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00:00At the gala in Palermo, I stood in a row with twelve other heiresses, waiting to be chosen.
00:05One flower, one night, one chance.
00:07As Don Earl's bastarda, I had no room to fail.
00:11Lorenzo Rossi, heir of the Rossi family, was my childhood friend.
00:15He was the only man who'd agreed to protect me, and he had promised me the white lily.
00:19We'd made the deal just yesterday, three years of cover.
00:22Then he could love whoever he wanted.
00:23Yesterday, he'd said yes.
00:25Tonight, at the last second, he smiled and handed the flower to the girl beside me,
00:29Mia, the scholarship student he'd been sponsoring.
00:32Her hands were shaking as she took it.
00:34Let Mia have the spotlight today, Elena.
00:38The poor thing has never known happiness.
00:40Don't worry.
00:40As long as I'm here, no one will dare arrange your marriage.
00:44I looked at him.
00:45He was already turning away, placing Mia's hand on his arm.
00:48Mia is elegant and noble.
00:52She is worthy of this heart.
00:55Noble.
00:56The word landed like a slap.
00:57Whispers rippled through the crowd.
00:59I stood empty-handed, the Don's bastard daughter, publicly passed over for a stray.
01:04When the crowd dispersed, Lorenzo appeared at my side, wine glass in hand.
01:09These idiots.
01:10I told them to save you at least one flower.
01:15Do you know what tonight means?
01:17The white lily wasn't decoration.
01:19It was a marriage proposal between families.
01:21Without it, I had nothing.
01:23No protection.
01:24No choice.
01:25No way out of the arranged marriage Donna Earl had already planned for me in New York.
01:29Lorenzo was my only option.
01:30No other man here would choose the bastardha.
01:33And he'd just chosen someone else.
01:3518 years.
01:38He didn't answer.
01:40Behind him, Mia was smiling.
01:41The white lily in her hands, still perfect.
01:45Guilt flickered across Lorenzo's face.
01:48He sent Mia away.
01:49You're used to these events, Elena.
01:52But Mia's poor.
01:53This is her only shot to shine in her whole life.
01:58Just, just do me a favor.
02:04You can have your way any other day.
02:05Why today of all days?
02:07I stayed silent.
02:13Today's her graduation.
02:14After tonight, I can't sponsor her anymore.
02:20I promised her one unforgettable memory.
02:23Unforgettable for me, too.
02:24But it was too late.
02:26Lorenzo, do you understand what the gala...
02:29Mia returned before I could finish.
02:32Elena, did I ruin everything?
02:36Please don't blame Lorenzo.
02:38I begged him to...
02:41Enough, Elena.
02:42It's just a flower.
02:44I'll buy you another one.
02:45He reached into a nearby vase,
02:47pulled out a rose,
02:48and shoved it into my hand.
02:52Roses suit you better anyway.
02:54A lily isn't worth making a scene over.
02:56This isn't like you.
02:58The rose was dripping wet.
02:59Its thorns had been cut.
03:01Its stem snapped short,
03:02just like me.
03:03But the white lily meant honor.
03:05The wife of a don.
03:06A queen.
03:07The red rose meant mistress.
03:09A woman you kept in the shadows.
03:11An illegitimate bootlicker,
03:12thinking she could marry the Rossi heir?
03:15Didn't you hear him say noble?
03:17Even a poor student ranks higher.
03:19Lorenzo silenced the woman with one look,
03:22but the words had already sunk in.
03:26Elena, I'm sorry.
03:29You've always had everything.
03:31I just wanted one night to feel special.
03:34Everything?
03:35I'm a bastard, Mia.
03:37Do you have any idea how the Marotti family treats me?
03:40The cake slipped from her hands and landed on her shoe,
03:43her eyes filled with tears.
03:45Look, it's already done.
03:46Let her enjoy tonight.
03:50Come on, let's get you cleaned up.
03:53You can head home if you want.
03:56Home?
03:56I didn't have one.
03:58As soon as Lorenzo left my side,
03:59someone closed in.
04:01Antonio Ricci,
04:02a reckless libertine from a rival crew,
04:04sidled up to me.
