Bruno couldn't believe what he was seeing. The love of his life was standing in front of him, holding his brother's arm. He thought it might be a cruel joke that destiny was playing on him.
"What is happening here?" he asked, completely bewildered.
He screamed in despair, hoping that it was all just a nightmare. "What is all this?"
His brother, upon seeing him, approached with a smile, unaware of what was going on. It was a complete surprise for Dante to see his brother there. He had told them he couldn't attend.
"Brother, you're finally back," he said with a big smile, approaching him for a hug.
The girl looked at him bewildered, unable to believe that he was there. A myriad of emotions crossed her face, and then she turned completely pale.
"Bruno, it's not what you think. Let me explain," she said, unable to believe he was standing in front of her. She never expected to see him there.
"What the hell are you going to explain to me? While I was waiting for you in Italy to get married, you're here getting engaged to my brother."
He grabbed her arm roughly, and the girl started crying uncontrollably.
Dante turned to him and pushed him away, completely furious.
"What the hell is wrong with you, brother? How dare you treat my fiancée like this?"
René, their father, immediately approached and took both of them by the arm, leading them to his office.
"Don't you realize that you're making a scene? It's clear that there's a misunderstanding here," he said.
Dante looked at him with deep hatred, not understanding what was really happening. Bruno didn't know how to say it; he didn't want to hurt his younger brother.
"What the hell is wrong with you? Why are you acting like this?" he asked, trying to find a logical reason for all of this.
"Your fiancée is my fiancée," he blurted out. "She has been for the past six months."
Dante paled upon hearing that. He couldn't believe it. His perfect world had just crumbled with his brother's words.
Bruno showed him videos and images of his past two years with Shelsy, which coincided with the same time Dante had been with her. Dante took Bruno's phone to see those pictures. Shelsy looked very happy with him.
The beautiful and statuesque model Shelsy Cavalli Shiviello had just mocked the Leone brothers in the worst possible way.
Dante stormed out of the office in fury, his father tried to stop him but couldn't.
"You're nothing but trash, Shelsy. How could you do this to me? I love you," he shouted, trying to hold back his tears.
He grabbed her by the arm and dragged her out of the party, regardless of the guests who were watching.
"Dante, I can explain. I didn't know Bruno was your brother. You're Dante Leone, and he's Bruno Vitalli. I swear, I was planning to break up with him as soon as possible," the girl tried to justify herself.
"Get out of here. You're nothing but garbage. If you ever come near any of us again, I want you out of our lives and our family. Otherwise, you'll pay for what you've done to us."
Dante screamed furiously in the midst of the attendees. What he thought would be the happiest day of his life turned out to be the saddest.
"That's enough of a show. What are you all waiting for? Everyone get out of here," he shouted at the guests, who quickly left while whispering among themselves.
His mother approached to hug him. She couldn't believe what was happening. It was very hard for her to see her son suffer. That damn harpy had made them all suffer.
The brothers had been very close since childhood until Bruno left for Italy to pursue a master's degree in bioclimatic architecture. Dante stayed in New York to finish his own architecture degree. Their father, Rene Leone, was a famous architect recognized in the country. Bruno decided to use his mother's last name, Vitelli, as he wanted to make his own way. Dante, on the other hand, used his father's last name, knowing it would open doors for him in the world of architecture.
A year had passed since they discovered Shelsy's betrayal. Dante became promiscuous, a complete playboy. His character hadn't changed; he was still the same prankster as always. However, women no longer held any value for him. He believed they were only good for two things: the bedroom and causing trouble.
Bruno focused on work. There was nothing else for him outside of that—just work and family. He had become ill-tempered, overly authoritarian, perhaps even bitter, being the older brother. Their father insisted that he take control of the companies, becoming the CEO of the Art Bio Leone corporation, where Dante served as the vice president.
His father decided to leave the companies in his hands so he could travel with his wife, Mara Vitelli. Despite not being Bruno's biological mother, she had acted as his mother since he was young. He only held a few bad memories of his real mother, who had abandoned his father and left him behind when he was just four years old. He hoped to never see her again.
It was the weekend, and his friend Brando Brown was celebrating his birthday with a party at his mansion. Bruno couldn't refuse the invitation, even though he hated parties. They had been lifelong friends.
After spending some time socializing, the bartender sent him a drink. He felt that it tasted somewhat strange but thought it might be because he wasn't used to cocktails. Minutes later, his body started sweating profusely, and his mouth felt completely dry. He decided to retreat and rest, hoping to feel better soon.
