- 22 hours ago
You Humiliated Me with Snakes Now Let the Snakes Devour You HD
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00:00My fiancée's adopted sister Vanessa couldn't stand me.
00:03Tormenting me was practically her favorite pastime.
00:07She deliberately shredded my swimsuit.
00:10I simply grabbed a pair of scissors and turned it into a sexy bikini,
00:13my slim waist and gorgeous curves instantly stealing everyone's attention.
00:18Vanessa stood off to the side, jaw clenched, already plotting her next move.
00:22It came on my wedding night with Carter.
00:25I was soaking in the bathtub when she dropped a venomous nake into the water.
00:28It slid out from under the foam and came straight at me.
00:32My face went white.
00:33I started to rise, reaching for my robe,
00:35and that was when Vanessa burst in with the crowd behind me.
00:40Aria Marchetti, finally got you somewhere you can't save yourself.
00:44I won the bet. Look at her, she's terrified.
00:46This is the famous Aria, the Carter dragged in off the street.
00:48Don't cry yet, sweetheart. Trash always cries the second it realizes it's trash.
00:52They were already sending each other money, eyes crawling all over me.
00:55She's got nothing on. I think I just caught a glimpse of something.
00:58Come on, snake. Get closer. Then I get a real look.
01:01My chest heaved.
01:03Carter, where are you? Get in here and throw them out!
01:05I'm scared of snakes.
01:06He showed up just outside the door, not caring in the least what was happening to me.
01:11What are you screaming about? Don't you love flaunting your body in front of people?
01:14Now you've got a stage for it.
01:16It's just a snake. You came from not-don't-play-precious now.
01:19He was right. It was just a snake.
01:21So I picked up my phone and called Roman.
01:23Roman. The Don of Chicago.
01:26And the closest friend I'd had since we were kids.
01:29Roman, come get me and round up every snake in this city.
01:33A few bastards are in serious need of a pit to sit in.
01:36What I didn't know was that on the other end, Roman had already put five men on the floor.
01:41My wedding had pushed him to the edge of something.
01:43He'd spent the whole night in the boxing gym.
01:47Arya. Someone hurt you? I'm on my way.
01:51Ha! What did she just say?
01:53Lock us in a snake pit? Is Arya talking about me and Carter?
02:00Arya. What exactly makes you think you can do anything to us?
02:04Round up every snake in the city. Like you're some kind of queen.
02:10Right?
02:11None of them knew I was the heir to the Marchetti family.
02:14To them, I was just the woman Carter had dragged into the Whitmore family.
02:18I pressed my arms hard against myself and sank as low into the foam as I could.
02:23But the foam wouldn't last.
02:24Soon it would be gone, and so would the only thing between me and the snake gliding through the water.
02:29The men crowded the bathroom doorway, all waiting to watch me break.
02:33I clenched my fists, shaking with rage, and glared at Carter.
02:36The second I trembled, more of the foam in front of me melted away.
02:39I went still, at once, not daring to move again. But I couldn't hold back the tears.
02:44Vanessa walked to his side and laid a hand on his shoulder.
02:47Carter, you can't help her right now.
02:49Finn and I have a bet going. Ten million on it.
02:53I bet you love me most that you won't lift a finger for Arya for at least half an hour.
02:57He bet you'd cave and save her before then.
03:00I still held on to a scrap of hope. I thought he'd refuse her this time.
03:04Instead, he lifted his hand without hesitation and kissed her on the cheek, smiling.
03:09You. Always such a tease. Don't worry. I won't let you lose the bet.
03:14Carter, you're so good to me.
03:16Finn, don't forget to send the money.
03:19Pay Vanessa! If he won't, we'll cover it for him!
03:23Carter loves Vanessa more than his own wife. I need to start getting close to Vanessa.
03:27Vanessa lifted her chin and looked down at me, smug and arrogant.
03:31I stared at Carter in disbelief. He reached out and smoothed the few loose strands of her hair.
03:38Don't look at me like you want to eat me alive. Vanessa's my little sister.
03:42You just married into this family. You should be taking care of her.
03:46Carter, you're still hiding it from her.
03:48You never actually intended to legally marry her, did you?
03:53My head snapped toward Carter. He sighed, not a flicker of guilt on his face.
04:01Carter, what is he talking about?
04:03My voice trembled. I never imagined that three years of giving him everything would end as a joke.
04:08Exactly what you heard.
04:11Arya, you're a girl with nothing.
