4 | Luciano's Revenge

A week after her engagement, Lucrezia's father was visibly in a frenzy. He packed his things quickly. All valuable assets, gold, diamonds, cash, was carried. Then, he called his three daughters to the vestibule.

"Papa is going to Milan. Don't call Papa, because Papa will be busy with work matters." Lucrezia's father said.

"When will Papa go home?" Clara asked.

Their father sadly shook his head. "Papa doesn't know yet, Sweetie. Take good care of yourself."

Clarissa held her father's arm. "Why don't we just come with Papa?"

Lucrezia comforted her sisters, "You still have to go to school. I'm also in college. We can't bother Papa."

Lucrezia's father nodded. "Listen to your sister. Lucrezia, take care of your younger siblings."

"Ok, Papa."

And the three girls didn't know that their father intended to leave them forever.

Just after their father’s away, people from the bank came to their residence. Several members of the police force took part in. The entire maid was instructed to gather in the vestibule, along with Verga's three daughters.

"We came here with a letter of duty for the seizure of the entire assets." One of them said.

Lucrezia stood at the forefront. She resolutely shook her head. "What's the matter? What exactly happened, Signor?"

"Your father owes the Romano family. The accumulated debt is very large. Even if all the assets of your family have been confiscated, the debt has not been able to be repaid."

Lucrezia fell to her knees. Oh my God, what else is this? She thought frantically.

"Sis! What's going on? What will happen to us?" Clara and Clarissa panicked even more.

Lucrezia shook her head. "You guys have to wait for Papa to come home. Don't do anything!"

However, everyone ignored it. Everyone acted quickly to make a seizure. Yellow and black police stripes have been posted. Their house was completely vacated. The whole maid was thrown out.

Clara and Clarissa burst into tears roaring. "Please don't do this! We have a personal lawyer!"

Clarissa shook Lucrezia, to get the more mature girl back into focus. "What should we do? Where are we going to sleep if we are kicked out of the house, Sis?"

Lucrezia stood up. She looked at her two younger siblings seeming sad and realized something. "We have to call Papa."

Lucrezia pulled out her cell phone and attempted to contact her father. Her phone call was not connected. Their father had turned off the cell phone. Or change the number.

"Did Papa answer, Sis?" Clara asked.

Lucrezia shook her head limply.

Not discouraged, Lucrezia immediately contacted their lawyer, Mr. Hughman.

"Good afternoon, Miss Lucrezia. Can I help you?" Mr. Hughman picked up his phone. For a moment, Lucrezia felt a sense of relief.

Lucrezia immediately explained everything that had happened.

"Can you do something, Mr. Hughman?"

Silence breaks a moment.

"I'm sorry, Miss Lucrezia. However, Signor Verga has not contracted my services from this day. I can't do anything, miss."

Lucrezia was shocked. "Papa fired you, Mr. Hughman?"

"That's right, miss. I have been back to the UK since last night."

Lucrezia was almost crying.

"Anything else I can help you with, miss?"

"Nothing, thank you, Sir." Lucrezia turned off her phone and held her phone tightly in the chest.

All had destroyed.

***

A year ago, Luciano built an ancient Roman-style mansion in countryside of Veneto, three kilometers away from downtown Verona. He often visits his hometown and needs to control the business he has developed in the city.

Luciano is still often visits Rome, precisely in the main house of the Romano family. However, he needs to be in Verona. The city where he was born, and the city where Lucrezia lives.

"How is the situation going?" Luciano asked Lombardi.

"The seizure has been made, Signor. Mr. Verga fled to Milan. He left his three daughters all alone."

Luciano hit the golf ball with the club using all his might. "You brash old man." He murmured.

"Miss Lucrezia rented a small apartment in the suburban area. The place is not safe, Signor. Many striped-nose men and drunkards live there." Lombardi continued his report.

Luciano frowned. "I thought she would run to her fiancée's house soon."

"No, Signor." Lombardi again reported, "Miss Lucrezia has already signed up to be an additional waitress at des Angelo's family party."

"Waitress??"

"Si, Signor."

Luciano laughed, shaking his head. "You're indeed unexpected, Lucrezia."

Lombardi was silent and waited. "Anything else I can do, Signor?"

"Get my car ready. I'll give Lucrezia an offer."

"Si, Signor."

***

Lucrezia Verga tidied up her things agilely. Now, she and her two younger siblings were living in a mini apartment that only contains 1 room and 1 bathroom. No more servants could serve them. No more guards and bodyguards were on standby to protect them.

The Lucrezia’s apartment was in a suburban area. It's far from the city center. This place seemed unfamiliar for her. The apartment was an old building which wall paint had been eroded here and there. The lights were dim, some are even dead. This was all she can afford to rent. Her account had been frozen and she could only sell cheaply a few of her branded bags for a small apartment.

Anything to survive.

This place might be small and in a remote area, but Lucrezia was grateful that she and her younger siblings still had shelter. Something rented with her name on but not included in the confiscated goods.

Winter was coming soon, and the three of them need to eat. It also costs money for the rent of the following months.

Lucrezia had to work. Or borrow money. However, none of her friends picked up the phone from her. Unexpectedly, Gemma de Angelo contacted her first.

"Lucrezia Verga?" Gemma seemed surprised.

Lucrezia replied. "Yes, it's me."

"Oh, Honey, I feel sorry for what have happened to you now. I heard that your family was bankrupt and your house was confiscated? Where do you live now?"

"I rented an apartment in-"

"Anyway," Gemma interrupted Lucrezia's remark. "I have an offer for you. You can work at my party as an extra waitress. How about it?"

"Waitress?" Lucrezia almost choked.

Gemma laughed. "I'm serious. The pay is not bad. I'm not a stingy person."

Lucrezia didn't know if Gemma intended to help or if there were other plans the girl was hiding. Gemma de Angelo was in a gang with Dona Zappa, her nemesis.

"Okay. I accept." Lucrezia didn't have the right of choosing another option.

Gemma cheered happily. "Good! Meet me tomorrow at my house. You can, right? You should bring your waitress uniform and discuss the workers' wages you will receive."

Lucrezia nodded. "I can."

"Oh, and one more thing, Lucrezia. Tomorrow Dona Zappa and others will also come. You must be happy to be able to get together with the other friends again."

Yes, of course, if I hadn't been made into a joke, Lucrezia thought.

And speaking of the Zappa family, it seemed like Lucrezia had to do something about her engagement that was only a week old.

***