Page 12 of Until It Ends

My fists clench at my sides, anger simmering beneath the surface. How could my father have orchestrated such a scheme, using Valeria's life and future as a bargaining chip? The betrayal runs deep, intertwining with the love I still harbor for Valeria.

The weight of the truth crashes upon my shoulders, threatening to break me. My entire existence feels like a facade, built upon lies and manipulation. The love I feel for Valeria battles with the anger and resentment towards my father, tearing at my soul.

"I won't let you destroy her," I declare, my voice filled with determination. "I won't be a part of this twisted game anymore."

My father's eyes narrow, a flicker of defiance lighting up his features. "Be careful, Dante. That trading business we added to our portfolio when Valeria came to us...I'm not letting it go."

My jaw clenches, my resolve hardening. I stand tall, meeting my father's gaze head-on. "This time, I won't let your thirst for power consume everything we've built. Valeria deserves better. She doesn't deserved to be thrown around like a pawn."

"It is too late. There is only one checker board and everyone holds a position," he says.

The realization that the deal between our families was never completed, that it was all based on my father's and Valeria's father's words, amplifies my frustration.

"So you're telling me," I retort, my voice dripping with sarcasm, "that you've controlled a trading business all these years based on nothing more than a verbal agreement? And now you fear that the Ciprianos will take advantage of the situation and go to war over it? Isn't that right, father?"

My father's expression remains stoic, a mix of frustration and concern etched upon his face. "Dante, you don't understand the gravity of the situation. The Ciprianos have always been a threat, and now they see an opportunity to claim what they believe is rightfully theirs. Our power, our empire, is at stake."

My gaze hardens as I meet my father's eyes. "This isn't about power and empires, father. This is about Valeria. She's not a pawn to be moved around on a chessboard. She's a person, a woman I care deeply about. I won't let anyone harm her or use her for their own gains."

My father's voice turns icy as he responds, "She was never meant for you, Dante. You're blinding yourself to the reality of our world. She's a means to an end like I said, just as she was intended to be."

My anger flares, my voice filled with a mixture of frustration and defiance. "Well, who was she meant for then? You?" My gaze locks with my father's. "Tell me, father, who was Valeria meant to be? Because right now, all I see is a web of lies and manipulation spun by our own family."

My father falls silent, the weight of my words hanging heavily in the air. I can see the conflict within his eyes, the realization that our actions have led us down a path of darkness.

Finally, my father breaks the silence. "Valeria was meant to be whatever we needed her to be, Dante," he says, his voice filled with resignation. "But it seems she's become something more to you. And that's what worries me."

My fists relax, my anger giving way to a mixture of sadness and determination. I stare at my father for a moment, realizing that I may never truly understand the depth of his actions.

"At least you and I can agree on that, father. She is something more to me than what you intended."

Without another word, I turn on my heels and walk away, leaving behind the weight of our family's expectations and the tangled web of lies. In my heart, I know that I must follow my own path, even if it means defying my father's wishes and risking everything for the woman I love.

As I exit the room, my mind is clear. I will find Valeria, not for the sake of power or empire, but for the sake of love and redemption.

Eleven

Valeria

Questions and doubts swirl in my mind, leaving me torn between disbelief and the desire for answers. Could it be true? Could I have been living a lie all these years? The thought is overwhelming, and I struggle to comprehend the depth of deception that surrounds me.

My mind races as I pace back and forth in the unfamiliar room. The surroundings are a stark contrast to what I had grown accustomed to in Dante's mansion. The opulence and elegance have been replaced by simplicity and functionality, leaving me with a sense of unease.

My thoughts drift back to my conversation with Enzo, the revelation that he is not my cousin but my brother. What if he's lying? I'm just not going to take his word for it. But it all makes sense. My fa—well, Marco, who I thought was my father was so willing to sell me over to the Argentieri—which he did.

I wonder why my parentage was concealed from me, and what other secrets have been hidden from me throughout my life. Had my mother known? Did she keep the secret from me too?

As I examine the room, my gaze falls upon a family portrait hanging on the wall. Marco, my supposed father, and Polo, my supposed uncle. They had always clashed, their relationship strained by their constant competition for resources and power. It was a rivalry that had defined my upbringing, a constant source of tension and conflict. I was too young to give it any attention back then and my father kept everyone else out of it.

A pang of bitterness surges through me as I realize that I had been caught in the middle of their power games, used as a pawn in their struggle for dominance. The realization dawns on me that my entire life may have been built upon a foundation of lies and manipulation.

My fists clench tightly at my sides, my determination hardening. I refuse to be a victim any longer. They may think they have control over me, but I know that I hold a power they cannot comprehend. I possess the knowledge that could bring their empires crashing down.

A fire ignites within me, fueled by my desire for justice and revenge. I know I can't trust any of them, not Marco, not Polo, and certainly not Enzo. They all have their own agendas, their own secrets to protect.

In my heart, I know that I possess a strength they cannot comprehend. I'm not a pawn in their power games; I'm a force to be reckoned with. And as I gather my resolve, I pledge to myself that when the time comes, I will unleash that force upon them all.

As the fire within me burns brighter, I swear to myself that I will make them regret underestimating me. The time for passive cooperation is over. I'm ready to seize my own power and emerge from the shadows as a force to be reckoned with.

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