04:12You've got talent, sure, and a good heart, but you'll never be enough for me.
04:17The Whitmerds are old money. You'll never set foot in my family.
04:21I just didn't want to break your heart, so I kept it from you.
04:23His real wife is Vanessa. That's why Carter let Vanessa pull her pranks on you.
04:27I was completely stunned, which meant Carter had been playing me the whole time.
04:31I'd quietly used my position as a mafia heiress to help him, the illegitimate son, to cure his place's heir.
04:37And now, I was being thrown away.
04:39Was it fun playing me like this?
04:41The contempt on his face cut into me like a knife.
04:46Yes.
04:47In that moment, the last bit of hope I had for him shattered, too.
04:50I was about to call Roman and tell him to hurry.
04:52Vanessa rushed in and snatched the phone right out of my hand.
04:55I just remembered, the bet has one more rule.
04:58No calling for help before the half hour's up.
05:02Arya, you're really just Carter's mistress.
05:05Letting him throw you a wedding at all was generous of me.
05:13If I could have gotten that robe on, I'd have stood up and torn Vanessa's mouth off.
05:17She saw my face darken and only smiled brighter.
05:21What, you think you've earned the right to be angry?
05:23Go on. Stand up and hit me if you've got the guts.
05:26They can't wait to see what's underneath.
05:28I could do nothing.
05:29Just clench my fists and curl up in the water.
05:32Suddenly, the snake's head broke the surface right beside me.
05:35I couldn't help screaming, and the men only got more seconds.
05:38My voice came out hoarse.
05:39Carter, I'm begging you one last time.
05:41Make them leave.
05:43Bring me a robe.
05:44Because he knew.
05:45He knew the thing I feared most in this life was snakes.
05:48The fight for power in my family was brutal.
05:51When I was a child, my stepmother, afraid I'd win,
05:53locked me in a room full of snakes and left me to die.
05:56There were bones in that room and the stench of rot.
05:59I'll never forget it as long as I live.
06:01I told Carter that secret, and he handed my weakness straight to Vanessa.
06:04He ignored me and only pulled Vanessa tighter into his arms.
06:08What are you still angry about?
06:09You got to be Carter's mistress.
06:11That's already far more than you deserve.
06:13So what if you have to show us your body?
06:15Right?
06:16What's the harm in a look?
06:17When Carter gets bored of you, come find me.
06:19Take good care of me with those amazing skills of yours,
06:22and I'll keep you in luxury.
06:24Aria, if you can handle Carter,
06:26I bet you're pretty good in bed.
06:27I want a taste too.
06:29Right then, I was like an object for anyone to pick over.
06:32Powerless, burning with rage.
06:34Carter, Vanessa, remember exactly what you did today.
06:40I'll pay it back double.
06:42I'll grind the families you're so proud of into dust.
06:46The whole room roared with laughter.
06:48What could a poor girl like you possibly do to bankrupt our family?
06:51Knowing I couldn't move, Vanessa rushed over and slapped me.
06:55She dragged her nails across my cheek on purpose,
06:57slitting the skin.
06:58My face burned.
07:00Bitch, I hate this face of yours most.
07:02Made to lure men in.
07:03And there's one more thing I want to tell you.
07:05After the bet's over, I'm going to lock you in here alone.
07:09Just you and the snake.
07:10Just like when you were a child.
07:12And once you've played with the snake enough,
07:13the boys can enjoy you.
07:15I just worry that when this is all over,
07:17you're the one who dies badly.
07:19Furious, Vanessa slapped my other cheek.
07:26And right then, more of the foam dissolved.
07:28The snake glided toward me.
07:30She smiled, lied, and the men behind her got louder.
07:33Ugh, my money!
07:34If I'd known Carter loved Vanessa this much,
07:36I never would have taken that stupid bet.
07:38Aria, you're useless, costing me my money.
07:41I'm going to be the first to have a taste of you.
07:44I'm not even bored of her yet,
07:45and you dare talk like that?
07:47Then I'll go beg Vanessa.
07:48You love her most, you can't say no to her.
07:50Right, dear Vanessa?
07:51Carter, just give Aria to them.
07:53The wedding with Aria may have been fake,
07:55but I'm still upset.
07:56Hand her over to them, and I'll be happy.
07:58Fine, whatever you want, as long as you're happy.
08:00I watched them lord over my fate like they had the right.
08:03Carter gave me one last pitying look.
08:05Aria, don't hate me.
08:07Hate where you came from.
