Page 21 of Until It Ends

There is something pushing and testing the fragile bond that we have. I worry that when this is all over, it will have snapped apart.

Nineteen

Valeria

Aservant approached me, offering a sealed envelope with the Cipriano family crest. I knew it right away; the design was slightly altered from Marco's one. Seeing the emblem sent a shiver up my spine. Nervously, I slit open the envelope and took out the sheet of paper.

The clinking of silverware and the distant murmur of voices the only sounds in the room. The grand spread before me remained untouched as my appetite vanished, replaced by a gnawing feeling in the pit of my stomach. It was as if the food itself had turned tasteless, unable to compete with the bitter revelation that had just been placed in my hands.

My hands trembled as I carefully unfolded the piece of paper, my stomach in knots. My gaze swept across the page until it landed on the words that confirmed what I had suspected all along: Polo Cipriano was indeed my father, with a staggering 99.99 percent match. Despite the evidence, I didn't need the test to tell me this; deep down, I already knew. After all, what kind of man would make a lie so big?

The truth hit me like a tidal wave, crashing against the shores of my consciousness. My whole earlier life had been a lie, carefully constructed to hide my true origins. All those times when I had questioned Marco about the family business, wanting to learn and be a part of it, he had always evaded my inquiries, offering empty excuses and false promises. It was clear now that he had been hiding something, keeping me at arm's length while he pursued his own agenda.

The bitterness of betrayal welled up within me, mingling with the anguish of realizing the depth of deception that had shaped my existence. Marco, the man I had believed to be my father, had never intended for me to inherit his legacy. Instead, he had sought a son to carry on his name, wasting no time in securing another wife and getting her pregnant once my mother was out of the picture.

I pushed the plate away, my appetite completely gone. The room seemed to close in around me as I grappled with the weight of the truth. The once familiar surroundings felt foreign, as if I had been living in a carefully constructed illusion all these years. I had been denied the chance to truly know myself, to embrace my heritage and take pride in who I truly was.

If Polo Cipriano wanted the Veritas business, he could have pursued other means to secure it. But by revealing me as his daughter, he had shattered the fragile semblance of normalcy I had clung to. The power struggle between the families had now taken on a deeply personal dimension, and I couldn't help but wonder if I was merely a pawn in their games.

The emotions swirled within me, a maelstrom of anger, confusion, and a burning desire for retribution. I had been denied the truth for far too long, and now that it had been unveiled, I was determined to claim my rightful place. I would not let myself be discarded or disregarded any longer.

As I left the breakfast table, a surge of determination coursed through my veins. The revelations had ignited a fire within me, propelling me toward a path of self-discovery and defiance. I would rise from the ashes of the lies that had bound me and forge my own destiny.

It was time to confront my new family and Argentieris, to assert myself as a force to be reckoned with. They had underestimated me for far too long, but I was no longer the naive girl they thought they could control. I would take control of my own fate.

The game had changed, and I was ready to play. No longer would I be a pawn in their power struggles. I would rise as a queen, commanding respect and demanding my rightful place in the world. The battle had just begun, and I was prepared to fight until the bitter end.

Twenty

Valeria

Iwalk into Polo's grand library where he's sitting down scrolling some type of ledger. He requested to speak with me earlier this morning and my heart pounds with anticipation and curiosity.

I take the seat across from him and he looks at me with his eyes fixed on mine, showing a mixture of determination and pride in his gaze.

He smiles. "I must say, even though I didn't raise you, you've grown up to be fine young woman."

I shy away from his sentiment, looking away and down at the floor. Aside from my mother, no one has ever said anything like that to me before. But I know I shouldn't let my guard down to easily among an ambitious man like Polo. Men like him have always disappointed me.

"Life threw me lots of curveballs," I say. "I wasn't able to dodge all of them, but I have learned a lot."

"I understand you have questions, and I'll do my best to answer them."

I take a deep breath, gathering my thoughts. "Tell me about our family, Polo. About you and Marco. Besides fighting over my mother before I was born, what else happened to cause such a strainer sibling relationship?"

Polo leaned back in his chair, a hint of sadness crossing his features. "Marco and I were always competing, even as children. We both desired power, wealth, and control. Our paths often crossed, and our disagreements turned into full-blown conflicts. It was a constant battle for dominance." He rubs his chin. "I wish maybe we could take some of it back, but once we started the quarreling, it was unending."

I listen intently, trying to process the complex dynamics between the two brothers. "And the business? Veritas Mercantile? How does it all fit into this?"

Polo's expression softens, and he leans forward, his voice low but filled with conviction. "Veritas Mercantile was likely your grandfather's gift to your mother. A business that she owned and would've managed had it not been for my brother and...her illness. It's a trading business that has thrived for generations."

"Even under management by the Argentieris?" I ask, knowing my question might anger him.

He frowns. "It appears things are running smoothly." He shrugs. "But how should I know? Either way, the Argentieris are known for their destruction upon business, tearing them apart just to build things back up to their shitty standards."

"Would you run it any differently?"

"Of course. I've managed to keep my hands relatively clean, steering clear of the darker side of the business. And I expect the same from you."

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