Page 239 of La Dolce Vita

“Shut up! It is a fucking lie!Patriwas a father to Lorenzo. He’d never do it! Never! You’re just too stupid to know it!”

“I’m not the stupid one Domi. You are. You aren’t listening!”

“I guess I am stupid. To think you and I belonged together," Domi said.

"That's not fair. I have loved you all my life. I am allowed to make mistakes, Domi."

"Funny, how only you make these mistakes. I never have, since the day you became mine. I have never taken you for granted. I have never been with another woman, kissed another woman, flirted with another woman. Never!"

"But you keep secrets. All of you men do. You keep secrets, and you control my life like I’m property instead of your future wife. You don't care that I flirted with Armando. No. That’s not the real reason. You care that I didn't give you the chance to be the hero. To come in and save the day. I was protecting you!"

"You never gave a fucking thought of what this would do to me! Armando has been with you. It happened. And my men know it. Giovanni now knows it. What does that make me? The failure they always thought I was. The sicko who wanted to marry his sister...”

“I am not your sister!”

“The one who can never hold his own."

"Not true!"

"We're done. Forever. Do you hear me? Over. I don't care who you are with or what you do with Armando Mancini. From this moment forward. We're over." Dominic turned and started to walk away.

"Testa di cazzo!Fine!" she yelled at his back. Dominic stopped. "You remember this day. You remember the day you threw away our love for your pride. You remember, Domi! Because I will never forget. I will never trust you with my heart again!"

Dominic left.

"Dooooooommmmmmmmiiiiiiiiiiii!" Catalina wailed. She went to her knees in tears. "I hate you! I hate you forever!"

He was gone.

ChapterThirty-Seven

Broken Hearts

Sorrento, Italy

"Donna?" Cecilia whispered.

She looked up. "There is a phone call for you."

"Take a message," Mirabella said. She was on her knees changing Gino. The other two kids had already been bathed and dressed for the day.

"Uh, it's Marietta. She asked for me and then told me to bring you to the phone. She doesn't want anyone to know she is calling." Cecilia continued to whisper.

Mirabella stood. Gino ran away with no pants on.

"Marietta is on the phone?"

"Si, she's upset."

"Okay. Where’s my husband?"

"I thinkvilla Rosso. Nico said this morning that there is an important meeting. Every one of them must attend."

Mirabella’s stomach turned sour. She knew exactly what the meeting meant. "What phone line did she call on?" she asked as she left the room with Cecilia and the children following.

"She called downstairs, and then had them transfer her to my room," Cecilia answered.

"Stay with the children." She ordered her. Cecilia had to collect her babies and herd them back into her room. Mirabella hurried. When she reached Cecilia's room, she closed and locked the door.