04:06You smell good, Elena Moretti.
04:09Without Lorenzo,
04:10I didn't even get basic respect.
04:12Lorenzo told me to give you a flower.
04:14I didn't.
04:15I told you before,
04:17stop chasing him and try me instead,
04:19but you never listened.
04:21How's it feel now?
04:22Humiliating, isn't it?
04:23Lorenzo had given him the task of delivering my flower?
04:26Knowing Antonio had been harassing me for months?
04:29Another betrayal.
04:30I only asked for three years.
04:32Three years to gain enough power
04:33to escape the Moretti family's grip.
04:35But Donna wanted me gone.
04:37She wouldn't even give me time to breathe.
04:39If it wasn't for that pretty face,
04:41you'd be nothing.
04:45Ritzy,
04:46did I not warn you?
04:48Don't touch my people.
04:50That's none of your business.
04:51Your people?
04:53You just picked the charity girl.
04:56What do you need Elena for?
04:57She's mine.
04:58That's all you need to know.
04:59Antonio spat and walked away.
05:01Lorenzo spun me around to face him.
05:04He touched you and you didn't fight back?
05:08Wasn't this your idea?
05:09Lorenzo,
05:10could I get some champagne?
05:13One's cold and stubborn.
05:14The other's bright and warm.
05:16Lorenzo's choice was easy.
05:17Tonight,
05:18you're the star.
05:19Whatever you want.
05:20We'll talk tomorrow.
05:21I'll come by your place.
05:24Tomorrow?
05:25I smiled coldly.
05:26Tomorrow,
05:27you'll have to come to New York
05:28to find me.
05:31Lorenzo left
05:32to greet the other Capos
05:33and Mia walked back to me
05:35holding a glass of wine.
05:36The timid scholarship girl
05:38was gone.
05:39In her place
05:39stood someone
05:40who'd tasted power.
05:42You have everything, Elena.
05:45Why do you need to take
05:46this one moment
05:47of glory from me?
05:51I should never have helped
05:52Lorenzo choose her
05:53for the scholarship.
05:55You grew up in luxury.
05:58I only wanted Lorenzo's protection
06:00for one night.
06:04Luxury?
06:06You think I'm better off than you?
06:08My mother died early.
06:09Don Earl brought me back
06:10to the estate
06:11when I was little.
06:11Donna looked at me
06:12like she wanted me dead.
06:14My father had mistresses everywhere
06:15and didn't care about
06:16one more bastard daughter.
06:18I learned to read faces young.
06:20Without this face,
06:21I wouldn't have survived.
06:22I was trapped
06:23between two sides.
06:24I turned to Uncle Luca
06:25and begged him to train me
06:27to back me up.
06:28Uncle Luca never smiled.
06:32Your father has 23 children.
06:36Why should I invest in a bastard
06:38who won't last?
06:39Because I have nothing to lose.
06:41I'll do what they won't.
06:42But the time wasn't right.
06:44Uncle Luca wouldn't help me either.
06:46They say Dante Vitale is ruthless.
06:48Anyone who crosses him
06:49gets crushed without mercy.
06:51The Morettis wanted his protection,
06:52but wouldn't sacrifice
06:53a legitimate daughter.
06:54So they chose me.
06:58Uncle Luca must know
06:59how the gala ended.
07:03Elena,
07:05do you think Lorenzo
07:06even knows what the gala means?
07:08I wasn't the type
07:09to dwell on emotions.
07:10I needed to find a way to stay.
07:14Do you know what tonight
07:15actually means?
07:15Sure, it's a matchmaking event,
07:17but it's just formality.
07:18Don't worry.
07:18I'll talk to the Morettis.
07:19No one's forcing you into marriage.
07:20Then can you get the Lily
07:21back from Mia?
07:21I'll return it tomorrow.
07:22That's not good.
07:24It's already hers.
07:24That orchid had a rare golden edge.
07:27It couldn't be copied at all.
07:29Lorenzo, you know I won't clink on you.
07:30Why did you humiliate me tonight?
07:32Elena, no one else will take you.
