Chapter 50
Bianca Ferrucci
Days later…
The sun in Naples seemed brighter than anywhere else, maybe because my perspective had changed. I was no longer the frightened girl who depended on others for protection. No. Now, I was Bianca Bellini, and I was ready to embrace everything that name represented.
After Alessandro and I arrived at one of the Bellini family properties, an old palazzo on a hill overlooking the sea, I walked slowly through the empty hallways, feeling the rough texture of the walls.
“All of this is ours, Bianca.” Alessandro stood beside me, his arms crossed as he watched me. “Our origins are dark, but we’re still the heirs to all of it.”
I remained silent for a moment, looking through the window at the vineyards stretching as far as I could see. It was a vast territory, abandoned for years, but full of potential.
“I want to restore it,” I finally declared, turning toward him. “I want the Bellini name to represent something new. I don’t want blood or crime. I want something legitimate, something powerful. I want people to respect what we’re going to build.”
My brother arched an eyebrow, but a smile appeared on his lips.
“A legitimate Bellini empire? Clean?”
“Yes. We can rebuild the vineyard. We can live honestly.”
“Honesty doesn’t pay the blood debts left behind by the past, Bianca.” He crossed his arms, leaning against the doorframe. “Do you really think you can escape the Bellini name? That your husband will leave us alone?”
I looked at him.
“I don’t want to escape the Bellini name.
I want to rewrite it. This vineyard, these properties, they’re only the beginning.
” I ran my fingers along the edge of the old table.
“Alessandro, we’re not running anymore. I won’t be defined by secrets I didn’t even know existed.
Now, the Bellini name will be mine. And it will be remembered differently. ”
He laughed, but it wasn’t a mocking laugh. He thought it was impossible, but he was on my side.
“Is that what you want to be? Not just inherit it, but run it?”
I nodded.
“And more than that: I want to build something that doesn’t have to be hidden. I want something I can leave behind for the future, something that makes the blood running through our veins worth something.”
Alessandro remained silent for a moment, watching me closely. Then he stepped forward and slipped his hands into his pockets.
“All right. Where do we start?”
A wave of dizziness hit me, followed by nausea that rose quickly, uncontrollably. My hand instinctively flew to my mouth. Without looking at him, I rushed to the nearest bathroom.
When I came back, still pale and breathless, Alessandro was exactly where I had left him. An ironic smile was plastered across his face.
“You don’t need to tell me anything.” He chuckled softly. “I already know what’s happening.”
I grimaced, still trying to catch my breath.
“I’m exhausted. I haven’t slept properly in days, and these dizzy spells are killing me.”
He arched an eyebrow and took a step forward.
“Exhausted, huh? Right. Then tell me: since when does exhaustion make you nauseous like that?” He gestured theatrically toward the bathroom.
I rolled my eyes, trying to ignore him.
“I’m not pregnant, if that’s what you’re suggesting.”
He laughed louder this time, shaking his head dismissively.
“You may not know it, Bianca, but your body is screaming the truth. If this is what I think it is, congratulations. You’ve just created a ticking time bomb.”
“Alessandro, don’t be ridiculous. I just need to rest.”
He watched me for a moment, his eyes assessing every nuance of my expression. Then he shrugged and let out a sigh.
“What poetic fate, don’t you think?” He shook his head, almost incredulous. “Carrying Tiziano Constanzo’s child, mixing the blood of mortal enemies. It’s almost like divine punishment for him.”
“Don’t joke about that.”
“I’m not joking, Bianca. If this is true, we need to know now. I’m taking you to get tested.”
“If this child exists, it’s mine. Not his.”
“You really think you’re going to hide this from Tiziano? That he won’t find out? We’re talking about a man who destroys enemies based on suspicion alone.”
“Then help me make sure he never knows. You said you wanted to protect me. This is what I need from you now.”
He sighed deeply.
“Bianca, if you really are pregnant, you’re going to have to make some difficult decisions.” He stared at me. “Either you hide this child from everyone, or you find someone willing to take on the role of father. Only then will Tiziano even consider the possibility that the baby isn’t his.”
Tiziano Constanzo
How had my enemy been inside my house without me knowing? The question hammered through my head as I paced back and forth across the office, my fists clenched, ready to break something or someone.
“Tell me, Uncle,” I growled, shooting Luigi a murderous glare. “Where did you find that bastard you hired to handle security inside my house? Bellini was here the entire fucking time, and none of you noticed!”
Luigi cleared his throat, visibly uncomfortable.
“Alessandro came with excellent recommendations. Forged documents, everything in order. Even the contacts he used were trustworthy.” He met my gaze firmly. “He was smart, Tiziano. There was no way to know.”
“Smart?” I laughed sarcastically. “You expect me to believe my entire security team was fooled? That you brought an infiltrator into my house without asking questions?”
“What matters now is keeping this from the council,” Enzo interrupted, trying to calm things down. “If the council finds out a Bellini was here, it’ll undermine your position.”
“And how exactly are we supposed to hide it?” I snapped, glaring at Enzo. “What am I supposed to tell them? That my wife evaporated? That my enemy was inside my house and walked out with her while all of you were sleeping?”
Enzo fell silent for a moment, but Luigi got straight to the point, as always.
“Ant?nio has been at the warehouse for days. He needs medical attention. If we release him, maybe we can gain some leverage.” He paused. “We’ll find Bianca, kill her, and you’ll marry again.”
I spun toward him, staring as though I had just heard the most insane thing imaginable.
“Let me guess.” I pointed a finger at him. “You want me to release Ant?nio, kill Bianca, and marry Giulia. Is that it?”
Luigi shrugged but didn’t deny it.
“You should have killed the girl the moment you found out who she was,” he said coldly.
“And Ant?nio is still alive?” I asked sarcastically.
Carlo spoke then:
“Ant?nio raised the girl before the rivalry ever began. It wasn’t her fault whose daughter she was. In the end, he only protected her.” He paused and added, “And you were the one who chose her, Tiziano.”
“Is everyone against me now?” I asked, looking around the room.
Carlo slowly shook his head.
“We’re not against you, Don. We’re showing you the facts. Bianca didn’t choose the blood running through her veins. Vittorio Bellini didn’t want her, and if it had been up to him, she would be dead. Ant?nio simply saved a child.”
My eyes narrowed. Carlo was right, and I knew it.
I had been torturing myself for days, trying to find some justification to hate her.
But deep down, I knew Bianca’s blood wasn’t enough to make me feel that way.
Quite the opposite, I wanted her here. I needed her here.
But bringing Bianca back would make me look weak, something I couldn’t allow.
Not after swearing to destroy every Bellini.
I was trapped in a cycle of rage and desire, in a hell fate had created. And no matter how hard I tried to deny it, I couldn’t escape the simplest truth of all: I still loved Bianca. And that consumed me more than any betrayal ever could.
“I want Ant?nio dead,” I said as I walked toward the office door.
“I never liked him. Now, I simply despise him.” I stopped in the doorway, gripping the frame as I gave Carlo an icy look.
“He never defended Bianca,” I said bitterly.
“He was paid a fortune to keep her there, pretending to be her protector. And in the end, what did he do? Nothing. Bianca was never happy in that house. He’s a traitor, a dishonorable bastard.
Finish this already. Make that worm pay. ”