3 | Collapse Of The Verga

Five years later after the horrific event, Lucrezia celebrated her 21st birthday. A lavish event happened at a well-known hotel in Verona. The event was expected to end with a fight between Lucrezia Verga and Primo Zappa.

Lucrezia was still thinking about Luciano until that second. Her lavish birthday party seemed meaningless compared to her company with that young man which was only a few months. All the luxurious decorations and congratulations from her friends, none of them hit her heart.

When it was time for the cake cut arrived, Lucrezia gave the first cake to her sister, Clara, and the second cake to her other sister, Clarissa. She didn't give any more piece of cake to someone else, including his father or his future fiancé, Primo.

Considering that the show was covered by many media, Lucrezia still had to keep her family's good name by kept smiling. She really kept smiling until her lips felt stiff. Of course, not a single person noticed it. No one knew her as well as Luciano.

"Blow out the candles, sis!" Clara exclaimed cheerfully.

Primo glared at Clara. "Don't listen to your sister, Lucrezia! You have to make a wish first."

Dona rolled her eyeballs lazily. "Why are you guys so noisy? Just blow out the candles quickly and end this boring event."

Dona's father, Mr. Zappa, pinched his daughter hard. Dona paddled with a shrill shrug.

Lucrezia's father just laughed. "It's okay, Signor Zappa. Children do like to joke."

Dona had the upper hand because she got a defense from Lucrezia's father. "Oh, Papa. I'm just kidding. Lucrezia’s Papa knows that I’m just kidding."

Lucrezia didn't care about it all. Her body was here, but not with her mind. Her mind was always wandering to a distant places. Into the past where she sat alone with Luciano in the back garden of her sprawling house.

Oh, how much Lucrezia missed those moments.

"Are you done making a wish?" Primo asked.

Lucrezia smiled and shook her head. She quickly closed her eyes and thought of something to ask for.

However, what? What should she ask for? She didn't even have any desires for herself now. She had lost hope to reunite her father and her mother. She also lost hope of living happily with Luciano.

In the end, Lucrezia just said inside her heart, "May Luciano live a happy life, no matter where he is. And hopefully someday he can forgive me."

***

When the party was almost over, Primo asked for a time to take over the course of the event. He knelt on one knee and presented a large diamond ring to Lucrezia.

"Dear Lucrezia Verga, will you be my fiancée? If we get married later, I will make you the happiest bride in the world. I will do whatever it takes to make you happy."

Lucrezia panicked. She was not prepared. To be more precise, she did not want it.

Seeing there a hint of rejection would be spoken from his daughter's lips, Lucrezia's father immediately motioned for Lucrezia to accept the proposal. Everyone present there also burst into cheers in favor of Lucrezia to accept Primo's proposal.

Lucrezia then realized one thing. Her later marriage would never be about herself. It's all about his father's business. All was about kinship relations between giant businesses in Italy.

Maybe so, in the future, it could be happened to the marriage of her younger siblings too.

Lucrezia was unlikely to be selfish. After all, even if she rejected Primo, she would not be able to unite with the love of his youth. She had to be realistic for now. For the future of his family.

And so, Lucrezia nodded and tears shed her cheeks unconsciously. Everyone cheered to welcome Lucrezia's answer. The girl's tears were interpreted as tears of emotion full of gratitude.

The next day, the entire media in Italy carried about the news of the engagement of Lucrezia and Primo.

***

Luciano Romano got in a temper where he was. The newspaper which had Lucrezia's engagement news on it was thrown onto the workbench. Luciano ran away with both hands scrambling his own hair in frustration. He thought that this time would never come true.

Five years ago, Lucrezia did say that she would be engaged to Primo Zappa. However, the engagement never took place. Until last night.

Luciano had thought of several possibilities. First, was it that time Lucrezia being threatened to break up with him? Second, did it true that Lucrezia still love him to the point of not wanting to be engaged to someone else? Third, did Lucrezia actually dislike Primo and only use that man's name as a shield?

And today, all the possibilities just now had been proven to be untrue. Luciano was indeed just an unworthy lowly man in Lucrezia's eyes. Proof? Lucrezia had officially become engaged to Primo Zappa.

Someone knocked on the door of his room.

"Come in." Luciano replied.

His grandmother, Mrs. Romano, walked in bringing a warm drink and biscuits. "You haven't had breakfast yet, My Grandson."

Luciano smiled warmly. "Thank you, Grandma."

When he first came to Rome, his grandmother was a person who immediately believed in him. His grandmother said that his face was very similar to that of his father as a young man. Meanwhile, his grandfather demanded for a DNA test. While waiting for the results of a DNA test that proved 100% of the match to come out, his grandmother told him about everything that happened.

His grandfather kicked Luciano's mother out of the house. However, no one in the house knew that his mother was pregnant with Luciano. Had they known, perhaps Luciano would have grown up in the luxury and affection of the Romano family.

His grandmother also told him about the tragedy of Luciano's father’s yacht incident. His father was unwilling to marry someone else. He was just partying and drinking every day. Until finally, one night, Luciano's father was drunk and fell into the sea from his yacht. Until a few moments passed, nobody noticed that Luciano's father had disappeared. The body of Luciano's father was found a few days later.

"We're so grateful you want to come to us, kid. We guess we don't have an heir anymore." Her grandmother said at that time. Luciano was hugged and his injuries were well threatened. Except for the burns on his hand. Luciano didn't want that one to be threatened.

From then on, Luciano lived in the Romano family. At the age of twenty-three this year, he had successfully developed his grandfather's businesses to an international level. His businesses profits increased sevenfold. Romano Group eventually managed to anchor its position as the largest multinational company in Italy. All thanks to Luciano's hard work.

"Is there anything disturbing your thoughts, kid? You seem uneasy." His grandmother asked.

Luciano shook his head and smiled. "It's okay, Grandma."

"Is it a matter of work? You've done your best, boy. If you are tired, you can rest now."

Luciano shook his head once more. "No, Grandma."

"Is it a matter of romance? Grandma promised not to repeat the mistakes of the past. We will let you handpick your future wife, no matter who she is."

Luciano smiled sadly. "I'm sorry. Please don't expect too much from me about marriage. I don't think I'm going to get married."

His grandmother was surprised, but managed to gain control of herself quickly. "You're still young, kid. There are many opportunities ahead."

Luciano remained silent.

"In that case, Grandma will leave you to take care of work. Grandma won't bother you anymore. Don't forget to eat it, kid." Grandma Romano pointed to the biscuits and warm drinks she had brought with her just now.

When his grandmother came out from his room, Luciano called his confidant, Lombardi, to come in. The man, who was only seven years old younger from Luciano, had been working for a long time in the Romano company. He was agile, ruthless in clearing other people's businesses, and most importantly, loyal to Romano. Lombardi was a child who grew up in an orphanage owned by the Romano family and had vowed to serve Romano for his entire life. Luciano was helped a lot by the presence of Lombardi.

"Signor, did you call me?" Lombardi entered quickly.

"Did you still remember about the plan I've put together years ago?" Luciano asked unceremoniously.

"The plan on the destruction of the Verga family's businesses?" Lombardi made sure. He felt a little surprised, why the plan that had been drawn up for a long time ago was not implemented yet. In fact, this new master of him had always been dexterous in doing all the plans that have been carefully drawn up.

Luciano nodded. "I want you to add the seizure of all their assets."

"Yes, Signor."

***