07:34You're a Moretti bastard.
07:36Everyone Palermo knows you're mine.
07:38Elena, please don't fight with Lorenzo.
07:41Enough, Elena.
07:43Tomorrow, Mia goes back to her life.
07:45I left the gala
07:46and got into Uncle Luca's car.
07:48Accept your loss.
07:50Tomorrow you leave for New York.
07:53I'll come back.
07:56Back at the estate,
07:57Donna glanced at Uncle Luca,
07:59then at me.
08:00We've raised you for 18 years.
08:02Time to repay that.
08:03Tomorrow, you leave.
08:05Nothing in this house was mine.
08:06Not even the plane ticket.
08:08Uncle Luca said nothing
08:09and went to his room.
08:10I went to my small bedroom to pack.
08:12My half-sister, Bianca,
08:13leaned in the doorway,
08:14checking her nails.
08:17Mom told me to keep an eye on you.
08:19Don't take anything valuable.
08:21Not even tonight's gown.
08:25Oh, and Mom said Dante Vitale
08:27already in love with someone else.
08:29Good luck.
08:31I took off the gown in front of her
08:33and removed all the jewelry.
08:34Then I walked to the bathroom in my slip.
08:36Mia had posted a photo in Instagram.
08:38She was glowing,
08:39Lorenzo's arm around her.
08:41He was still wearing the cufflinks
08:42I'd given him.
08:43I left everything Lorenzo
08:45had ever given me behind.
08:46Before dawn, I was up.
08:48No goodbyes.
08:49I grabbed my backpack
08:50and headed to the airport.
08:51Security, boarding,
08:53everything went smoothly.
08:54As the plane taxied,
08:55I shut off my phone completely,
08:57cutting all ties to Palermo.
08:59Then the announcement came.
09:01Apologies, passengers.
09:02The Rossi family has purchased
09:04all available flights
09:05out of Plasso today.
09:06We are returning back.
09:09I stared out the window
09:10as the runway slowed back down.
09:14The plane came to a stop.
09:24My phone reconnected
09:25and messages flooded in.
09:27The announcement came again.
09:29Apologies for the inconvenience.
09:31To compensate,
09:32the Rossi family will refund your ticket
09:34at ten times the price.
09:36Who do you think
09:36the Rossi family is looking for?
09:38Wow.
09:39This is so dramatic.
09:40Like a movie.
09:42I scrolled through my phone,
09:44exhausted.
09:46Lorenzo had gone to the Moretti estate
09:47early this morning
09:48looking for me.
09:49He saw the gown,
09:51the jewelry,
09:52everything I'd left behind.
09:54But my backpack was gone.
09:56He panicked.
09:57He demanded answers
09:58from the Morettis.
09:59Where did Elena go?
10:01Lorenzo lost it.
10:03He almost tore the estate apart.
10:06Then he started calling me.
10:07But by then,
10:08I was already on the plane.
10:09When Lorenzo realized
10:10I hadn't taken a single thing
10:12he'd ever given me,
10:13he snapped.
10:14I grabbed my backpack
10:15and got off the plane.
10:17It was early.
10:18I was starving.
10:21I found a small cafe
10:22and ordered pasta.
10:26Uncle Luca's message came through.
10:28Do you want to come back?
10:30Lorenzo still wants you.
10:33The Moretti family
10:34was built on schemes.
10:36Lorenzo might spoil me,
10:38but he'd never lose face for me.
10:40Going back meant more humiliation.
10:52I ate slowly,
10:54watching black-suited men flood the terminal.
10:56They grabbed every woman who looked like me,
10:58asking questions.
10:59Then Lorenzo rushed in,
11:01drenched in sweat.
11:04His phone pressed to his ear.
11:05He passed right by my table.
11:07He looked desperate,
11:08frantic,
11:11calling my number over and over.
11:14My phone kept buzzing in my pocket.
11:16When no one answered,
11:18he almost smashed the phone in frustration.
11:21His men returned empty-handed.
11:23I'd never seen Lorenzo like this,
11:25completely unraveled.
11:28Where is she?
11:29I don't care what it takes.