08:09Vanessa left and came back carrying another snake.
08:11One snake isn't enough.
08:13Add another, and she'll definitely jump up out of the tub.
08:17Then you'll all get to see her body.
08:19Ten million.
08:20Worth it, isn't it?
08:21I glared at every single one of them.
08:24You'll pay for all of this.
08:26Huh.
08:26If your family were powerful, sure, we'd be scared.
08:28But you're just a poor girl.
08:29Right, what can you do?
08:30Angry throw one punch at me?
08:31In our world, the best someone like you can hope for
08:32is to be a secret mistress.
08:33You'll never get to show off in public.
08:35Whether I'm worth showing off
08:36isn't for trash like you to decide.
08:37I'm warning you.
08:38Get out of this bathroom now,
08:40or you're all dead.
08:41Aria, this is Carter's world.
08:43You still dare to threaten us?
08:44I turned and glared at Carter.
08:46He blew out a stream of smoke,
08:48his eyes full of mockery.
08:49Vanessa clapped and laughed.
08:52She really is a hick.
08:53She has no idea how our world works.
08:56I curled my lip into a cold smile.
08:58So people like you, the so-called elite,
09:00get to decide who lives and dies?
09:02Trample anyone's dignity you please.
09:05It's that simple?
09:07Obviously.
09:08Money and power mean you can do whatever you want.
09:11Enough talk.
09:12Aria, you'd better catch this snake.
09:15Vanessa suddenly flung her arm
09:16and threw the snake in her hand at my face.
09:18I watched the snake come closer and closer,
09:20every muscle in my body tightening,
09:22my body almost bolting out on the snake.
09:25With my life on the line,
09:26being seen really didn't matter anymore.
09:28Then, suddenly, the door flew open.
09:30Roman walked through it by the storm itself,
09:33and the snake never touched me.
09:34His hand shot out and caught it clean from the air,
09:37an inch from my face.
09:38The whole room went dead silent.
09:39He didn't even glance at the thing.
09:41He tossed it aside.
09:42He wrapped his coat tightly around me,
09:44his eyes already on me,
09:46soft for half a second,
09:47then gone,
09:48replaced by something that made every man in the room
09:50forget how to breathe.
09:51Behind him, a wall of men in black
09:53poured in and sealed every door.
09:56Sorry I'm late.
09:57He said, low, just for me.
09:58Then he turned,
09:59and his voice dropped colder
10:00than the water I was sitting in.
10:02Now, somebody tell me
10:04why my Aria is in a bathtub with a snake.
10:06The room fell into Dead's Island.
10:08Roman's very presence was suffocating.
10:10Carter's face went pale instantly.
10:12Who the hell are you?
10:14How did you get into my private residence?
10:16Roman said coldly,
10:17Aria called me,
10:18and I think we need to have a conversation about respect.
10:21Then his gaze landed on me again,
10:23carrying a trace of disappointment.
10:24This is the man you chose, Aria?
10:26I ignored Roman.
10:27Wrapping the coat he had given me
10:28tighter around myself,
10:29I sat down in a chair.
10:33Well then,
10:34your game starts now.
10:35At last,
10:36Carter realized something was wrong.
10:37What game?
10:38These people,
10:39don't tell me they're actors you hired?
10:41He roared and charged forward to fight,
10:43but Roman didn't even do their dodging.
10:45He turned his side effortlessly
10:46and kicked Carter hard enough
10:48to send him flying across the room.
10:49Carter crashed at Vanessa's feet.
10:51The other men fell silent,
10:52barely daring to breathe.
10:54Aria,
10:55who,
10:56who are you exactly?
10:57By then,
10:57Roman and his men
10:58already had guns aimed at Carter
11:00and the other.
11:01She's someone pathetic idiots
11:02like you could never touch.
11:04Carter's eyes widened.
11:05He looked at me
11:05as though he were seeing me
11:06for the first time.
11:08You think you can scare us?
11:09Vanessa sneered.
11:10You're just this bitch's friend.
11:11This is our estate,
11:12our territory.
11:13Roman let out a mocking laugh
11:15and slowly applauded.
11:16His eyes filled with ridicule
11:17as he looked at Vanessa.
11:18You're incredibly confident,
11:19but you're also a fool
11:21who has no idea
11:22what real power looks like.
11:23I stood up,
11:24still wearing the oversized coat
11:25I grabbed in a hurry,
11:26but my voice carried
11:27unmistakable authority.
11:29I never liked explaining things.
