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Chapter 5

Author: mina
"Don't you ever bring that up again!"

Mia's voice hardened. "Evelyn, you married Alvis and came all the way from Sicily to New York.

"The best clothes, the most expensive jewelry. We gave you all of that!

"Sign it, and I'll let you keep a little dignity!"

I opened my mouth to argue, but there was movement at the door.

The door swung open. Alvis walked in, supporting Althea.

Mia and Richard rushed over together.

"Althea! What are you doing here?"

Mia took Althea from Alvis. "You're still sick, and it's raining out. How could you go running around like this?"

Even Richard looked anxious for once. He took off his coat and draped it over Althea.

"Sit down, sit down. Don't stand. You can't wear yourself out right now."

Althea wore a baggy white sweater.

Her face was almost translucent, and her lips had barely any color.

Mia sat her down on the couch in my room, and she leaned weakly against Alvis.

I lay in my hospital bed and watched it all.

If those three hadn't been the family I'd lived with every day, the scene might have warmed my heart.

"Evelyn."

Althea looked up at me, her eyes red and brimming with tears.

"I know I have no right to ask you for anything. I know I did a lot of terrible things before. I hurt Alvis, I hurt the Sartori family, and most of all, I hurt you."

She struggled off the couch and made her way to my bed, one step at a time.

Then she sank to the floor beside my bed.

Mia cried out. "Althea!

"What are you doing? Get up!"

Alvis stepped forward to help her up, but Althea held up a hand to stop him.

Still on the floor, she tipped her head back to look at me. Tears spilled down her cheeks.

"Evelyn, I'm begging you. Please let me have Alvis.

"I know it's too much to ask, but I really have no other choice.

"The doctor says I have three months, at most. After that, I'll be gone.

"I love Alvis! All I want is to be his wife before I die."

Her voice faded to a whisper. "Evelyn, please."

Alvis stepped up behind Althea, scooped her up, and set her back on the couch.

"Althea, you're going to be okay. I'll find the best doctors to treat you."

Then he turned to me. "It's the only thing Althea wants, Evelyn. Can't you give her that?

"Evelyn, what is your problem? Don't you have any compassion at all?"

He acted so sure he was right that I almost laughed.

"Why should I? Her wish is to destroy me, to destroy my marriage! To make me lose everything!

"What does her dying have to do with me? Why should I have to grant her dying wish?"

He cut in sharply. "Evelyn!

"Why did I ever marry such a vicious, jealous woman?

"Althea is one of the most important people in my life. No matter what she's done, I can forgive her!

"All you want is a payout, isn't it?"

He couldn't hide his contempt. "If you sign, I'll give you plenty of money.

"Just so you know, it's more than most people make in their whole lives."

Looking at this arrogant man, all I felt was regret.

I'd spent eight years with this piece of garbage. I'd even taken a bullet for him!

At least I'd woken up before it was too late.

I glanced at the signed papers on the table, then gave the four of them a taunting smile.

"Oh?

"And if I don't sign, what exactly are you going to do to me?

"The Sartori family was right to cut you off back then! The four of you are disgusting idiots!"

"Evelyn!"

Mia exploded, jabbing a finger in my face and screaming at me.

"Don't push your luck! We came here and asked you nicely. Who do you think you are?

"If Alvis hadn't insisted on marrying you, you never would have made it through the Sartori family's front door!"

Richard's face darkened too. "Look at Althea. Can't you be a little gracious? Do you have to make this ugly for everyone?"

Alvis looked angrier than either of them.

He glared at me. Every trace of that fake tenderness was gone from his eyes.

"Evelyn, do you have any idea what the Sartori family means in New York? One word from me, and you'll never be able to stay in this city.

"No, forget New York! I can drive you off the entire East Coast!

"You cut ties with your family to marry me. You've got nothing now. What are you going to fight me with?"

He raised his hand like he was about to slap me.

Right then, a deep voice spoke up.

"Who thinks they can run the heir of the Lauretti family off the East Coast?"
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  • His Regret Came Too Late   Chapter 11

    "No! No way!"Before Henry could say anything, Alvis cut in. "Evelyn, I was wrong. I was so wrong."You can punish me, but you can't take the Sartori family! My grandfather passed it down to us. It's everything my family has worked for..."Then he spun around and grabbed Althea by the hair.Althea screamed as he dragged her forward a few steps, and her knees hit the ground.Alvis shoved down on her shoulders, forcing her to stay on her knees."Evelyn!"Alvis looked up at me, his eyes red. "I'll make Althea apologize to you! I'm a victim in all this too! She lied to me, she lied to everyone! Can't you forgive me? I was wrong, I was so wrong!"Althea knelt there, her hair a mess, looking more pathetic than I'd ever seen her.She pried Alvis's hands off her and forced herself upright. "I didn't do anything wrong!"All I did was love Alvis! What's wrong with that?"You're the ones who chose to believe me! You're the ones who wanted to get rid of Evelyn so I could marry Alvis..."Before she

