CHAPTER TWO
Hours went by as I sat there suspended in detached existence, eating without tasting, watching without seeing. Memories of Rocco, our summer, and his relentless pursuit of me even on our honeymoon brought on such fierce longing that my heart ached in my chest.
Oh, how I tried hard to shield myself, but his tenderness found a way in.
His kind eyes and gentle smile were always there, offering comfort and understanding.
He was also my passionate protector, introducing me to pleasures I never dared imagine.
That was Rocco. He cradled my fragile heart, nurturing it with warmth and hope.
Truly, his love was a force that changed my world, and if something happened to him… No. He’s fine. He has to be.
After what felt like an eternity, the doctor finally appeared in his scrubs. Olivia and I both rose from our seats, and Paul returned to the room for the news. “How’s Rocco?”
He spoke in English. “He’s stable. We performed a CT scan, MRI, and concussion assessment. We also X-rayed his dislocated shoulder to check for fractures or tears; nothing is broken. We treated minor cuts. Rocco’s bruised and in pain, but given the accident, he is fortunate.”
“Oh, thank God,” Olivia cried out.
I swiped under my eyes. “Can we take him home?”
“Not today. Because he lost consciousness, I’m admitting him for more observation and tests.”
“Can I see him now, please?” I asked.
“You can, but only for a few minutes. He needs rest.”
A few minutes later, I followed the doctor down the corridors to Rocco’s hospital room.
His charismatic nature had always made me think of him as invincible, but now he lay there with visible bruising on his face and his left arm resting gently in a sling.
My eyes watered as I covered my mouth, afraid to disturb him, until he surprised me by opening his eyes.
Instantly, I connected with his worry. He reached to remove the oxygen mask, and I covered his hand to stop him.
“No, leave it. You rest, please. I just wanted to let you know I’m here.” My voice cracked.
He tugged the mask away, and said. “I’m fine…please…don’t worry.”
“Rocco…” My voice caught in my throat.
His right hand moved to cover mine, and his warmth charged our connection, something I was grateful to have, and sorely missed.
I leaned over and kissed his forehead, just as the door opened again. The time was too short. I gave him another quick kiss, then slowly left the room as Olivia came inside.
After leaving Rocco’s room, I paused outside to collect my thoughts.
It was difficult seeing him hurt and being unable to comfort him.
Questions ran through my mind: why was he snowmobiling during a snowstorm?
And what happened with his meeting with George about investing in the studio?
Oh, Rocco. I’m relieved you’re okay, but I hate you took such a risk.
“Adelina,” Paul called to me, his expression grim.
My pulse sped up. “Did something else happen?”
“Yes, but I’d like to tell you and Olivia together. There was an incident online.”
Olivia came out of Rocco’s room, her eyes puffy. She walked over to us. “Are you going home, Adelina?”
I shook my head. “I want to stay here, but Paul wants to tell us about something that happened online.”
Her gaze shifted between us. “What is it now?”
Paul let out a heavy sigh, his gaze on me. “There’s a video of you on the street with your father that has gone viral.”
My jaw tightened as I held my bag, replaying that scene with Judge Colby in my mind.
I’d only just left the bookstore near our place in Tribeca when he ambushed me outside on the street.
I remembered there was a woman at the table, her phone pointed at us.
We walked to the end of the block to avoid her, but if the video went viral, she must have recorded something. “Do you have a copy I can watch?”
“Do you think that’s necessary, Adelina?” Olivia interrupted. “It’ll only upset you, dear. We need to get ahead of the narrative. I want to prepare a statement—”
“I need to see it,” I insisted, my voice edged with irritation. I was done letting others decide everything for me. It’s my choice.
Paul took out his iPhone. “I’ll show you both what Isla sent over.”
My brows rose. “Isla? She didn’t call me.”
“She’s on a plane headed here and asked me to share it,” he explained, pressing play.
Everything else faded as I watched the screen.
There I was, standing on the street, my lips twisted in a scowl, but my eyes were wide with surprise.
Tears streamed down my face. I cried in front of him?
Self-loathing washed over me, but I couldn’t look away.
The video showed everything I thought I’d hidden: my pain, my anger, my fear.
“Stay back,” I shrieked and stumbled.
What happened next made me want to shatter everything in reach. Judge Colby’s face filled the frame, a smug, defiant smirk twisting his lips, his eyes alight with cruel amusement. He basked in my fear and brushed off my disgust.
“See? I have nothing. I only want to talk to you for a few minutes.” He set down his briefcase and lifted his hands, palms out in mock innocence.
Bile burned in my throat as I forced down my revulsion at him, at myself. Why had I let him speak to me?
I couldn’t put my finger on what felt weird, but something about the video felt off. Did it really happen like that? Why does it feel out of sequence with my memory? Had someone else been filming us? I hadn’t been nearly careful enough. Who had captured his face so…perfectly?
“Oh, my God. That’s awful.” Olivia’s voice rose.
“I should’ve known better,” I murmured, hunching my shoulders.
“It’s not your fault, Adelina,” Paul said. “But the press is outside. Zane’s working with the police to clear the area, and we won’t leave until he returns. I’m sorry, Adelina. That means it’s best for you not to stay here.”
“Rocco would want you to rest,” Oliva said, and cleared her throat. “We can both return in the morning… We’ll need more security.”
Paul nodded in agreement. “I’ll make sure you have it.”
I pulled out my phone, wanting to give Mama a heads-up that Judge Colby had surfaced again.