11:31I preferred proving them
11:31through action.
11:32At my command,
11:33the men began
11:34hauling in large wooden crates.
11:36The boxes seemed
11:36to move on their own,
11:38hissing sounds
11:38coming from inside.
11:41Miss Aria.
11:42Vanessa's eyes widened
11:44as she stared at the crate.
11:45Aria,
11:45what are you doing?
11:46What's inside those?
11:47Show them.
11:48One of the lids rattled lightly
11:50and I smiled.
11:51Snakes.
11:51Venomous snakes.
11:53Didn't I already tell you?
11:54I was going to throw
11:55all of you into a snake pit.
11:56You think you're like
11:57my stepmother?
11:57She locked me in a room
11:58full of venomous snakes,
11:59but she could never play
12:00with me the way
12:01I'm about to play with you.
12:02Aria,
12:03how dare you?
12:04You sent snakes
12:04to torment me in the bath,
12:06so I'm sending snakes
12:07to feed on you.
12:08What's wrong with that?
12:09I straightened up
12:10and the guard
12:11instantly understood.
12:12Move every crate
12:13into the house.
12:14Seal all the doors
12:15and windows.
12:16Don't leave
12:16a single crack open.
12:18Yes, ma'am.
12:18Vanessa and the others
12:19backed away
12:20like cornered animals.
12:21Aria,
12:22if you feed us to snakes,
12:23the Whitmorn family
12:24will never forgive you.
12:26You think the Whitmolls
12:27won't forgive her?
12:28Once your fathers learn
12:29who she really is,
12:30they'll be the ones
12:31kneeling before her.
12:32The guards opened the crate.
12:33The screams that followed
12:34echoed throughout
12:35the entire estate.
12:36I let out a cold laugh
12:37and turned away.
12:40Let them enjoy themselves.
12:42I ordered.
12:42Then I walked out of the room
12:43with Roman beside me.
12:44Carter and Vanessa
12:45fled in panic,
12:46but the snakes
12:47lithered after them
12:48relentlessly.
12:49Damn it!
12:49Vanessa got us killed!
12:51Yeah!
12:52The others had nowhere
12:54to run either.
12:55As I climbed into
12:56the black sedan,
12:57I could still hear
12:58Vanessa screaming.
13:00Nice.
13:00I muttered as I settled
13:01into the passenger seat.
13:03Roman took the wheel
13:04and sped away.
13:05We drove to a secluded place
13:06surrounded by mountains
13:07and water.
13:08I got out
13:09and entered the villa.
13:10When I came back out
13:11after changing into
13:12clean clothes,
13:12I heard Roman on the phone.
13:14On the other end,
13:14I could hear Carter and Vanessa
13:16begging miserably for mercy.
13:18Don't let them die
13:19too easily.
13:19Roman instructed.
13:20I felt nothing.
13:21The moment Carter abandoned me,
13:23I had severed
13:24every connection between us.
13:26Roman asked,
13:27handing me a glass
13:27of expensive red wine.
13:29Feeling better now?
13:31These scratches are nothing.
13:32I grew up in a world
13:33filled with betrayal
13:34and violence.
13:35I've survived worse.
13:36I handed him a glass.
13:37As he took it,
13:38he suddenly grabbed my wrist
13:39and pulled me closer.
13:40Can you give me
13:40another chance this time?
13:41I stared at him
13:42for a long moment.
13:44You like me?
13:44Yes.
13:46I've liked you
13:46for a very long time,
13:48but back then
13:49you loved Carter.
13:50So now,
13:51Aria Marchetti,
13:52would you be my girlfriend?
13:53I smiled at him.
13:55Okay.
13:56Let's give it a try.
13:57He lowered his head
13:58and kissed me
13:58without hesitation.
14:01Three minutes later,
14:02I pushed him away.
14:03To my surprise,
14:04Roman laughed.
14:06I don't see you
14:07blush very often.
14:08I smiled back.
14:08I don't see you
14:09act this gentle
14:10very often.
14:11He was the dark king
14:12of the underworld
14:12and I wasn't much different.
14:14We should have been enemies,
14:15yet fate kept
14:16bringing us together.
14:17Roman, second in command,
14:18sat out on the balcony,
14:19letting the wind
14:20blow through his hair.
14:21You two really started
14:22making out like
14:23nobody else was here?
14:24Roman and I
14:24burst into laughter
14:25at the same time.
14:27In the ICU,
14:28Carter and Vanessa
14:28were undergoing
14:29emergency treatment.
