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Chapter 5
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Lose the Battles, Win the War Chapter 8
In less than a month, the Colonna Famiglia officially filed for bankruptcy.Papa and Mamma moved out of the estate they had lived in for decades, taking Ilaria with them to a cramped rental on the outskirts of town that was under 540 square feet.I only heard about all of this secondhand later on.Meanwhile, life only kept getting better for the Balzano Famiglia.Serafina recovered well, and around that same time, I found out I was pregnant.The morning I took the test, I handed it to Luca. He froze for several seconds before pulling me into a tight embrace, burying his face in my shoulder."Rosalia," he whispered, his voice muffled against my skin. "I love you so much."Overjoyed by the news, Serafina immediately transferred half of her assets into my name.…Two months later, Papa and Mamma came begging for help. Curious to see just how far they had fallen, I had them brought in to see me.Mamma was much thinner than the last time I'd seen her, her face sallow and haggard.
Lose the Battles, Win the War Chapter 7
Ilaria never expected Luca—who used to spoil her rotten—to lay a hand on her, nor did she ever imagine things would spiral this far.Luca's eyes were bloodshot.Both his parents had died young in an interfamily conflict, and Serafina had raised him single-handedly for as long as he could remember.He'd risen to become a Don who controlled half of the underworld's business, and he never could have made it that far without Serafina backing him every step of the way.The bond between them ran far deeper than any outsider could imagine.Luca's upbringing kept him from spewing profanities. Gritting his teeth and forcing down his rage, he spat out two words, "Get out!"Seeing Serafina injured, I rushed forward and slapped Ilaria several times. If Luca couldn't bring himself to curse her out, I'd do it for him."Ilaria, you're as pathetic as you are stupid! You toyed with someone's genuine feelings, and now that it's blown up in your face, you're blaming everyone else. "You took my p
Lose the Battles, Win the War Chapter 6
"If you really want to make it up to me, why don't you transfer all of the Colonna Famiglia's assets into my name?" I asked. "Ilaria is just an adopted daughter, yet she has no shortage of trust funds or overseas real estate. Any one of the collectibles in her room is worth millions, if not tens of millions. Aren't you cutting her out of the family? Then make her return all of it to me first," I added, not mincing my words.Papa and Mamma exchanged glances, neither of them saying a word.I scoffed. "What, all talk and no action?"Papa clearly hadn't expected me to lay it out so bluntly. In a sudden surge of anger, he hurled his wineglass to the floor."Why are you so materialistic? Ilaria would never act like you. She's not always asking us for things, and she'd never make me angry! Is there a single thing about you that measures up to her? If I'd known you were coming back just to demand payback, I never would've brought you home in the first place!"He glared at me as he barke
Lose the Battles, Win the War Chapter 5
Luca and I completed the wedding ceremony before a church full of guests.Papa, Mamma, and Ilaria, who had cried until she fainted, were driven back to Colonna Estate by the family chauffeur.After the wedding was over, I checked my phone and found dozens of unread messages, all from Papa and Mamma."You spent 20 years out there and never learned a shred of decency. All you learned was how to steal another woman's husband."Ever since you came back, you've turned this whole family upside down and completely disgraced the Colonna name."The rest of the messages swung back and forth between threats and coaxing, telling me not to take things too far and to be a good girl and give Luca back to Ilaria.I'd long since accepted that Papa and Mamma simply didn't love me, so I fired right back."Your own daughter went missing, and instead of looking for her, you adopted another girl. Anyone who didn't know better would think you abandoned me on purpose! And now you have the nerve to call
Lose the Battles, Win the War Chapter 4
"I won't let you marry her!" Ilaria shouted at the top of her lungs.She ran up to Luca as the wind scattered the white rose petals."Luca, don't let her fool you! She's deliberately trying to keep us apart. We've been in love for over ten years. How could you marry her? I know your Nonna forced you into this. Now that I'm back, you don't have to let anyone control you anymore."Ilaria reached for Luca's arm, but he stepped back, avoiding her touch."What do you think you're doing here? Today is my wedding to Rosalia."There wasn't a trace of hesitation in Luca's gaze—only a hint of disgust. Ilaria, who had looked so certain of herself just moments ago, was instantly crushed.Papa and Mamma rushed in right behind her. Just as Papa opened his mouth to speak, Serafina slowly rose to her feet and struck her cane against the floor, the heavy thud silencing the whispers that echoed through the church."Is this how the Colonna Famiglia raises its children? By causing a scene at someon
Lose the Battles, Win the War Chapter 3
Even after Luca found out where Ilaria was, he hesitated for a long time. In the end, though, he didn't drop everything and chase after her the way she'd expected.Ilaria waited for three days, but Luca's helicopter never came. Instead, she found out that Luca and I were engaged.She refused to believe it. In her mind, Luca loved her so deeply that he'd indulge her no matter what she did. This sudden change had to be the work of the Balzano elders—especially Serafina, who had never been particularly warm toward her.Papa and Mamma had spoiled Ilaria so completely that she believed she could do whatever she wanted. The more she stewed over the news, the angrier she grew, until she actually called Balzano Estate to demand an explanation.When she realized Serafina was the one who had answered, she didn't even bother with a greeting. She simply let out a cold laugh. "Signora Balzano, wasn't your own marriage just an alliance? The old Don never loved you. He spent his time drinking a
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