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Chapter 89: Maria De Ricco

last update Last Updated: 2025-11-12 04:12:23

TThe silence stretched between them, thick as smoke. Serena’s heart wouldn’t stop racing. She sat on the edge of the bed, fingers twisting in the sheets, while Stefano sat across from her on the couch near the window, composed, unreadable.

His gaze was sharp, steady, as though he could see straight through her, peeling away every layer she tried to hide behind. There will be no secrets. Not anymore.

When he finally spoke, his voice was quiet. Almost too quiet.

“It wasn’t the Russians,” he said.

Serena blinked. “What?”

“It wasn’t them who Marco served,” Stefano went on, leaning back in his chair. “It was my parents. Maria and Armando De Ricco.”

The words struck her like a blow. She felt her stomach lurch, the ground tilt beneath her. “That’s not possible,” she whispered. “They’re dead. You told me they were dead.”

“I believed it,” Stefano admitted, his jaw tight. “I mourned them. I built my empire with the ghost of their deaths behind me. But it was all a lie. Maria faked her own deat
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    TThe silence stretched between them, thick as smoke. Serena’s heart wouldn’t stop racing. She sat on the edge of the bed, fingers twisting in the sheets, while Stefano sat across from her on the couch near the window, composed, unreadable. His gaze was sharp, steady, as though he could see straight through her, peeling away every layer she tried to hide behind. There will be no secrets. Not anymore.When he finally spoke, his voice was quiet. Almost too quiet.“It wasn’t the Russians,” he said.Serena blinked. “What?”“It wasn’t them who Marco served,” Stefano went on, leaning back in his chair. “It was my parents. Maria and Armando De Ricco.”The words struck her like a blow. She felt her stomach lurch, the ground tilt beneath her. “That’s not possible,” she whispered. “They’re dead. You told me they were dead.”“I believed it,” Stefano admitted, his jaw tight. “I mourned them. I built my empire with the ghost of their deaths behind me. But it was all a lie. Maria faked her own deat

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