Chapter 15
Carmen stood in the quiet garden of Vincent Rossi’s countryside estate, her hands tucked deep into the folds of her coat as the morning chill brushed against her cheeks. The sky above was gray, promising rain, and the weight of unfinished business lingered in the air. Her thoughts swirled like the leaves caught in the breeze—memories of Marco, of their broken promises, and of the growing storm she could no longer ignore.
The sound of gravel crunching beneath footsteps pulled her from her thoughts. Carmen turned, her shoulders tensing as Sofia De Luca stepped into view. The woman moved with quiet elegance, her sleek black coat hugging her slender frame.
“You shouldn’t be here,” Carmen said carefully, her tone guarded.
“I know.” Sofia’s voice was calm, but her expression betrayed urgency as she stepped closer. “I had to speak to you. Alone.”
Carmen tilted her head, studying the woman in front of her. Sofia was no friend of hers—she was Arianna’s ally and a De Luca strategist. This was dangerous, and Sofia knew it.
“And what do we have to talk about?” Carmen asked, her voice steady.
Sofia stopped a few feet away, her gaze sharp but imploring. “Arianna,” she said simply. “She’s taken control of everything, Carmen. She’s using Marco like a puppet, and he doesn’t even see it.”
Carmen’s stomach tightened, but she kept her face neutral. “Why are you telling me this?”
“Because someone has to.” Sofia glanced briefly over her shoulder, as though making sure they were alone. “Arianna is pushing Marco toward a war he won’t survive. She’s manipulating him, convincing him the De Lucas are the only threat. Meanwhile, she’s using her influence to dismantle the Venetti family from the inside.”
Carmen swallowed hard, her mind racing. “Why would you betray her? You’re loyal to the De Luca name.”
Sofia let out a quiet sigh, her expression softening. “Because Arianna doesn’t care about loyalty. She doesn’t care about the De Luca family. This is about her and her alone. She’s turning Marco’s empire into her own playground, and when it collapses, she’ll walk away without a second thought.”
Carmen looked away, her fingers tightening around the edge of her coat. “Why come to me? Marco doesn’t listen to me anymore.”
“Because he will if you return,” Sofia said, her voice urgent. “You’re the only one who can stop this. Marco’s blind to Arianna, but he isn’t blind to you—not completely. If you wait too long, there won’t be anything left of the Venetti family for him to save.”
Carmen’s chest ached at Sofia’s words. Images of Marco flashed in her mind—Marco at the fountain, drenched and laughing; Marco’s hand on her waist during their first dance; Marco’s face twisted with hurt the last time they spoke. The thought of him falling apart under Arianna’s control made her sick.
“I can’t just walk back into that house,” Carmen said, her voice softer now. “Marco doesn’t trust me. He’ll think I’m trying to manipulate him, just like Arianna.”
Sofia stepped closer, her tone firm but not unkind. “Then make him believe you. Bring him the truth, Carmen, before Arianna buries it so deep he can’t see it.”
The two women stood in silence for a moment, the weight of Sofia’s words pressing down on Carmen like a stone. Finally, Sofia reached into her coat pocket and pulled out a small envelope, handing it to her.
“What is this?” Carmen asked warily.
“A start,” Sofia replied. “Proof of Arianna’s dealings with the De Luca family. Offshore accounts, payments, the whole thing. Use it, or don’t—but if you don’t act soon, there won’t be a Venetti empire left to fight for.”
Carmen took the envelope reluctantly, watching as Sofia turned and disappeared into the misty garden without another word. She stood there for a long moment, the weight of the envelope heavy in her hand, before tucking it into her coat.
________________
Marco sat alone in his office, his eyes fixed on the thick dossier in front of him. The anonymous package had arrived earlier that day, delivered by one of his men with no explanation. Now, as he flipped through its contents, his heart pounded against his ribs.
The papers inside were damning—offshore accounts, secret wire transfers, all tying Arianna to the De Luca family. At first glance, it was impossible to deny.
And yet, Marco’s mind refused to accept it.
Arianna had been at his side through everything. She’d stepped in when Carmen left, when his advisors had begun to question him. She’d guided him through chaos, had spoken words he’d been desperate to hear, and for weeks, he’d let himself believe in her.
And now this?
The door creaked open, and Arianna walked in without knocking, her heels tapping softly on the hardwood floor. Marco didn’t look up as she approached, instead letting the papers fall onto the desk in front of him.
“Explain this,” he said, his voice low.
Arianna frowned as she looked at the papers, her brow creasing in confusion. “What is this?”
“You tell me,” Marco replied, his tone sharper now. “Accounts. Transfers. Money tying you to the De Lucas. Someone sent this to me, and I want answers.”
Arianna’s eyes widened, and then—almost too quickly—her expression smoothed into practiced calm. She picked up one of the pages, turning it over as if inspecting it closely. “You can’t be serious.”
“Do I look like I’m joking?” Marco bit out, his fists clenching against the desk.
Arianna set the paper down carefully, her gaze meeting his. “This isn’t real, Marco. It’s a setup.”
“Convenient excuse,” he shot back.
Arianna sighed and shook her head. “Don’t you see? This is Carmen. She’s working with Vincent Rossi to undermine you. This is exactly what they want—to make you doubt me, to make you weak.”
Marco’s jaw tightened. “Carmen wouldn’t—”
“Wouldn’t she?” Arianna interrupted, her voice silk-wrapped steel. “She ran straight to Vincent. She’s been hiding with him for weeks. You think she hasn’t been plotting while you’ve been here, trying to clean up the mess she left?”
Marco’s silence gave her an opening, and Arianna took it. She walked around the desk, placing a hand on his shoulder as she leaned close. “You’re smarter than this, Marco. You know what they’re trying to do. This is how they win—by turning us against each other.”
Her voice was soothing, almost gentle, but Marco didn’t relax. He stared at the papers again, doubt twisting in his chest.
“If this is fake, why is it so detailed?”
“Because it was made to fool you,” Arianna said softly. “And it’s working.”