11:31No plane flies to New York today.
11:33I checked my phone.
11:35There was a flight to Milan in 20 minutes.
11:40I scrolled through the news while I waited.
11:43Palermo's tabloids were having a field day.
11:45The headlines screamed,
11:46Rossi airs new flame,
11:47but who's he hunting at the airport?
11:49Two women at the table behind me
11:50were gossiping loudly.
11:53God, that's so romantic.
11:56If someone did that for me,
11:57I'd say yes immediately.
11:59You don't get it.
12:00Last night at a gala,
12:02Lorenzo chose some scholarship girl.
12:05I bet.
12:06Bet he got scammed.
12:08Wait, he didn't pick a rich girl?
12:10He picked a charity chase?
12:12Then why is he freaking out today?
12:14I sipped my coffee,
12:16trying not to react.
12:17I'm guessing Lorenzo didn't realize
12:19giving the white loafs was a marriage proposal.
12:21The first girl said smugly,
12:23How do you know all this?
12:26Because I was at the gala last night.
12:28I froze.
12:29I glanced back,
12:31didn't recognize her.
12:33Lucky.
12:34So what does the rich girl look like?
12:39She's beautiful.
12:41Stunning, actually.
12:44Then why would Lorenzo give the lily to an outsider?
12:48The girl's voice turned sharp.
12:49Who cares?
12:50The other girl's just a bastard anyway.
12:52Not like us real heiresses.
12:55I coughed and both women turned.
12:57The moment they saw my face,
12:59one of them gasped and pointed,
13:01unable to speak.
13:05What?
13:08The other girl stared at me,
13:11then whispered.
13:12Wait.
13:14Are you?
13:15I pressed a finger to my lips.
13:18Both women slapped their hands over their mouths.
13:20I stood up and left.
13:21As I walked away,
13:22I heard one of them shriek.
13:24You didn't tell me she looked like that!
13:26You have zero chance now!
13:28I am on my way to the boarding gate,
13:30and another refund notification hit my phone.
13:33The Rossi family had bought out every route out of Palermo,
13:36even flights to other cities.
13:37I stood there,
13:39clutching my phone,
13:40stuck.
13:40Then it rang.
13:41A New York number.
13:44Hello?
13:44Dante Vitale.
13:45The name of my arranged husband.
13:47His voice was cold,
13:48but strangely pleasant.
13:49The kind that made you want to keep listening.
13:51I'm sorry, I-
13:52My men are already at the airport.
13:54They'll bring you to me.
13:55Before I could explain that all the flights were grounded,
13:57I saw it.
13:58A private jet on the tarmac.
14:00Several men in black suits stepped off the plane,
14:02standing at attention.
14:04Understood.
14:05I hung up and walked toward the jet.
14:10It was drizzling.
14:11An umbrella appeared over my head.
14:13The moment I stepped outside.
14:15The man holding it kept his eyes down,
14:17respectful.
14:18Mrs. Vitale,
14:19we're here to bring you home.
14:20That's when Lorenzo spotted me.
14:22He sprinted toward me,
14:24grabbing my wrist.
14:25Elena,
14:26come with me.
14:27Vitale's men immediately surrounded me.
14:30Lorenzo's men closed in.
14:31The two groups faced off.
14:33Onlookers pulled out their phones,
14:35filming.
14:35The man leading Dante's crew was older,
14:37impeccably dressed,
14:39with the calm precision of a man who'd seen everything.
14:41He smiled politely,
14:43but his eyes were stone.
14:44Mr. Rossi,
14:45I'm here to escort Mrs. Vitale home.
14:48Please step aside.
14:49Lorenzo's gaze turned lethal.
14:51She hasn't left Palermo yet.
14:53I'd like to see who has the balls to take my woman.
14:56I felt exhausted.
14:57I'd tried to tell him several times,
14:59but his attention was always on Mia.
15:01Lorenzo,
15:02you've protected me for years.
15:04I'm grateful,
15:06but this is where it ends.
15:07I don't blame anyone.
15:10Don't blame anyone?
15:12Then come back with me.
15:14I'll marry you.
