The Phone Call

The Moretti mansion felt strangely empty.

For the first time in three years, Regina's gentle presence was gone. No soft footsteps echoed through the hallways. No fresh flowers decorated the dining room. No comforting aroma drifted from the kitchen.

Yet no one seemed to notice.

Robin had already left for work early that morning, treating the day like any other. Isabella Moretti spent the afternoon planning a charity gala, convinced she had finally rid the family of the woman she had never wanted as a daughter-in-law.

Only one person sensed that something precious had been lost.

Giovanni Moretti.

The elderly patriarch sat alone in his private study, staring out the window with a heavy heart. On his desk lay an old wedding photograph of Robin and Regina.

Unlike everyone else, Giovanni had seen the quiet sacrifices Regina made over the past three years.

He had watched her care for his late wife with unwavering patience.

He had seen her swallow cruel words with grace instead of resentment.

She had never once complained.

Never once demanded anything.

Even after Robin ignored her, she still prayed for his safety whenever he left on dangerous mafia business.

Giovanni sighed deeply.

"I failed you, child."

Just then, his private phone rang.

Only a handful of people in the world possessed that number.

His expression grew serious as he answered.

"Giovanni speaking."

A deep, composed voice came through the receiver.

"Old friend."

Giovanni immediately recognized it.

"Alessandro Romano."

"It has been a long time."

"It has."

For a brief moment, neither man spoke.

They had shared decades of friendship, business dealings, and mutual respect. Years ago, they had quietly agreed that Robin and Regina's marriage could unite two honorable families.

But only Giovanni knew Regina's true identity.

Keeping her secret had been one of the conditions Alessandro insisted upon.

Finally, Alessandro broke the silence.

"My granddaughter came home today."

Giovanni closed his eyes.

"I know."

"She arrived carrying only two suitcases."

His voice remained calm, but the disappointment beneath it was impossible to miss.

"She left everything your family gave her."

Giovanni lowered his head.

"That sounds like Regina."

"She even left her wedding ring."

The words struck Giovanni harder than he expected.

"I'm sorry, Alessandro."

"No."

The older man sighed.

"You're not the one who should be apologizing."

Silence settled between them.

Finally, Giovanni spoke.

"I never imagined Robin would do this."

"I warned Regina that hiding her identity might lead to heartbreak."

"And yet she insisted."

Alessandro chuckled sadly.

"She wanted someone to love Regina..."

He paused.

"...not the Romano name."

Giovanni remembered that conversation years ago.

A young woman with hopeful eyes had smiled and said,

"If he chooses me without knowing who I am, then I'll know his love is real."

Instead...

Robin had never chosen her at all.

"I failed to protect her," Giovanni admitted quietly.

"No," Alessandro replied.

"You honored your promise."

Another silence followed.

"My granddaughter asked me not to interfere."

Giovanni frowned.

"Even now?"

"She said she wants no revenge."

That answer didn't surprise him.

It sounded exactly like Regina.

"But I have made my own decision."

Giovanni straightened in his chair.

"I'm listening."

"Effective immediately..."

Alessandro's tone became firm.

"Regina Romano will officially assume her position as the sole heiress and future chairwoman of Romano Global Holdings."

Giovanni smiled faintly.

"It is time."

"For too long she has hidden from the world."

A quiet pride entered Alessandro's voice.

"My granddaughter has cried her last tears over Robin Moretti."

Giovanni looked once more at the wedding photograph on his desk.

"Robin has made the greatest mistake of his life."

"I believe one day he'll realize it."

"He will."

"But by then..."

Alessandro's voice hardened.

"...she may no longer have room in her heart for regret."

The call ended a few moments later.

Giovanni slowly placed the phone back onto its cradle.

He remained seated in silence for several minutes before opening the drawer of his desk.

Inside was a sealed envelope.

On the front were the words:

To be opened only if Robin and Regina divorce.

He had hoped never to touch it.

With a heavy sigh, he rested his hand on the envelope but did not open it.

"Not yet," he whispered.

Then he looked out the window toward the city skyline.

Somewhere out there, Robin was continuing his day, completely unaware that the quiet woman he had discarded was the hidden heiress to one of the most powerful business empires in the world.

And somewhere else, Regina was returning to the family that had never stopped waiting for her.