14:31Carter was pushed out first.
14:32His fate was deathly pale.
14:33While trying to escape
14:34the snake,
14:35he had fallen badly
14:36and shattered his leg.
14:37One of his legs
14:38was now in a cast
14:39and even the slightest movement
14:40threatened to tear open
14:42the wound again.
14:43How's Vanessa?
14:44He asked,
14:45every breath
14:45sending pain
14:46through his body.
14:47Sir, her condition
14:47is critical.
14:48She needed 16 stitches.
14:50Damn it!
14:51Find Ari!
14:52I'll make her pay twice over!
14:52Sir, please calm down,
14:54JIT orthopedic surgeon.
14:54How the hell
14:55am I supposed to calm down?
14:56She ruined both of us!
14:57I'd find her!
14:57The Whitmore family
14:58arrived a few hours later.
14:59They looked at Carter
15:00and Vanessa
15:01with a mixture of fear
15:02and anger.
15:05What exactly did you do?
15:06His father demanded
15:08she was involved
15:09with another man.
15:10Carter muttered.
15:11That man was
15:11Roman Castellano?
15:13The one from Chicago?
15:15Not just from Chicago.
15:17A strange voice interrupted.
15:19The door opened
15:20and Vincenzo Marchetti
15:21walked in
15:21wearing an expensive suit.
15:23Aria belongs to my family.
15:25The room fell silent.
15:26My daughter.
15:27You used her.
15:28You betrayed her.
15:29And you allowed
15:30these animals
15:30to humiliate her
15:31in the most disgusting
15:32way possible.
15:33You're the head
15:34of the Marchetti family?
15:35That's right.
15:36And now,
15:37Mr. Whitmore,
15:38you're finally experiencing
15:39the consequences
15:39of disrespecting my daughter.
15:41He turned to leave
15:42then stopped at the doorway.
15:43Your company
15:43will begin liquidation tomorrow.
15:45Everything.
15:47Every asset.
15:48Every share.
15:49All of it liquidated.
15:51Consider it compensation
15:51for the way
15:52you treated my child.
15:57The next morning,
15:58the financial market
16:00descended into chaos.
16:01Whitmore Industries'
16:02stock collapsed.
16:03Investors pulled out in vain.
16:04Banks began demanding
16:05immediate repayment of loans.
16:07The Whitmores were pushed
16:08to the brink of bankruptcy.
16:09After that,
16:10Vanessa remained
16:11in psychiatric treatment
16:12for a long time.
16:13She had nearly lost
16:14the ability to care for herself,
16:16though she fully understood
16:17the crimes she had committed.
16:19To protect themselves,
16:20the Whitmore family
16:21cut ties with her completely
16:22and abandoned her.
16:23Carter managed to find me
16:25at a restaurant one day
16:26while I was having dinner
16:27with family and friends.
16:28He was frighteningly thin
16:29and almost unrecognizable.
16:31The perfect appearance
16:32he once took pride in
16:33was gone.
16:34He dropped to his knees
16:35in front of everyone,
16:36no longer caring about dignity.
16:38Aria, please.
16:38I made a mistake.
16:40I was stupid.
16:41I was arrogant.
16:42It was all my fault.
16:42Every eye in the restaurant
16:43turned toward us.
16:44Please give me another chance.
16:46I slowly set down my napkin
16:48and rose to my feet.
16:49No, you don't get
16:50a second chance.
16:51You knew exactly
16:51what you were doing
16:52and you did it anyway.
16:54You never deserved me, Carter.
16:56You never did.
16:58I just didn't want to admit it.
17:00Then I turned
17:00and walked away.
17:04Aria, please!
17:06He shouted after me.
17:07I never looked back.
17:08Roman stepped in front of Carter,
17:10towering over him.
17:12What exactly are you trying
17:14to do to my girlfriend?
17:16Carter trembled
17:17and stumbled back two-step,
17:18not daring to move again.
17:21After that,
17:22my relationship with Roman
17:23deepened quickly.
17:25The first time we slept together
17:26was in his bedroom.
17:27It wasn't wild
17:28or frantic.
17:29It was slow, tender.
17:32Baby, I've waited
17:33a long time for this.
17:34He whispered against my lips.
17:36How long?
17:37I asked.
17:38When you were little
17:39and told me you wanted
17:40to rule the world,
17:41that was the moment
17:42I decided that if
17:43anyone stood beside
17:44the queen someday,
17:45it would be me.