15:15I'll tell the Morettis myself.
15:17The rain fell harder.
15:19Lorenzo's hair was soaked,
15:20his eyes red.
15:21The Vitale butler stepped between us,
15:24unmoved.
15:25Apologies, Mr. Rossi,
15:26but the agreement with the Moretti family
15:28has been finalized.
15:29Mrs. Vitale leaves with us today.
15:31Lorenzo ignored him,
15:33staring only at me.
15:34I shook my head.
15:35Lorenzo,
15:36I told you,
15:37I only wanted three years.
15:39I have someone I truly like.
15:41I never planned to marry you.
15:44This again?
15:46Elena,
15:47you've been trapped in Morettis.
15:48Where would you even meet someone to love?
15:50I know calling you my shadow upset you.
15:52Stop being stubborn
15:53and come back with me.
15:55We'll talk there, okay?
15:56His tone had shifted,
15:58almost pleading now.
15:59I was grateful for his years of protection,
16:01but the moment Lorenzo let go of me
16:03and handed that flower
16:04to the scholarship girl,
16:05it meant we could no longer walk together.
16:09Lorenzo,
16:10Mia is your fiancé.
16:12All of Palermo saw it.
16:13You two should be happy together.
16:15Marry a scholarship girl?
16:17He laughed bitterly.
16:18Are you serious?
16:20I'd marry you before I'd ever marry her.
16:22My expression went cold.
16:24Lorenzo had always liked me,
16:26but he'd never respected me.
16:27This time,
16:28I didn't hesitate.
16:29I turned and walked toward the jet
16:31with the butler.
16:32Lorenzo stood frozen,
16:33his fists clenched,
16:35fury radiating off him.
16:37Elena!
16:38You leave Palermo,
16:40and no one will protect you anymore.
16:43Think carefully.
16:44Once you're gone,
16:46don't come back regretting it.
16:47I didn't answer.
16:49I stepped onto the plane.
16:50The butler had thoughtfully prepared a towel for me.
16:53He pointed to the washroom
16:54at the back of the plane,
16:55keeping his voice low.
16:56You can freshen up there,
16:57Mrs. Vitari.
16:58Getting caught in the rain,
16:59you'll catch cold.
17:01The jet was luxurious,
17:04clearly not a rental.
17:05This had to be the Vitale family's private plane.
17:08The Vitale family's power
17:09was on another level.
17:11Even the Morettis didn't own a private jet.
17:13The plane didn't just have a bathroom.
17:15It had a full bed.
17:17Strangely,
17:18the bedding was soft pink.
17:19Definitely not something
17:20Dante Vitale would choose for himself.
17:22In the bathroom,
17:23I changed into the prepared clothes.
17:25Another shock.
17:26The clothes fit me perfectly.
17:28When I came out,
17:29the butler had dismissed the guards
17:30to the back of the cabin.
17:32Excuse me,
17:33I asked.
17:33Does the Don usually use this plane?
17:35The butler saw my confusion.
17:37This plane was purchased
17:38specifically for you,
17:39Mrs. Vitale.
17:40Everything was customized
17:41to your preferences.
17:43The Don personally selected the bedding,
17:45the softest material available.
17:47My jaw nearly dropped.
17:49Something this extravagant?
17:50Casually given to a stranger?
17:52Wasn't he supposed to have
17:53someone he loved?
17:54The flight to New York is long.
17:56You should rest.
17:57So we've prepared
17:58a humidifier for you.
18:05No one had ever cared
18:06about my comfort before.
18:08I'd only ever learned
18:09to read other people's moods.
18:10This sudden concern
18:11made me restless.
18:12Fortunately,
18:13the butler noticed my discomfort
18:14and quietly withdrew.
18:16I pulled out a pen
18:17and started sketching notes,
18:18my mind full of worry
18:20about what lay ahead.
18:21The plane landed
18:22on a sprawling green estate.
18:24When I looked closer,
18:25I realized
18:25this was the Vitale compound.
18:27Even coming from
18:28a wealthy family,
18:29I'd never seen anything
18:30this lavish.
