جميع فصول : الفصل -الفصل 80

Ortensia couldn’t believe what she was seeing. Vito had run straight into the pool without even a glance at her, his arms pulling through the water as he reached Saskia. She watched stunned, as he pulled her up, her body dripping and gasping.Then he knelt beside her, pressing his mouth to hers in urgent mouth-to-mouth resuscitation. Ortensia’s chest broke, she was here, injured, standing right there, and yet all his focus, all his care, was on Saskia. She felt a sharp pang of jealousy and disbelief. How could he ignore her like this?She felt a pain in her chest. Her hand flew to the spot, and she froze. Blood coated her fingers, the scratches Saskia had left during their fight. Ortensia stared at the crimson streaks, her heart thudding with pain and frustration.The sting from the wounds throbbed with every breath, reminding her of the struggle, and making her feel angry, wounded, and helpless all at once.Vito didn’t pay her the slightest attention. All his focus was on Saskia, who

He closed his eyes as her cries faded into the stillness of the room. The sound of her sobs haunted him for a moment, before he forced it away.Slowly, he stood, pacing the floor like a predator contained. Anger throbbed through him, not because of Saskia, not at the accident, but at Ortensia. How dare she leave the party alone, follow her heart instead of thinking, instead of waiting?What if she had been attacked, just like they were on their way to the party? What if it had been worse this time? The thought clawed at him. The attackers had asked for her clearly, it was her they wanted. What if they had known she was leaving, alone? What if she hadn’t been able to escape? The possibilities twisted in his mind. He swallowed the fear, forcing it down, but the fear stayed. She had been reckless, and it could have cost her everything.***FLASHBACK: He was glad Saskia was out of danger. The medic arrived, rushing to her side, but he didn’t follow them, no matter how much she begged.

He scoffed. “You’re pushing this thing about Saskia.”Ortensia froze hearing him say this, she was in disbelief. Pushing? No, she wasn’t pushing anything. She wasn’t the one hiding pieces of the truth. It was Vito that was holding something back, and she could feel it in the way he avoided her gaze. It made her frustrated, and also suspicious about Vito. “I’m not pushing,” she said quietly, meeting his eyes, refusing to back down. “You’re hiding something. I can feel it, Vito. I know you’re keeping secrets from me, and I won’t rest until you tell me.“Seriously?” he asked.“Why can’t you be straightforward… I’ve asked who Saskia Ventura is to you, severally, even back at the party.” Ortensia’s voice was a little raised at this point. She paused, tired of repeating herself. “But you kept ignoring it… all of it"He didn’t answer. He just stared, like he was weighing what to say.“Stop pretending like I’m pushing things,” she said. “I’m asking because I need to know. I deserve the truth

"Oh my goodness, Rico." Ortensia exclaimed, throwing herself into his arms in a tight, desperate hug, clinging to him as if she might vanish without him.Her warmth pressed against him, and for a moment, the world outside the compound ceased to exist. Vito’s men froze, mouths slightly agape, exchanging shocked glances at the unexpected display. Some gasped audibly, while others shifted uneasily, unsure how to react. They all knew exactly how Vito treated Ortensia… she was the first woman he had ever truly loved, the one he protected fiercely, and the only one who received such care and devotion.Every man had witnessed Vito hold her, arms wrapped around her like she was fragile and precious. Yet now, their eyes widened in disbelief as Rico held her the same way, steady and protective. The compound fell into a tense, heavy silence, every man silently questioning what this could mean.Despite having just recovered from the harsh punishment Vito had inflicted on him, Rico’s arms still w

Hearing what Saskia said about Ortensia pushing her into the pool, fully aware of her asthma, drew loud gasps from everyone in the boutique. Shock rippled through the room, conversations dying instantly as all eyes turned to Ortensia.Some whispered among themselves, others stared in disbelief, clearly unsettled by the accusation. But Saskia wanted them to understand that she meant every single word, with no room for doubt or misinterpretation. Lifting her chin, she repeated herself, louder this time.“You wanted to kill me because of a man, so you pushed me into the pool,” she declared, making sure everyone heard her clearly.Immediately, her friends pulled out their phones, eager to record the unfolding drama. One by one, others in the boutique followed, lifting their devices to capture every moment. Within seconds, the entire scene turned into a spectacle, lenses pointed, and voice rising, everyone anticipating what would happen next.Seeing everyone raising their phones, Rico qu