17:46Over the following weeks,
17:48everything changed.
17:49Roman had me move
17:50into his penthouse.
17:51We took long walks
17:52through the city
17:52late at night.
17:53When I worked on expanding
17:54the family business
17:55into new industries,
17:56we sat together
17:57in his study.
17:58Together,
17:58we built something
17:59that belonged entirely to us.
18:01Aria, what do you want?
18:02He asked me one evening.
18:04Not revenge?
18:04Not power?
18:05What do you actually want?
18:07I thought about it carefully.
18:08About everything
18:09I had fought for.
18:10Everything I had lost.
18:11Everything I had destroyed.
18:12I want peace.
18:13I want to enjoy life.
18:16Then we'll build it together.
18:18My father wanted
18:19to meet Roman.
18:20That meant something serious.
18:21In my family,
18:22meetings with the head
18:23of the household
18:24were never casual matters.
18:25We sat across from him
18:26in his private office,
18:28leather chairs facing
18:29the massive mahogany desk
18:30that had belonged
18:31to the Marchetti family
18:32for three generations.
18:34My father's sharp gaze
18:35moved between Roman and me,
18:37like a man who had spent
18:38his entire life
18:39studying human nature.
18:40So, he finally said,
18:42You're here to ask
18:42for her hand, Castellano.
18:45Roman answered
18:45without hesitation,
18:47Yes, sir.
18:47And why should I
18:48entrust her to you?
18:49You're the head
18:50of a Chicago crime syndicate.
18:52You're ruthless,
18:54dangerous,
18:54because I never will.
18:56Roman said simply,
18:58Because I fell in love
18:59with her when she
19:00was a little girl,
19:01and I realized
19:02there was someone
19:02in this world
19:03worth more than power,
19:04money, or anything else.
19:06My father stared at him
19:07for a long time.
19:08Then he looked at me,
19:09Is this what you want, Aria?
19:11I met Roman's eyes
19:12and saw the person
19:13I had known my entire life.
19:14The boy who held my hand
19:16when I was afraid.
19:17The young man who protected me
19:18as I grew into something powerful.
19:20The dangerous man
19:21who had just destroyed a family
19:22to defend my honor.
19:25Yes, I said.
19:26My father smiled.
19:27Then you have my blessing.
19:29Roman and I were married
19:30in a small church in Chicago
19:31with only family
19:32and our closest friends present.
19:34Roman stood at the altar
19:35in a perfectly tailored black suit.
19:37The moment he saw me
19:38in my white gown,
19:40his gaze softened
19:41in a way it never did
19:42for anyone else.
19:43We looked into each other's eyes
19:44and exchanged vows
19:46that went beyond word.
19:48I promise to protect you,
19:49Roman said firmly.
19:50Not because you need protection,
19:51but because protecting you
19:53is my choice.
19:55I promise to stand beside you,
19:57never above you,
19:59and I promise you'll never doubt
20:01my love again.
20:02When he kissed me,
20:03it was gentle
20:04and full of love,
20:05carrying years
20:06of waiting within.
20:07Life with Roman
20:08was nothing like life with Carter.
20:10Carter had been cold
20:11and distant,
20:12while Roman was thoughtful
20:13and fully present
20:14in every part of my life.
20:16Carter hid me away,
20:17but Roman introduced me
20:18to his world openly,
20:20treating me like his queen
20:21instead of a mistress.
20:22My status in the mafia world
20:24rose almost overnight.
20:26Respected families
20:27began seeking alliances
20:28with both the Marchetti
20:29and Castellano families,
20:31business opportunities
20:32that had once been out of reach
20:33suddenly opened their doors to me.
20:36But more importantly,
20:37I was happy.
20:38We turned an entire floor
20:40of his penthouse
20:41into my office.
20:42I was building something new,
20:44expanding our family businesses
20:45into entirely different industries.
20:48Roman supported
20:49every decision I made.
20:50He always stood beside me
20:52and never tried to control me
20:54or place himself above me.
20:56One night while we were
20:57working together,
20:57he said,
20:58You know,
20:59I used to wonder
20:59what you ever saw
21:00on someone like Carter.
21:01I looked up from my laptop.
21:03I said quietly,
21:04I was blind and lonely.
21:07I thought he could fill
21:07the space you left behind.
21:09I stopped myself,
21:10but Roman reached across the desk
21:11and took my hand.
21:13Where did I go?
21:15He asked softly.