18:32Dante Vitale came
18:33to meet me personally,
18:34wearing a warm smile,
18:36nothing like the cold,
18:37ruthless man
18:38from the rumors.
18:38He draped a coat
18:39over my shoulders.
18:41His voice was smooth
18:42and pleasant.
18:43Are you cold?
18:44I shivered slightly
18:44and stepped back,
18:46putting some distance
18:46between us.
18:47Mr. Vitale,
18:50I know you have
18:51someone you love.
18:52I know marrying me
18:52was forced on you.
18:53Don't worry.
18:54I only need three years.
18:56I won't keep you
18:57from the woman
18:58you love for long.
18:59His brow furrowed,
19:00looking puzzled.
19:01Someone I love?
19:03Three years?
19:04Yes.
19:05For three years,
19:06I'll play the role
19:07of your wife.
19:09I won't interfere
19:10with your private life.
19:11After three years,
19:12we separate.
19:13I won't take a cent from you.
19:15I can sign an agreement.
19:16His frown deepened.
19:18He looked sharply
19:19toward the butler.
19:20When he got no response,
19:21he stepped closer
19:22and pulled me gently
19:23into his arms.
19:24My face flushed
19:25completely red.
19:26Who said we were
19:27going to keep things
19:28this separate?
19:29My wife?
19:30Seeing me embarrassed
19:31seemed to improve his mood.
19:32He lifted my chin,
19:34leaning closer.
19:35Everything I have
19:35is yours, my wife.
19:36Even after we went inside,
19:38I still hadn't recovered
19:39from the shock.
19:40Wasn't this man
19:41supposed to be cold
19:42and ruthless?
19:43Dante's home
19:43was all sharp lines
19:44and clean edges,
19:46but there were touches
19:46of color,
19:47soft furnishings
19:48that had clearly
19:49been added recently.
19:50The aesthetic was good,
19:51the pieces carefully chosen.
19:53They didn't clash.
19:54Instead,
19:55they made the space
19:55feel comfortable.
19:56I sat on the couch.
19:57I handed him
19:58a folded paper.
20:00This is my plan.
20:01I'd like to borrow
20:02some money.
20:03I'll pay you back
20:04in installments.
20:05He pulled the paper
20:06from my hand
20:06and scanned it.
20:09You need money?
20:11It was humiliating,
20:12arriving with nothing.
20:13No dowry,
20:14nothing of value.
20:15For the Vitalis,
20:16this had to look
20:17like disrespect.
20:18I'd done my research
20:19before landing.
20:20The Vitali family
20:21didn't need alliances.
20:22They didn't need
20:23anyone's support.
20:24They stood alone
20:25at the top.
20:25People lined up
20:26from New York
20:27to Palermo
20:27just to ask them
20:28for favors.
20:29I still didn't understand
20:30why they'd agreed
20:31to this marriage
20:31with the Morettis.
20:32Yes,
20:34I don't have money,
20:36but I promise
20:38I have a way
20:39to pay you back.
20:40He didn't question me.
20:41Instead,
20:41his hand closed
20:42around mine,
20:43warm against my cold fingers,
20:45and he rubbed gently.
20:46My face flushed again.
20:48His mood seemed to improve.
20:49Why do you need money?
20:51I looked up sharply,
20:52suddenly realizing,
20:53maybe as Mrs. Vitale,
20:55I wasn't supposed
20:56to have financial control.
20:57Maybe I was expected
20:58to live off an allowance?
20:59To ask permission
21:00for spending money,
21:01I straightened,
21:02meeting his eyes.
21:04Mr. Vitale,
21:05I don't want to be trapped
21:06by the Moretti family,
21:07and I won't be live
21:09as a housewife,
21:10asking for handouts.
21:11I want my own career.
21:13If possible,
21:14I want to take back
21:15what belongs to me
21:16from the Morettis.
21:17Dante looked surprised
21:18that I'd spoken so openly.
21:20He reached up
21:20and ruffled my hair affectionately.
21:23Everything the vitals have
21:24is yours.
21:25Before I could process that,
21:27he gestured to the butler,
21:28who brought over
21:28a black card.
