All Chapters of His Sinful Empire : Chapter 81 - Chapter 90

GIULIA’s POV The phone wouldn’t stop ringing. I stared at it from the bed in the guest house, watching Dimitri’s name flash across the screen for the third time this morning. My finger hovered over the answer button, then moved to decline. Again. I couldn’t talk to him. Not yet. The guest house was smaller than the main villa, more intimate, tucked away in the gardens with enough distance to feel private but close enough to still be on the property. It was beautiful in that rustic Sicilian way, all stone and exposed beams, but it needed work. The plumbing was temperamental, the furniture was outdated, and there was a persistent draft from the windows that probably hadn’t been properly sealed in decades. But it was mine for now. My escape and my hiding place. I got out of bed, showered under the lukewarm water sputtering from the old showerhead, and dressed in something simple. Jeans, a silk blouse—nothing that required effort. I looked at myself in the mirror and saw exactl

NINA’s POV I stood in front of the full-length mirror, adjusting the red dress one final time. It fit perfectly, hugging every curve, the color rich and bold against my skin. My makeup was light, natural, except for the red lipstick that matched the dress exactly. My hair was pulled up in an elegant updo, loose curls framing my face, sophisticated but not too formal. I looked like I belonged in this empire. At least on the outside. Enzo had told me before he left to get ready that he’d be waiting in the office next to the bedroom. A small room I’d barely noticed, more of a study really, with a desk and bookshelves and a window overlooking the gardens. I slipped on the black heels Giulia had convinced me to buy, the ones that made my legs look endless, and took a breath. The dinner party would be starting soon. Family and business associates. People who would be watching, judging, assessing whether I was worthy of standing beside Enzo Santini. No pressure. I walked to the office

Five minutes later… Giulia appeared beside me, her face pale, one hand on her stomach. “I’m heading back to the guest house. My stomach’s upset.” I looked at her more closely. She did look sick, worse than earlier. “You need the doctor?” “No, I just need to lie down. Too much food, probably.” She forced a smile. “Take care of Nina.” She left, and I made my way back to where Nina stood with a few remaining guests, most of the crowd already dispersing, the dinner winding down. I noticed it immediately when I reached her. The tension in her shoulders. The way her smile was too bright, too forced. And when Dante walked past us, greeting me with a smirk and a casual nod, I saw Nina’s entire body go rigid. Something was wrong. I waited until we had space, then guided her outside, toward the fountain where it was quieter and more private. “What’s going on?” I kept my voice calm, but I was watching her face carefully. “Are you okay?” “Of course.” Too quick. Too defensive.

I sat beside her, took the wine glass and took a long drink before I could even think about where to start. “Dante,” I said finally, my voice rough from crying. “Yesterday morning, something happened with Dante.” Giulia’s expression darkened immediately. “What did he do?” So I told her. About breakfast, about his inappropriate comments, I told her everything. “That piece of shit,” Giulia breathed, her face flushed with anger. “Nina, you should have told someone immediately. Atleast you should have told Enzo—” “I was scared! I didn’t know what would happen. I didn’t want to cause problems with the family, didn’t want to be the reason—” My voice broke again. “The reason for what? For Dante facing consequences for assaulting you?” Giulia set down her wine glass, turned to face me fully. “Nina, listen to me. What Dante did was wrong. Completely, unforgivably wrong. And you keeping quiet about it wasn’t protecting the family, it was protecting him.” “I know that now. But in

ENZO’S POV I went to the guest house first. Early, before the house had fully woken up, before I had to deal with Laurent or Violet or any of it. I told myself it was just practical. I needed to know she was okay before I could focus on anything else. “Giulia?” “In the garden.” she answered “Nina is still sleeping Enzo” I nodded. Left it alone. If Nina was sleeping she needed it, and walking up there and waking her up before I’d figured out what I even wanted to say would only make everything worse. I had the meeting first anyway. Laurent was already in Nonno’s study when I arrived, coffee in hand, relaxed in the way of men who’ve never had to be anywhere they didn’t want to be. Violet sat across from him, a folder open on the table in front of her, dressed like she was closing a deal in Paris. Immaculate and deliberate. She looked up when I walked in and smiled. I sat down, accepted the coffee Nonno’s housekeeper brought, and got straight to it. “The Marseille route