell Luca the truth about them. He would stop caring about that Rio.” Elena hissed and headed for the door.The evening breeze was gentle but Elena couldn’t help but feel chilly as she stood by the roadside, looking for a cab t
“I fucked Martino.” She said dryly as Rex's eyes flickered at her for a while and averted his gaze quickly as if trying to hide something. “I fucked him,” Victoria replied as Rex shifted his gaze to her face again. “Okay.” He shrugged. “It’s all for the plan, right.” He asked, desperation hidden in his voice.Victoria cupped her face in frustration. “I love him, Rex.” Rex's hands stiffened in his pocket. He parted his lips but nothing came out. “Say something, damn it!” She fired as Rex chuckled.“Say what?” He asked, trying to fight the emotion that was burning within him.“Curse me. Call me a filthy bitch. I can take it all. But I do love him, Rex.”“And us?” Rex asked as if that has been the question in his mind.Victoria closed her eyes for a while and opened it. “I don’t know.” She shook her head as Rex’s heart sank.“I don’t know, man. I need space.” She said as tears streamed from her eye. As she turned to leave, Rex caught her arm again.“Our plans?”“Are you kidding me ri
Martino sat down in the visiting room while Levante paced around in front of him. He didn’t dare to talk. After he received his call at the hospital earlier. His urgent tone signaled to Martino that Levante was, even more, crazier than his son. “PTSD ugh?” He stopped moving as he regarded Martino. Martino paused, nothing ever gets past this man. More reason why he should be more cautious.“The doctor hasn’t made any diagnosis yet. He’s still under observation.” Martino replied, careful with his words in order not to infuriate him any further.Levante nodded. “Will he be admitted to some psychiatrist hospital?”“Like I said…”“I bloody heard you the first time, Martino!” Levante fired as Martino bowed his head. That’s more like it. This was his true character. Not the unusually quiet type that was unpredictable.“I’m sorry boss.”“Did the doctor say what caused his trauma?”“I…”“I could get that information in a matter of seconds. Think before you lie.” Levante hissed.Then why did y
“What?” Luca asked, surprised. “This is crazy, Rio.” He added quickly when he noticed his surprised look wasn’t helping matters.“Yeah! I’m crazy about you, Luca!” Rio sobbed as Luca pressed his lips in exasperation.“Those times in the past…” he started slowly and his grip on the injection was less. “I would always watch your back. Dad said it was my duty. It was our duty to watch out for the Romanos.” He scoffed with a bitter smile as Luca watched him. He hated seeing him like this. He couldn’t do anything and it added to his frustration. “I misunderstood man.” He added.“You were the best thing that happened to me,” Luca said.“Were?” Rio raised a brow.“Rio…”“Those times when you would always stay alone. Angry you couldn’t approach other girls, I wished you would just look at me. Even for once.” Rio said.“I didn’t….” Luca brushed his hand through his hair. “I didn’t know, Rio.”“Well, Now you know!” He snapped.“Yes. I do. And I appreciate you….your love.”“No, you don’t,” Rio s
“Victoria….I…” Martino started to say but the words got hung up in the air.“Martino?” Victoria called when he didn’t say anything afterward.“Anything I do in the future, just know I love you. I love you so much, Victoria.” Martino said and hung up. He swung around and marched back to the cottage. He narrowed his eyes at Elena. “I’m not going to kill you. A certain person is betting on me. So I wouldn’t want to break her trust.” Elena watched him. Was it Victoria?“Then what?” She asked with a frown.“Let’s make a deal….” “Deal?”“You already know by now that Rio wants you dead. And I can’t seem to understand why you said he tried to kill you in the past…” Martino gave her a wary look. But Elena didn’t reply. There was no use hiding it. Or was there? He is going to spare her. She should keep her mouth shut till the end.“Your deal…” she said.“Stay away from Luca. Go far away from him. Out of the country….I don’t care. Because if I see you anywhere around him, I’ll be the first to
“How are you feeling, Rio.” Levante ignored his initial statement.“It’s not your concern. You’ve always wanted to do my bidding right? Then take her out? I don’t want to see her ever again!” A silence ensued for a while then Levante spoke up. “Did she try to hurt you?”“Is that more important to you?”“Answer the damn question, boy. I pay my enemies back in full.” Levante spoke harshly as Rio sighed.“Not directly.”“What do you mean?”“Luca slept with her.” He said and paused but his father didn’t say a word. “I got overwhelmed with the thought and crashed on a poll.”“I can’t believe this,” Levante muttered under his breath.“Well?” Rio asked.“Focus on recovering. I’ll take care of the rest.” Levante said and hung up.“That isn’t a bloody answer,” Rio muttered as he put down the phone. He lay there in silence as he took time to eventually review his decision. He had called his dad on impulse. He was angry. Especially after that talk with Luca. His rage knew no bounds. He just cou