"Brando, I'm not feeling well. Could you lend me a room to rest?" he asked, fanning himself with his hand.
—Por supuesto, amigo mío. Ni siquiera tienes que preguntar. Ve y usa la habitación en la que te quedaste antes —respondió Brando, notando que Bruno no se encontraba bien. Algo no iba bien, tal vez había bebido demasiado.
Bruno subió a la habitación dejando las luces apagadas. Tenía un terrible dolor de cabeza y un calor insoportable. Algo no iba bien, su cuerpo reaccionaba de forma extraña. Decidió darse una ducha con agua fría.
Incluso en la oscuridad, se sentó en el sillón al lado de la cama. De repente, escuchó voces y alguien entró en la habitación. Entonces se dio cuenta de que habían cerrado la puerta.
"¿Qué diablos está pasando?", se preguntó confundido.
De pronto, percibió el exquisito aroma de una chica. Trató de resistirse, pero lo que había consumido lo atormentaba. Se levantó, agarró a la chica por el brazo y la arrojó sobre la cama. "Si este es tu juego, entonces jugaremos juntos", dijo. La chica se resistió y lloró. No entendía por qué hacía eso, pero estaba seguro de que había puesto droga en su bebida.
No podía controlarse. Disfrutaba de su pequeño, hermoso y frágil cuerpo. A pesar de no estar completamente consciente, podía notar que era su primera vez. Trató de contener sus impulsos lo más posible, pero sabía que se estaba comportando como un sinvergüenza. Sin embargo, si eso era lo que la chica quería, entonces eso fue lo que obtuvo.
Nicole no podía creer que su hermana Sondra insistiera en que la acompañara a una fiesta. Era inusual que Sondra la invitara, ya que Nicole no era de las que asistía a fiestas. Por eso no pudo negarse cuando su hermana se lo pidió.
Llegaron a la fiesta, y después de pasar un rato con su hermana y sus amigas, un camarero derramó accidentalmente una bebida sobre su vestido.
—Nicole, ¿qué le pasó a tu vestido? —exclamó Sondra, visiblemente molesta—. Deberíamos subir para que puedas cambiarte. Brando nos ha reservado una habitación y nuestras cosas ya están allí.
—Está bien, Sondra. Iré a cambiarme —respondió Nicole, siempre haciendo lo que su hermana le pedía.
Subieron a la habitación. Cuando llegaron, Sondra simplemente la empujó hacia adentro y cerró la puerta con llave. Nicole no entendía por qué su hermana la encerraba. La habitación estaba a oscuras y trató de encontrar el interruptor de la luz, pero de repente sintió unos brazos fuertes que la jalaban y la empujaban hacia la cama.
Escuchó la voz profunda de un hombre que decía: "Si este es tu juego, entonces jugaremos juntos". El hombre le arrancó el vestido de un tirón. No podía creer que esto le estuviera pasando. Trató de gritar, pero él le tapó la boca con la mano. No podía aceptar que esta fuera su primera vez.
Él la besó desesperadamente en el cuello, sus grandes manos recorrieron su cuerpo. Ella tembló de miedo. Sintió un dolor terrible cuando él invadió su cuerpo. Ella solo quería despertar de esa pesadilla. Ese hombre había destruido su sueño de permanecer virgen hasta el matrimonio. No sabía si podría superarlo.
Shelsy subió las escaleras para buscar a Bruno. Esperaba que no descubriera que le había pagado al camarero para que le pusiera un afrodisíaco en la bebida. Entró en la habitación oscura y de repente sintió que la empujaban hacia la cama. Siempre había querido estar con Bruno cuando eran novios, pero él siempre se negaba. Planeaba emborracharlo la noche de bodas para que no se diera cuenta de que había estado con otra persona antes. Esta vez, esperaba que, con la droga en su organismo, no se diera cuenta.