21:17You were supposed to be there.
21:19I continued.
21:20If I'd had the courage
21:21to see what was right
21:22in front of me.
21:23Roman came around the desk
21:24and pulled me into his arms.
21:25You have courage now,
21:27and now you can see clearly.
21:28That's what matters.
21:29Two years after our wedding,
21:31I became pregnant.
21:32The day he found out,
21:34Roman held me and cried.
21:35I had never seen him
21:36like that before.
21:37Our baby?
21:38He asked hoarsely,
21:39as though he couldn't believe it.
21:40I nodded with a smile.
21:42He looked down
21:42at my still flat stomach,
21:44his eyes lowly turning red.
21:45Boy or girl,
21:46I don't care.
21:47He said,
21:48As long as the baby
21:49takes after you a little.
21:50I teased him on purpose.
21:51What if the baby
21:52takes after you instead?
21:53He said with a low laugh,
21:54Well, nothing we can do
21:55about that.
21:56Pulling me closer.
21:56At least no one
21:57will dare bully the kid.
21:58Our child,
21:59our kingdom,
22:00our life together.
22:01After that,
22:02Roman practically
22:03became a different person.
22:04He strictly forbade me
22:05from lifting anything heavy.
22:07He even wanted to carry
22:08glasses of water for me.
22:09Every morning,
22:10the smell of butter and coffee
22:11drifted from the kitchen
22:12the moment I opened my eyes.
22:14The man who could sit
22:15through an entire family meeting
22:16without changing expression
22:18now stood awkwardly
22:19in the kitchen
22:20in his dress shirt
22:20studying pregnancy recipes.
22:22One time,
22:23he nearly poured sugar
22:24into the soup
22:25instead of salt.
22:25I laughed so hard
22:26I couldn't stop.
22:27With a dark aggression,
22:28he carried the pot away
22:29and forbade me
22:30from ever mentioning it again.
22:32But the next morning,
22:33he still woke up early
22:34to try another recipe.
22:35At night,
22:36he carried me out
22:37to the lounge chair
22:38on the terrace
22:39and tucked a blanket
22:39around me.
22:40When the wind swept
22:41through the garden,
22:42he would rest his hand
22:43gently against my stomach
22:44and speak softly
22:45to the baby.
22:46Listen carefully,
22:46little one.
22:47He said with complete seriousness,
22:48Don't give your mother
22:49a hard time.
22:50I laughed at his arm.
22:51The next second,
22:52he lowered his head
22:53and carefully kissed my stomach.
22:55As the weather
22:55gradually turned colder,
22:57he began canceling
22:58unnecessary social events
22:59so he could come home
23:00for dinner with me
23:01every night.
23:02Sometimes,
23:02we did absolutely nothing
23:04except curl up on the couch
23:05and watch movies together.
23:06When I fell asleep against him,
23:08he would gently brush
23:09my hair behind my ear
23:10and lower the volume
23:11on the television.
23:12One night,
23:13in the middle of a rainstorm,
23:14I suddenly craved
23:15strawberry cake.
23:15Roman didn't complain one.
23:17He threw on a coat
23:18and went out immediately.
23:19An hour later,
23:20he came back
23:20carrying a cake box,
23:21cold rain clinging to him
23:22while water dripped
23:23from his hair.
23:24I felt bad
23:25and reached up
23:25to dry his hair,
23:26but he lowered his head
23:27and kissed my fingers
23:28with a soft smile.
23:29Don't look at me like that.
23:31Whatever you want
23:32right now,
23:33I'll find a way
23:33to give it to you.
23:35Later,
23:35I heard that Carter
23:36and Vanessa
23:37were living miserable lives.
23:38Carter vanished
23:39from public view
23:40and survived
23:41on what remained
23:41of the Whitmore family
23:42inheritance.
23:43Vanessa's mental state
23:44improved somewhat,
23:45but she never returned
23:46to the person
23:47she used to be.
23:48At formal gathering,
23:49people no longer
23:49even mentioned
23:50their name.
23:51Meanwhile,
23:52Roman and I
23:52finally had a life
23:54that truly belonged
23:55to us.
23:55We had Lucia
23:56for two years later,
23:58our son Marco
23:58was born.
23:59Lucia was like
24:00a little princess.
24:01Even as a child,
24:02she knew exactly
24:02how to soften
24:03Roman's heart.
24:04Every time,
24:05she wrapped herself
24:05around his leg
24:06and called out,
24:07Daddy,
24:07the cold,
24:08dangerous man
24:09everyone feared
24:10would immediately
24:10pick her up.