“Weren’t you hacked?” Olivia asked.
“Yes, but this is a new phone.” No answer.
I grimaced and put my phone away.
“I’ll have someone check on her, Adelina,” Paul assured. “I’m staying in Florence overnight to see Rocco before heading to Amalfi. Is there anything else I can do for you two?”
Olivia turned toward me. “I’d like to stay at the house.”
I nodded. “Of course.”
Olivia kissed Paul’s cheeks and hugged him. “Thank you, Paul. You’re such a good friend to our Rocco.”
“I’m always here for all of you,” Paul told her, then turned to me. “You take care of yourself and call us anytime.” After watching the video of me with my father, he paused and waited for my permission before touching me, which I appreciated.
I opened my arms and took his hug. “Thank you so much.”
Paul took out his phone. A few minutes later, Zane appeared from around a corner with a couple of security guards behind him. “We have the all clear.”
We followed him out of the building, police forming a protective corridor to the waiting Mercedes, blocking curious stares.
It should have calmed me, but after being filmed, I stayed on edge.
I slipped into the back seat, Olivia right behind me.
Cameras flashed as we pulled away from the airport, but soon, the city’s traffic swallowed us on the road to Marini Estate.
As we drove on, my muscles unclenched, and I sank into the seat. The sight of Florence’s ornate, storied buildings swept me into another world, comforting me. Yet, everywhere I looked brought my attention back to Rocco. I hated leaving him at the hospital alone.
“Nico didn’t want to miss Salvatore’s tennis match,” Olivia said as if I asked her, breaking into my thoughts. “He’s sure he’ll be the next Nadal.”
I crossed my arms and stared out at traffic. “I didn’t know he competed.”
“Sal doesn’t usually compete, but he excels at anything he tries. His only flaw is losing interest. Rocco was different. Once he set his mind to something, he took charge. Did you know that he was elected president of every club he joined within a week?”
“Yeah, I think so. Luca may have mentioned it,” I murmured.
“Luca loved to brag about our Rocco. He was always a leader.” Her words brimmed with pride, and I believed everything she said about him. My heart warmed at the thought of Rocco’s unwavering confidence and relentless drive. He poured that same effort into his work and into loving me.
“I don’t want to be your enemy, Adelina. I’m…I’m sorry for saying I’d replace you. Rocco—”
“Loves me,” I said, and cleared my throat. “He told me.”
She nodded. “Oh, yes. I bet he has. He has such a big heart and so much love to give. And you care about him. You don’t want him to struggle, do you? Just have a baby. That’s all we’re asking.”
I groaned in frustration. “I don’t want to talk about this again with you.”
“Okay, but you can’t deny the strain this pursuit of finances from investors has had on Rocco. It has him groveling to crazy idiots like George and now he’s in the hospital. Having a baby could solve many of our problems right now.”
I snorted. “Unbelievable. Olivia, you of all people can’t be serious.”
“What do you mean?”
“Your husband is still angry about the child provision.”
Nico was furious during the will reading after the funeral. He couldn’t even hide his hostility toward Olivia, which I didn’t understand.
“He’s upset with Luca, and he has a right to be. You may have seen one side of my father, but there was a ruthless one, too. He told his friends not to help Nico and refused to let us use our trust for his career.”
I frowned. Luca had done the very same thing to Rocco.
“Nico couldn’t get anywhere in Hollywood, and it broke his spirit. He didn’t think he was good enough to raise our kids because he feared they’d end up a failure like him.”
My heart ached for what they’d been through, but it didn’t explain why he blamed her.
“I’m sorry, but that’s no excuse for mistreating you. It’s not your fault.”
“It is, and it isn’t,” she said ruefully.
“It’s the only thing we fight about. Nico and I love each other; you saw a bad day, we’ve lived thousands of good ones.
Our Rocco’s strong-willed and determined.
He has the talent, and with the two billion that I fought with my father to include in his will, he will be—”
I gasped. “You knew about the new will?”
She lowered her head. “Not exactly. My father talked about making a new one—”
“When?”
“Early this year. He was worried. Rocco’s moving ahead without Marini Corporate, but wanting to use the trust to fund a studio bothered him. When he told him he won’t have kids for years, that made him even more upset. So…”
“The new will’s valid? Oh my God. You should’ve warned your son.”
Olivia flinched. “Even if I did, it wouldn’t change anything. My father was set in his ways, but I did fight for more money. And I didn’t help Mr. Sears either. But if the litigation proceeds to a lawsuit, he could compel us to produce our emails and text messages regarding it.”
She’d been the only calm Marini at Luca’s will reading, and now I understood why.
Her communications with Luca about the new will could support Mr. Sears and Marini Trust’s claims. Nico had been right.
Olivia could have easily warned Rocco about Luca’s plans before he died. “How could you hurt your son?”
She touched her throat. “I don’t believe I have.
If you have a child, the legacy laws would be impossible for Mr. Sears to overcome in litigation.
Please try to understand. We possess the wealth and power only because we have learned to prioritize our family and legacy. I never meant to hurt you and Rocco.”
I scoffed. “Yes, you did. You wanted to control our marriage.”
She straightened. “I don’t, but we both know we all answer to the family trust. I made sure you and Rocco have more money for children than any Marini ever has. Why are you fighting me? Your own family put having children in your marriage contract. You have to have children anyway.”
My mouth opened to respond, but nothing came. Arguing with Olivia was futile, and what she said made sense. With Rocco injured and the new will possibly valid, could we even fight anymore?