21:29This is my account.
21:31Spend whatever you want.
21:34The room Dante gave me
21:35was the best
21:36in the entire compound.
21:37Sunlight flooded
21:38through the windows.
21:39The decor was soft,
21:40feminine,
21:41like something out
21:42of a princess's quarters.
21:43For someone who'd been
21:44an outsider in the Moretti house
21:45my whole life,
21:46it was almost unbelievable.
21:48I slept well
21:49for the first time in years.
21:50The next morning,
21:51I woke to a message
21:52from Uncle Luca.
21:53Lorenzo is furious.
21:55Why didn't you
21:56come back with him?
21:57Uncle Luca was the only one
21:58in the Moretti family
21:59who'd ever protected me,
22:00but his protection
22:01always came
22:02with strings attached.
22:03Uncle,
22:04I'm a person,
22:05not a pet you can call
22:06whenever you want.
22:08Really?
22:09I thought you'd already
22:10turned yourself
22:11into a weapon
22:12for revenge.
22:13Three years.
22:14I borrowed $100,000
22:16from the Vitales.
22:17I did everything
22:18a Don's wife
22:18was supposed to do.
22:20I attended galas
22:21with Dante,
22:22smiled for the cameras,
22:23let people court my favor.
22:24I played the role
22:25of the beautiful
22:26trophy wife.
22:27Even though Dante
22:28spoiled me endlessly,
22:29I never forgot my place.
22:31But in those three years,
22:32I used that $100,000
22:34to leverage resources
22:35in Palermo.
22:35I dismantled
22:36Moretti operations
22:38piece by piece,
22:39pulled their best men
22:40and capos
22:41into my own network.
22:43Don Earl finally
22:44saw the truth.
22:45His 23 children
22:46were useless.
22:47The second generation
22:48of Morettis panicked.
22:50Afraid the family's
22:51collapse would hurt
22:51their shares
22:52of the casinos
22:53and territories,
22:53they started selling
22:54off their assets.
22:55I bought them all.
22:56One by one,
22:57I took control
22:58of their gambling operations,
23:00their shipping routes.
23:00I flipped operations
23:02that were bleeding money
23:03into profitable enterprises,
23:05expanded territories
23:06they'd neglected.
23:07By the time Don Earl
23:08realized what was happening,
23:09I controlled more
23:10of the family's
23:11income streams
23:11than he did.
23:12The other Moretti heirs
23:13couldn't compete
23:14with me anymore.
23:15It was 10 at night
23:16when I came home.
23:17Dante was sitting
23:18in the warm glow
23:19of the living room,
23:20waiting for me.
23:21My chest tightened.
23:22I walked over
23:23and wrapped my arms
23:24around his shoulders
23:24from behind.
23:25I held him
23:26for a long moment.
23:27Then I let go
23:28and stepped back,
23:29composed again.
23:32Why are you back
23:33so late?
23:33He asked quietly.
23:35Are you tired?
23:36I had soup made for you.
23:37The words I'd been
23:38planning to say
23:39stuck in my throat.
23:40He took my hand
23:40and led me to the table,
23:42watching as I drank
23:43the soup.
23:46When are you going
23:47to let yourself
23:48depend on me?
23:49You don't have to
23:49exhaust yourself like this.
23:51I felt warmth
23:52spread through me.
23:53Looking at him
23:53in the soft light,
23:54I felt a pang of guilt.
23:55The three years are up.
23:57It's time for me
23:58to go back to Morettis.
24:00Dante had known
24:00all along
24:01that I hadn't
24:02truly given up
24:02on my plans.
24:03His expression
24:04showed no surprise.
24:08You don't like this
24:08from what I understand.
24:09Only Luca has been
24:10good to you.
24:10And that Lorenzo
24:11I heard he's come
24:12to New York
24:12several times
24:13looking for you.
24:13But you never saw him.
24:15I was surprised
24:15he knew
24:16and had said nothing.
24:31What?
24:58He's got no idea.
24:59I was hoping to be
24:59that he's not
25:00one of her.
25:00He doesn't need to know
25:00Gracias.
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