The next morning, Bruno woke up startled, suffering from a terrible hangover. He heard sobbing next to him, and it all came back to him. That foolish girl had drugged him to get into his bed. He couldn't understand why she had chosen to give herself to him in such a way.Nicole hadn't been able to sleep after what happened. Fear paralyzed her, and she had decided not to leave the room. If anyone found out, they might think she had sought out what had happened. The man beside her woke up. She had kept her back turned to him all night, but when she looked, she noticed he was watching her. Finally, she could see the face of the inhuman beast who had taken her by force.He looked at her with anger, just as he was about to say something, the door opened. Her sister Sondra entered with several reporters. Nicole knew her sister couldn't stand her, but she didn't believe she was capable of doing this to her.Bruno, furious by instinct, tried to cover the girl's face with the sheet. He knew it
After the reception ended, he took her arm. After saying goodbye to her parents, he opened the car door to help her get in and sat down next to her. She wished to go back home to her parents, but she knew it wasn't possible. Before starting the car, he stared at her."I hope you behave accordingly. Being a Leone's wife comes with a lot of responsibility. Woe betide you if you ever embarrass me in any way. From now on, you belong to me, and I can do whatever I want with you.""Like you, I am not satisfied with this marriage. I think we should get divorced after some time." She hoped he would accept her proposal, as she didn't believe he would want to be with her either."Hahaha, don't even dream about it, little woman. You got what you wanted, and now you will pay the price for deceiving me like that."Nicole didn't respond; she preferred to stay silent. She felt so small next to him, believing that his deep blue eyes oozed malice and hatred towards her. She had to plan everything care
Nicole couldn't believe she had fallen so easily into his game. She couldn't resist it—his gaze was so deep, and his irresistible aroma made her lose herself in the moment. He was a complete jerk who was testing her resilience.She hurried to get ready, putting on a crop top and a denim miniskirt. She styled her hair in a high ponytail, slipped on some sneakers, grabbed her bag with her books, and rushed downstairs.Bruno was utterly infuriated. He was waiting for her in the living room, and when Nicole came down, he scanned her from head to toe. He thought she was crazy if she believed she could go out dressed like that."Where do you think you're going dressed like that?" he asked."Dressed like what? This is what girls my age wear, but of course, at your age, you wouldn't know," she replied."I'll count to three, and if you haven't gone up to change by then, I'll go up and change you myself." "Alright, grandpa, I'll go upstairs and change. Just take it easy; it's not good to get a
"She asked me to do it, she wanted to trap you for a long time, and she succeeded. She saw you at a party and became infatuated with you."Bruno managed to see Nicole approaching. Sondra clung to him and kissed him. Under different circumstances, he wouldn't have allowed it, knowing it would upset Nicole. He enjoyed seeing the expression on her face when she saw them together. When she left, he pushed Sondra away."Don't ever do that again without my consent," he said, walking away and leaving her alone in the hallway.He reached the table but didn't see Nicole. His father told him she was on the terrace. He headed there, and upon arriving, he couldn't believe the audacity of that couple. Maximilian had his arm around her waist, and with his other hand, he held her chin. Bruno approached the guy and punched him in the back. He knew he shouldn't have caused such a scene, but he couldn't contain his anger. He wouldn't let them mock him in that way.He argued with them and then grabbed h
"Well, I guess I'll have to figure it out myself," Nicole said, then she searched the fridge for something to cook.She put on her headphones and started cooking to the rhythm of the music. Unlike her sister, she always enjoyed cooking. Her nanny had been her best teacher, teaching her many things. Through her, Nicole developed a passion for gardening, and her nanny always told her that if you speak nicely to plants, they become beautiful and bloom.She prepared some eggs Benedict, toast, coffee, and orange juice.When she turned around, she saw Bruno leaning against the wall, watching her. She ignored him, set the breakfast for both of them on the table, sat down, and started eating."I didn't think you'd enjoy cooking. You're really good at it," Bruno commented."Thanks," Nicole replied.They finished their meal in silence, and after they were done, Bruno left while she stayed behind to clean the kitchen.The house was truly grand, in Victorian style, inherited by Bruno from his gra
