All Chapters of Betrayal and Devotion: Chapter 51 - Chapter 60

The second Gianni leaves, the silence in the room becomes suffocating. It’s as if his presence still lingers in the air, infecting everything. The chill he left behind seeps into my bones, making the space feel heavier, more oppressive. I glance at Sofia, who’s standing a few feet away, her arms wrapped firmly about herself as if she’s trying to hold everything together. She looks rattled more rattled than I’ve ever seen her. It’s as if Gianni grabbed inside her chest and twisted something inside. The sight of her like this simply accentuates the horror gnawing at my insides. What is Gianni planning? Why do I feel like we’re walking into a trap that’s bigger than anything I’ve ever imagined? Sofia finally breaks the silence, her voice faint and trembling. “He’s... he’s not going to stop.” She sits down on the edge of the couch, her hands quivering as she buries her face in them. “You don’t understand how dangerous Gianni is,” she says gently, the words scarcely audible but loaded wi

"What happened, and why won't you tell me?" My voice breaks as I finally manage to speak. "Marco, I deserve to know." For a brief moment, I think I feel humiliation in his eyes as they move to mine. Then, as abruptly, his cold mask returns to its position. "I have nothing to say," The tears that welled up in my eyes are uncontrollable. With each second that goes by, it feels like he's getting further away from me. "Marco, please don't ignore me," I sob as I approach him. "Just talk to me, please." He furiously runs a hand through his hair as his face tightens and he turns away. "There's nothing to say, Francesca," I said. We're getting farther apart, and I feel like I'm losing him. Tears constrict in my throat, but I fight the need to cry. I refuse to cry once more. Not before him. "So that's it?" My voice trembles with anger and sorrow as I ask. "You just cut me off in this way? after everything we've experienced? He doesn't respond. The silence between us is stifling, full of

Marco approaches me while softly cupping my face with his outstretched palms. We're not going to lose everything. As long as I am still alive, no.He says things that should reassure me, but they don't. I am aware of the hazard. I am aware that we will be entering an unwinnable conflict if Sofia's plan fails.Sofia gets to her feet, ending our heated exchange. "We must move quickly. The competing family gets more power the longer we wait. And whether we like it or not, they will pursue us if we don't act quickly.Marco wipes a hand across his face and sighs. He appears worn out, as though the entire world is pressing down on him. It is, in a sense. Now that he is bearing the weight of the entire city, he must make a decision that could either save us or bring about our destruction.Finally, in a strained voice, he states, "I need time to think."Sofia understands and nods. But Marco, don't waste too much time. Time is running out, no time to waste please hope you get it.There is a de

It's this. The moment that might make all the difference. The issue that looms as the door opens and the faces of the opposing family are revealed is whether this encounter will end in an alliance or a betrayal that might destroy everything that Marco and Francesca have worked so hard to achieve. The room seems colder than typical, not because of the weather, but because of the attitude. It’s badly lit, barely enough light to make out the faces in front of us. I sat across from two men....two guys who could alter everything in this conflict with just a single word. Marco sits behind me, his jaw taut, his eyes flaming with that intensity he brings into every battle. But this isn't a battle of punches and guns—this is a war of words and every word matters. The calm is overwhelming. No one dares to speak first, as if whoever breaks the calm would lose something crucial. The elder guy across from us, the boss, has sharp features and eyes that could pierce through steel. His younger equ

I draw away from him and shake my head. However, what if you are unable to stop it? Marco, you are not in charge of everything.The strain radiates from him as he clenches his jaw. "I must."His remarks are like a punch to the gut. Even though he knows it might not be enough, he is carrying the weight of keeping us all safe.Scene Two: An Unexpected AssaultMy restlessness is still bothering me as I toss in bed later that night. Although there is silence in the home, my anxious thoughts are loud. I'm about to fall asleep when...Break!One sound slashes through the darkness, then another.Fire.My heart is pounding as I sit straight upright. "Marco!"I scurry out of bed when I hear the shouting coming from downstairs. I run to the window and pull back the curtain. Men with guns pour into the yard."Oh my God." My breath catches. It's happening.With my heart thumping in my ears, I fling open the door and dash down the stairs. I make it to the hallway when Luca, clad in filth and brand