Page 45 of The Don's Soulmate

My heart races as I step out of the car and onto the gravel driveway, clutching my palms together. Sofia gives me a reassuring nod before driving away, leaving me to face my fate alone.

"Carlotta!" My father's voice booms through the open front door, his anger palpable from meters away. I take a deep breath andsquare my shoulders, steeling myself as I walk into the chaotic scene unfolding in the grand foyer.

"Where have you been?" My brother Angelo, demands, his eyes wide with rage and frustration.

"Look at you," Ugo sneers, eyeing my disheveled appearance with disgust. "What happened to your dress? Did you fuck off from the gallery, leaving me alone with those thugs to go fool around with that Mancini bastard? I’m telling you, Salvatore," Ugo turns to my father. “She took me there to meet her bloody lover!”

"Ugo!" My father admonishes him, but his gaze turns back to me expectantly. “She has no lover!” he reaffirms, giving me a look that says otherwise. It’s a look that warns me that hell will break loose should I ever admit to having one. They all wait for an explanation, their anger and concern mingling in the tense atmosphere.

I swallow hard, knowing I must protect myself, even if it means sacrificing the truth about what Ugo did tonight. I’ve been in this situation before and know by now that no matter what I say, Ugo would be believed over me. "He forced me away with him," I lie, struggling to keep my voice steady.

"Ettore saw Ugo being upset and pulled me away…" I let the sentence trail off, hoping they'll fill in the blanks themselves.

Ugo's eyes flash with fury, while Angelo narrows his gaze suspiciously, clearly not buying my story.

"But why?" my father asks, his voice shaking with rage.

"I-I don't know," I stammer, avoiding their eyes. "It all happened so fast. Ugo was mad when he saw him and Ettore thought he’d hurt me."

"Enough!" Ugo roars, stepping closer to me, his menacing presence making me flinch. "We all know you're lying, Carlotta. I was never mad. This was a ploy all along to get away with him. What really happened between you and Ettore?"

"Nothing!" I cry out, desperation lacing my voice. "I swear! He dropped me off to Sofia’s when I convinced him that Ugo won’t hurt me and Sofia just dropped me home. You saw her, father!" I try to get them to see reason.

"Then why are you soaking wet?" Ugo presses, his eyes boring into mine. “What happened to your dress?” his eyes linger over all the places Ettore touched me, even though there are no marks.

"Sofia had car trouble," I whisper, feeling the weight of their judgment crushing me. “We had to step out to check the wheel. She’s got a puncture but we decided to risk driving out here. She’ll have someone change the tire in the morning.”

"Until we get to the bottom of this, you will be confined to your room," my father declares, his tone final. "And the wedding will proceed as planned."

"Father, please," I plead, tears streaming down my face. "You can't lock me away like a prisoner!"

"Enough!" he shouts, pointing towards the stairs. "Go! Now! You will not leave your room again."

My heart heavy with despair, I trudge up the staircase to my prison. As the door slams shut behind me, I crumble onto the floor, sobbing in defeat. What choice do I have but to accept my fate?

Chapter 20

Ugo Caputo

I wake up late and stretch, the hand nearly knocking over the glass of scotch I brought to bed last night. Must have forgotten about it.

“Damn it,” I grunt, sitting up to ring for my butler.

“Sir,” he arrives shortly after, my breakfast and paper on a tray in front of him.

“Clean this mess up,” I point to my wet bed, and step out of bed. He places the tray on my table, and helps me on with the robe. “Hurry.”

He gets down on the job and I settle in on a chair, picking the paper and sipping my coffee.

I almost spit it out when I see the headlines. There, right on the front page, is my photograph outside the gallery. They’ve chosen the worst out of the lot, the blood evident on my face, my shirt torn. That wretched Carlotta! If not for her, I’d never have looked this way.

The headlines scream "Verified: Notorious Billionaire Ugo Caputo Holds Secret Art Hoard: 23 Rare Masterpieces Including Works by Da Vinci, Van Gogh, and Picasso!"

I continue to read.

In a shocking revelation that has sent ripples through the art world, billionaire magnate Ugo Caputo has disclosed a jaw-dropping collection of 23 of the rarest and most valuable art pieces ever known. Hidden away in a secret vault for decades, this trove includes works by some of history’s greatest artists: Leonardo da Vinci’s enigmatic "The Life of An Artist," Vincent van Gogh’s vibrant "Stormy days," and Pablo Picasso’s revolutionary "Les Mademoiselles."

The discovery was made when Caputo, known for his flamboyance and theatric nature, accidentally revealed the collection while at a private art gallery viewing. It’s a gift from my future wife,” he said. “She wanted to give me what is most precious to her and art – it’s her life!”

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