Nicole couldn't help but smile. Dante was so different from Bruno, like two opposite poles. She was happy that she could finally go out.Despite Jack's disapproval, they left the mansion. He followed closely behind. Dante took them to a trendy restaurant, stylish and modern, located on the top floor of a building facing Central Park, offering a marvelous view."It's wonderful to be able to go out and enjoy this view again. I thought I might be a prisoner forever," Nicole exclaimed."I know, sis. I'm sure Bruno has gone too far, but I believe he'll be different when he returns. This time apart will give him some time to think," Dante reassured her."I truly hope Bruno treats Nicole better. She doesn't deserve everything he's done," Sophie commented, embracing her friend.They continued chatting for a while when suddenly Leandro and Shelsy approached."Hello, Nicole. We meet again," Leandro greeted."Hi, Leandro. What a coincidence. Would you like to join us? We haven't ordered yet, and
In the Williams mansion, Noah was trying to find a way to talk to Emma. Rina had returned, and she could harm them. Nicole couldn't find out who she truly was."I've noticed you've been acting strange and distant. Is something wrong?""On the day of the gathering, when I was leaving with Nicole to take her home, Rina appeared. After all these years, she dares to come.""That can't be. We must keep her away from my daughter. She abandoned her when she was very young. She can't expect to reclaim her now.""I know. We must keep a close watch on her without Nicole finding out. We must do everything in our power to prevent her from getting close to our daughter."That night, Leandro invited Shelsy to dinner. It would be a great opportunity to end things with her and make everything clear. After all, she didn't love him; she was still in love with Bruno. He knew that if he asked her, she would help him separate Bruno from Nicole. She was a hollow and empty woman, and he couldn't stand being
Nicole felt upset when she heard the tone he was speaking to her in."He's my friend and he came to visit me," she said."He needs to leave immediately. I'll order them to ban him from entering," he replied.Max clenched his fists. That man was a complete idiot. He couldn't understand why Nicole was still with him. It was clear that he was aggressive and didn't respect her. He wasn't aware of what was really going on. Nicole had asked Sophie not to tell him anything because she knew he wouldn't be able to control himself and would try to hit Bruno.When Bruno returned to his office, he noticed that Nicole wasn't with Bertha. He needed her to find a file, so he decided to go downstairs to look for her and bring her back to her workplace. He didn't expect to come across that scene. He couldn't believe what he was seeing. They were making a fool out of him in front of his company's staff. That girl was tempting the devil, seeing her so close to someone else made his blood boil, especiall
Bruno and Nicole were enjoying their honeymoon. They had barely seen Dante and Sophie, as they had explored much of the beautiful island. It felt like being in a completely different world, wonderful and peaceful."The island of the gods, now I understand why it's called that," Bruno said, standing on the beach and gazing at the beautiful turquoise waters. He was barefoot on the soft sand, feeling like they were in paradise on Earth.Nicole was playing in the water, resembling a little girl. She was collecting some seashells, and when she had gathered several, she would return them to the sea."What are you doing?" Bruno asked, amused."I'm observing these little shells. They all have something different," she replied. Bruno looked at them, seeing them all as absolutely identical.He approached her and kissed her neck, a playful smile forming on his lips."How about we postpone our trip to Ubud until tomorrow?" he suggested, hoping she would accept his proposal."What plans do you hav
They transferred Nicole to the delivery room. Bruno was given special clothing to accompany her. After they were sterilized, he set up two cameras to film the birth from different angles and stood beside Nicole, holding her hand.Nicole was sweating profusely. The doctor tried to administer an epidural, but she adamantly refused. Bruno took a cloth to wipe her forehead.The pain from the contractions became even stronger, and she squeezed Bruno's hand tightly."Damn it! It hurts so much.""My love, sweetheart, you're going to rip my hand off," Bruno said gently, trying not to upset her."You can rip off my hand and what's between your legs, and you still wouldn't feel what I'm feeling."Bruno turned pale at the thought of actually doing what she had said. Instinctively, he squeezed his legs together.He decided to endure her tight grip on his hand without complaining. That way, she wouldn't decide to squeeze anything else. The doctor instructed her to push with force, and she did so w
Nicole was in her bedroom, unable to believe what was happening. She had brought with her the photo that Leandro had in his house in Milan. They had transferred his body to be buried in New York, and she still couldn't grasp the reality of what had happened.Shelsy and her mother had traveled with them. Bruno allowed it because the pain Sergio had caused him no longer hurt, and it was important for Nicole and Rina because the baby she carried in her womb was Leandro's.Nicole stood in front of the window, her gaze fixed on the photo. Bruno entered the room and approached her, pained to see her in such a state. He wiped away her tears with his hand."It's time, my love. We need to go to the church and then to the cemetery. I can't bear to see you suffer like this. I never got along with Leandro, and I apologize for that. I know he was very important to you and our child. By the way, my mother will stay with Santi. The doctor has advised that he should not be exposed to strong emotions.
