Arianna, rubbing her sleepy eyes, peered at the scene unfolding before her. Confusion painted her innocent face as she tried to make sense of the tension lingering in the air. "What's happening, Mama? Why did you tell Papa to leave the room?"Stellina's heart softened at the sight of her daughter, her concerns shifting from her own discomfort to Arianna's well-being. She hurriedly approached her, gently brushing aside strands of hair from Arianna's face. "Oh, sweetheart, it's nothing to worry about. Mama and Papa were just having a disagreement. But everything is fine now."Arianna's brows furrowed as she clung to her mother's words, seeking reassurance. "But why were you arguing, Mama? Did I do something wrong?" Arianna's eyed rounded with a sparkly accent inside it, as she felt really concerned.Stellina's gaze softened with affection as she held Arianna close. "No, darling, it's not your fault. Mama and Papa sometimes have different opinions, but we love each other very much.
With doubts and embarrassment still lingering, Stellina mustered up the courage to step out of the bathroom. As she entered the room, her eyes met with the delighted gaze of Arianna, who let out an excited cheer, clapping her hands in delight. Stellina couldn't help but smile at her daughter's infectious enthusiasm.However, her relief was short-lived when she caught sight of Diego, who struggled to conceal a mischievous grin. His eyes twinkled with amusement as he tried his best to suppress his laughter. Stellina's cheeks flushed with a mixture of self-consciousness and frustration at the predicament she found herself in.Diego, unable to contain his amusement any longer, let out a burst of laughter, the sound filling the room. Stellina couldn't help but join in, realizing the absurdity of the situation. She shook her head, her embarrassment giving way to a sense of lightheartedness. Sometimes, life had a way of throwing unexpected challenges, and all one could do was laugh it off.
Gina looked at Stellina, perplexed by the sudden change in Vellina's demeanor. It was quite different from the usual arrogance and self-centeredness that characterized Vellina's behavior. Diego, noticing Gina's confusion, gave Stellina a gentle nudge on the shoulder. Stellina paused for a moment, quickly grasping the situation."Ahem. I mean, no need to be sorry! Just make sure it doesn't happen again," Stellina declared, mustering a bossy tone in an attempt to impersonate Vellina. The room fell into an awkward silence, the weight of the situation hanging in the air.“Ahem” Diego breaks the silence with a cough. “Well, since you’re here, Gina. Won’t you please take care of Arianna? I have something important to speak with my wife.”“Ehh. But I still want to be with mama and papa!” Arianna pouts, showing her protest.“Arianna. Don’t play around now. This is an important adult matter.” Diego refutes harshly.“That’s what you and mama always said! I can sleep together with mama
Diego folded his arms and shrugged dismissively. "No, that won't work. I don't want to risk anyone seeing you as anyone other than Vellina, not even your own family or the workers. It's not about money or you, it's about maintaining control. We can't afford for all our efforts to go to waste, especially for your father's sake," Diego asserted with a menacing tone.Stellina fell silent, realizing that she had no negotiating power with Diego. With her father's health held hostage, she had no choice but to sacrifice the factory and place it in the hands of Diego and the Pacnozzi family in order to preserve the fragile peace."Why are you telling me all of this?" Stellina asked, her grip on the hem of her dress tightening as she struggled to contain her anger and anguish."I'm telling you because we need to ensure that our stories align. I will be leaving soon to inform and take control of Pezcatores's printing factory, along with its workers, under the Pavnozzi family's protection,
Stellina was stunned when Diego's car stopped at a motel instead of the mansion where they lived.Diego's car engine had died after being parked on the motel grounds. At that moment, no one spoke to each other. Stellina and Diego were still trapped in an atmosphere of tension. Ever since the incident at Stellina's father's factory, she knew that Diego's resentment toward her had not disappeared.While unbuckling her seat belt, Stellina thought about letting the situation between them remain silent. But Stellina suddenly felt uncomfortable as she saw Diego's piercing gaze through the glass above them."Why are you taking me to a motel? We're not going back to the mansion?" Finally Stellina, who couldn't help herself from the constant silence, spoke up.Unfortunately, Diego gave no reaction or answer. He was also in no mood to look at Stellina and was still unfastening his seat belt. Even the look on Diego's face was one of annoyance for who knows what reason.Stellina immediately sighe
In the midst of the silence, without Stellina answering, Diego approached and tilted his head. Diego's face was already snarling in annoyance at Stellina."Did you deliberately want to tell others about your disguise?" Diego asked in a low voice, almost a whisper, near Stellina's ear.Stellina, on the other hand, looked away from Diego and shook her head. "Not at all...""Then why did you contradict my prohibition, huh?"Diego's glaring eyes froze Stellina's entire body. For a few seconds, she was tongue-tied and unable to do anything. Stellina gulped down saliva, her throat constricted."I didn't mean..." Stellina's voice trailed off. "I didn't mean that at all. I am my father's son, and the company belongs to his family. Isn't it normal for me to want to check how things are going there?"Stellina was really nervous. But she also didn't want to take the blame. Whether Diego would believe her or not, she didn't want to make up false excuses.Hearing Stellina's words, Diego laughed sa
Stellina was not expecting the argument that ensued between her and Diego. After the argument and the tense situation, neither Stellina nor Diego spoke to each other.Until the morning, having gone through the whole night without a single warm conversation, Stellina was still looking in the mirror while drying her hair. Diego, meanwhile, had just come in from outside-wherever he had been.As the silence between them fell, Stellina watched Diego's reflection walk up to her. There was a plastic bag in Diego's hand, and he had no idea what it contained."I ordered food for you," Diego said as he arrived next to Stellina, placing the bag on the dresser.Stellina stopped the movement of drying her hair. Her gaze shifted to the plastic bag on the dressing table.Stellina's eyebrows furrowed in astonishment. "Does this motel not offer breakfast?"Diego let out a long sigh as he sat on the edge of the bed. "If they did, I wouldn't be buying you food."There was no answer from Stellina. She re
"What, Mr. Enrico Pezcatores' leadership will be replaced by Diego?"After the motel, as Diego and Stellina had agreed, they both went straight to Enrico's printing company.Moments ago, Stellina had asked Enrico's confidant to call an impromptu meeting for the directors. Stellina had doubts that the directors would be able to comply with the request for an impromptu meeting today.Luckily, the directors agreed to the impromptu meeting proposed by Stellina. Unfortunately, Stellina's doubts came true. On the way from the motel to Enrico's printing company, Stellina worried that the directors would be able to agree to Diego's takeover.Now that all the directors were gathered in the boardroom, they were visibly displeased by Stellina's announcement."How can a stranger take over Mr. Enrico's power, Miss Stellina?" One of the directors expressed his confusion.Stellina looked at Diego who was standing next to her. The confusion of one of the company's board members was exactly what Stell