24:11Marco,
24:12on the other hand,
24:13was far more mischievous.
24:14One time,
24:15he snuck into Roman's office
24:16and scribbled all over
24:18important documents
24:18with crayon.
24:19Everyone thought Roman
24:20would lose his temper.
24:21Instead,
24:22he stayed silent
24:23for a few seconds
24:23and carefully put
24:25the document away.
24:25This is my son's
24:26first signature.
24:27He said.
24:27The entire conference room
24:29fell silent
24:29and as for me,
24:30I was no longer
24:31simply a woman
24:32standing beside
24:33a powerful man.
24:34In the mafia world,
24:35I had my own status,
24:37my own name.
24:37Many people were even
24:38more afraid of offending me
24:40than they were
24:41of offending Roman
24:41because they understood
24:42something very clearly.
24:44I wasn't merely
24:45Roman's wife.
24:45I was power itself.
24:46And yet,
24:47every night,
24:48after work was done,
24:49Roman still came
24:50looking for me.
24:50Sometimes in the study,
24:51sometimes out on the terrace,
24:53he would wrap his arms
24:54around me from behind
24:55and rest his chin
24:56lightly on my shoulder.
24:58He always said.
24:58For what?
25:00Thank you for surviving
25:01that night.
25:04Thank you for calling me.
25:06Thank you for giving me
25:07the chance to love you properly.
25:09Even after all those years,
25:10he still said those things.
25:12And I would turn around
25:12and kiss the man
25:13who had spent his entire life
25:14waiting for me.
25:15Beyond the windows,
25:16the city lights never went dark
25:18and my family was right there
25:19in my arms.
25:20By the time I turned 30,
25:22I had become one of the most
25:23powerful women in organized crime.
25:25Not because I married
25:26a powerful man,
25:27but because I possessed
25:29power of my own.
25:30The Marchetti-Castellano Alliance
25:32controlled business territory
25:34stretching from the East Coast
25:35to the Midwest.
25:36We held billions
25:37in legitimate business interest.
25:38Everything we built
25:39rested on respect and loyalty
25:41rather than fear.
25:42Our employees stayed
25:43because they were treated well
25:44and paid generously.
25:46Our allies remained loyal
25:47because we kept our promises
25:48and rewarded loyalty generously.
25:51Our enemies only needed
25:52to make one mistake
25:53before realizing
25:54how foolish it was
25:55to go against us.
25:56Roman watched me work
25:57with an admiration
25:58that never seemed to fade.
25:59I married a queen.
26:00You married a woman
26:01who could have been destroyed
26:02by betrayal
26:03but chose to rise above it.
26:05Exactly.
26:06A queen.
26:06Fifteen years later,
26:08Roman and I stood
26:09on the deck of a yacht
26:10anchored off the coast of Monaco.
26:11The sea breeze drifted around us
26:13while downstairs,
26:14Lucia, Marco,
26:15Sofia,
26:16and little Antonio
26:17were already asleep.
26:18Lights shimmered
26:19across the distant water,
26:20quiet as a dream.
26:22Roman wrapped his arms
26:23around me from behind,
26:24resting his chin
26:25lightly on my shoulder.
26:26What are you thinking about?
26:28He asked softly.
26:29Us.
26:30I said with a smile.
26:31From those broken,
26:32painful beginnings
26:33to the family we had now,
26:35the night that once
26:36felt impossible to survive
26:37had become distant memories.
26:39Roman took my hand
26:40and slowly laced his fingers
26:41through mine.
26:42Any regrets?
26:43I turned to look at him.
26:44After all these years,
26:45he still looked at me
26:46exactly the same way
26:47he always had.
26:48Focus, tender,
26:49as though I were still
26:50his entire world.
26:51Never.
26:52I answered quietly.
26:53He lowered his head
26:54and kissed me.
26:55The sea wind tangled my hair
26:56while waves crashed softly
26:58against the yacht.
26:59And downstairs,
27:00our children slept peacefully.
27:02They would grow up
27:02surrounded by love,
27:03never forced to repeat
27:04the lives we had lived.
27:06Roman pulled me
27:06into his arm.
27:07Every year from now on,
27:08I'll be right beside you.
27:10I rested against his chest
27:11and laughed softly.
27:13The night stretched on
27:13endlessly,
27:14and at last,
27:15our story had found
27:16its gentlest ending.
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