Hours later, the doctor emerged from the operating room, and everyone gathered around to hear the news. They could tell by his expression that it wasn't good."How is my son?" Rina asked desperately. Something inside her heart indicated that things were not going well. She felt a strong pressure in her chest."We managed to stabilize him. Unfortunately, the bullets did not exit his body, so we had to remove them. Internal organs have been compromised, so we'll have to wait and see how he responds in the next few hours. He's a young and strong man, so perhaps a miracle will happen. He will be transferred to a room, and in a few hours, he will wake up. Only one person at a time can visit him, only the closest ones, please. It's important not to exhaust him. He keeps mentioning a name, Nicole, repeatedly in his unconscious state."The women cried inconsolably, especially Nicole and Rina."Even near death, he thinks of me all the time. I can't handle this, really, I can't," Nicole said, i
Leandro received the location, and the convoy of vans sped towards the outskirts of the city. However, further ahead, the tire of the van carrying Bruno began to malfunction, and Leandro, who was in the front, didn't notice.When he arrived at the location, he realized that the other two vans weren't behind him. He immediately called Bruno and instructed them to have some men from the third van get into their van. Then, he sent them the updated location. They were relatively close.Leandro was impatient; time was crucial to save her.Inside the house, Sergio had tied Nicole and the child to chairs. The child was frightened but tried his best not to cry. He didn't want Sergio to punish him as he had done so many times before.Sergio blindfolded them, turned on the camera, and started recording."Leone, I truly hope you can see this. Your wife will have to sign some documents if she wants me to release her son. Let me make it clear, she will leave this place feet-first, so these will be
Later, the men went out in search of Sergio, leaving only Emma, Nicole, Rina, and Mara in the house, guarded by the bodyguards. In the evening, Nicole was resting in her room when her phone started ringing. It was an unknown number, and she was grateful to be alone at that moment. She already knew who it was.—"Hello," she answered.—"Well, you answer my calls quickly, my little dove. Are you already in Milan?" a chilling voice spoke on the other end.—"Yes," she replied weakly.—"Hahaha, I know. You're at my son's house. How obvious you've been," he taunted.Nicole felt shivers running down her spine. Could that man see them?—"Listen to me. Tomorrow, at four in the morning, a van will be waiting for you at the corner of the house. So, it's better for you to leave without being seen. When you arrive here, I will release your son. You will stay in your place."—"How do I know I can trust you? After all, you're not a trustworthy man," Nicole said, her voice filled with doubt.—"You hav
Bruno said, getting up from the armchair where he had been sitting. Perhaps it was the strength of the liquor that allowed him to react. He looked out the window, and Nicole was still out on the terrace. He approached her and embraced her, and they stood there, silently holding each other.They were interrupted by Mara and René, who arrived shortly after. Nicole's parents also arrived, and they all gathered in the living room, simply looking at each other."What can we do? I feel like I'm wasting time here. I'm leaving for Italy right now. I didn't want to leave Nicole; I wanted to be by her side throughout the process. Leandro offered to search for him so that I could stay with her. Knowing that Santi was no longer in Sergio's hands gave me some peace of mind, but now my son's life is once again in the hands of that monster," Bruno said."We're deeply sorry for what happened to Deborah," Noah said. Despite having abandoned Bruno, she was still his mother.Bruno responded with a nod.
Sara observed the couple with satisfaction as they continued to show their love for each other."It's only a couple of months until we have our baby in our arms. I know Santi will be with us soon, and our happiness will be complete," Bruno exclaimed, taking Nicole's hand and kissing it.In Italy, one of Sergio's men received a call."Sir, you have a call. It's one of the men who fled with Deborah."Sergio hurriedly approached, a satisfied smile on his face. He knew offering a large sum for Deborah would work."Speak," he answered, feeling restless."Sir.""Lazarus, it's good that you've decided to call me. Tell me, where is that damn bitch? You know I will reward you handsomely.""Transfer the amount you're offering to my family, and I will tell you where you can find her.""Send the account number to Sandro. He will make the transfer immediately. If you lie to me, your family will suffer the consequences. You know I can be very cruel when I set my mind to it.""Wait a moment." The ma
Shelsy stood there, petrified. She wished she could tell him that she was expecting his child, but she couldn't speak. She just watched him silently walk away while she cried. Endra approached her at that moment."Did you tell him?" he asked, seeing her state. He thought she hadn't liked the news of her pregnancy."I couldn't. He doesn't want anything to do with me or my mom. I won't force him to stay by my side.""The problem here is what you'll tell your father. When he finds out, he'll go after Leandro.""I'll figure out what to tell him. Please, don't say anything."Endra couldn't understand what was going through his daughter's mind. Leandro had the right to know he would have a child. If she didn't tell him, she would.Leandro returned to Milan in the helicopter. They had circled the city several times, hoping to spot the vans that matched the description they had been given, but it was futile. That woman had the ability to vanish in an instant. He called Bruno at that moment."