  • His Regret Came Too Late   Chapter 10

    Several people got out.I narrowed my eyes. I knew every one of them: the Sartori family's most influential shareholders.What are they doing here?Have they come to back Alvis and settle scores with the Lauretti family?Alvis seemed to think so too. A fawning, respectful smile spread across his face.He turned to one of them, Henry Sartori. "Uncle Henry, what are you doing here?"Henry ignored him. He looked up, saw me, and bowed from where he stood."Ms. Lauretti."He spoke loudly enough for everyone to hear. "There's something I have to tell you in person."He took a file out of his briefcase."This is Althea's complete medical file from the hospital. I had someone look into it. She doesn't have cancer at all."Her records are fake. She bribed a doctor at the hospital to forge them."The smile froze on Alvis's face.He stared in disbelief. "Althea, is that true?"Althea froze. She clearly hadn't expected her secret to come out so soon.She took a step back, her lips trembling."No..

  • His Regret Came Too Late   Chapter 9

    Ella moved fast.That afternoon, the Lauretti family announced it was cutting off all business with the Sartori family.The statement also said we would review our dealings with every company that did business with the Sartori family.And it announced that my marriage to Alvis Sartori was officially over.Within hours, New York's underworld was in an uproar.The Sartori family's assets began to disappear. In my study, I watched the numbers on a private monitoring feed fall and fall.My father was right. More than half of the Sartori family's supply chain ran through Lauretti channels.When it came to choosing sides, their partners barely had to think about it.That night, the Sartori family's most important partner became the first to end its contract.Then came a second, and a third...That same night, the Sartori board called an emergency meeting and demanded an explanation from Richard.But what could he say?He didn't even understand why those families had sided with the Lauretti f

  • His Regret Came Too Late   Chapter 8

    I flew back to New York with my medical team.When the private jet landed at JFK, I looked out the window and saw a motorcade waiting below.My father had arranged for the key members of the Lauretti family in New York to meet me.It was as if my father were announcing that his heir had finally come home, and warning everyone that the Lauretti family was not to be crossed.Before we got off the plane, my mother straightened my collar. "Evelyn, are you sure you want to face this yourself?""Mom, I'm sure."I heard the worry in her voice and gave her a reassuring smile.My father came over, took my hand, and gave me a file."Every deal the Sartori family has made in the past three months. Where their money has gone. A list of all their partners."He said, "Everything you need is in there."I flipped it open. Alvis was negotiating a major deal with the company that operated the East Coast's largest port.If it went through, the Sartori family business would double in value, making them th

  • His Regret Came Too Late   Chapter 7

    By the time my father carried me out of the hospital, I was in so much pain I was barely conscious.Seeing how badly I was hurt, he ordered his men to arrange a private jet and flew me straight to a hospital in Switzerland.I could hear my father's voice. I wanted to say something, but I didn't even have the strength to open my mouth.All I could feel was his hand on my forehead as he murmured in my ear, "Sleep, sweetheart. You're safe now."When I woke up again, I was in a hospital room I'd never seen before.Snowy Alpine peaks filled the view outside. Sunlight streamed through the floor-to-ceiling windows, warming the room.I moved my fingers, and a nurse came right over. "Ms. Lauretti, thank goodness, you're awake! I'll go get the doctor right now."Soon, a serious-looking, middle-aged man came in with several others. They were the specialists my father had brought in for me.Dr. Lehmann examined my wound and sounded relieved. "Ms. Lauretti, your wound was badly infected. Luckily, y

  • His Regret Came Too Late   Chapter 6

    The door swung wide open.My father walked in, wearing a long black coat.His eyes went straight to me. He strode to my bed, bent down, and pulled me into his arms. "Evelyn."At the sound of his familiar voice, the tears came, and I reached out weakly."Dad!"I buried my face against him like I had as a little girl, letting him feel everything I couldn't say.My father stroked my hair, his voice low. "Dad's here. You don't have to be scared anymore."Behind us, Alvis sounded stunned. "Don Lauretti? What are you doing here?"My father ignored him. Only after gently wiping my tears did he straighten up and look at Alvis."If I didn't come, were you just going to keep pushing my daughter around?""No!"Alvis rushed to deny it. "Don Lauretti, this is just a private family matter!""A family matter?"My father gave a cold laugh and looked at Alvis with contempt. "What kind of family matter leaves my daughter weak in a hospital bed?"What kind of family matter forces my daughter to give up h

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