The next day.
The living room couch seemed to have swallowed them whole. Valentina was curled up tightly, as if trying to shield herself from the world, her head resting on Marco's thigh, breathing softly, completely asleep. Marco sat beside her, his head tilted back, jaw relaxed, asleep as well, as though drained by the night they had just endured. They had talked until exhaustion claimed them, their words exchanged in shy confessions that left them tired but strangely at peace.
A heavy silence floated through the room, disturbed only by the distant ticking of a clock. Then, the stairs creaked.
Chloé came downstairs dressed entirely in black: boyfriend jeans, a black shirt, boots, her hair tied into a tight bun. Her face was closed off, her eyes hard, as though something was burning behind them. She stopped at the entrance of the living room, standing perfectly still, observing the scene with confusion.
Chloé (murmuring through clenched teeth)
— What's going on between those two, huh? Hmm...
She approached quietly, her footsteps precise. Once she reached Marco, she leaned down and tapped his shoulder sharply.
Chloé (still whispering)
— Marco. Hey. Wake up.
Marco blinked, slowly returning to consciousness.
Marco (low voice, embarrassed)
— Chloé? Uh… I...
But she didn't let him finish.
Chloé (calm, though her voice carried restrained hardness)
— Don't pretend. I can see you two get along, good for you. But we have things to settle, you and I. Can you come with me? Now.
Marco nodded awkwardly. Gently, he lowered Valentina's head onto the couch, careful not to break the fragile thread between her sleep and the world, then stood up. Together, they crossed the house and entered the kitchen. The atmosphere changed instantly: the light was harsher there, the space more confined, perfect for sharp truths.
Chloé turned to face him, arms crossed. Her gaze didn't seek answers; it demanded action. In her eyes was the exhaustion of a woman at the end of her strength and the cold fury of an enraged daughter.
Chloé (calm but firm)
— I need your help. And I hope you're not going to let me down.
Marco (curious, slightly defensive)
— Of course I'll help you. What do you need?
Chloé inhaled deeply, her hands almost trembling, not from fear but from anger searching for an outlet. Her voice hardened, as though she were spitting stones.
Chloé (voice broken with emotion, then controlled)
— First: I need all the information you have on my mother. Where she lives, who surrounds her, and especially who her right-hand man is. Because that man… he could be the one who killed my husband.
Marco stepped back slightly, surprised by the violence of her request.
Marco (surprised)
— But why?
Chloé (cutting him off mercilessly)
— Let me finish. Second thing: I want to know everything about her network. Her prostitutes, her dirty business, her money laundering schemes, her private life down to the smallest detail. I want everything exposed. Understood?
Silence followed. Marco searched for words, uncomfortable, fully aware of the danger and magnitude of what Chloé was asking.
Marco (trying to balance loyalty and limits)
— Listen… I'm sorry, but I can't invent information. I can't guarantee I'll get those kinds of details. I have contacts, yes, but—
Chloé (imposing, eyes burning with rage)
— But nothing. I need to know everything about that woman, Marco. I can't let Lorenzo's death go unpunished. My first plan starts very soon. While you get me those details, I'm going to make Carlos believe he can seduce me.
Marco's eyes widened in shock.
Marco (stunned)
— What?! Are you insane?! Lorenzo would lose his mind if he hea
Chloé (interrupting, suspicious)
— What did you say?
Marco (voice trembling, trying to recover)
— I meant… he would lose his mind if he were still here and saw you trying to get close to Carlos. I'm reminding you that he's being paid by your mother to lure you in and hand you over to her.
Chloé (cold, imposing tone)
— Yes, I know. And I'm going to play along. I'll let him believe I'm interested, let him comfort me. It's the only way to get close to my mother. But I want to know everything about her first. Everything, absolutely everything. I'm going to bring her down, send her to prison for her crimes, her underground dealings, and for ordering Lorenzo's murder. And that man who shot my husband… I'll deal with him myself. Because he deserves to die by my hands. He took away the man I loved, he stole Lorenzo from me, and I want him to feel my rage.
Chloé's words struck like lashes. Her hands trembled slightly, but rage dominated her completely. Tears streamed down her face despite herself, a mixture of pain and hatred. Marco stepped closer slowly, his face dark, and pulled her into his arms. She burst into sobs, unable to hold her grief back anymore.
Marco (softly, almost pleading)
— Chloé… calm down. Think about your baby. Even if Lorenzo's gone, you have to stay strong for him.
Chloé slowly pulled away, wiped her tears, and her gaze became hard, almost frightening.
Chloé (firm, determined)
— It's for my child that I'll do all of this. So help me. Find me that information. I want to know who that masked man was who killed my husband. I want my mother and him standing in front of me. And I'll show them just how Machiavellian I can be.
Marco (calm but firm)
— But… we're talking about your mother, Chloé. Will you really be able to—
Chloé (eyes red with fury, voice trembling with indignation)
— She is not my mother! She killed Lorenzo to get to me, to control me. I hate her! I swear to you, I hate her!
Marco remained silent, unable to answer. The rage in her eyes burned so fiercely it felt as though it could consume everything around her.
Chloé (calmly, but with menace in her voice)
— So, are you helping me or not?
Marco (hesitant, worried)
— I… I can't. You're pregnant, and you just lost your husband. I can't risk you doing something irreversible. Lorenzo… he never would've wanted this.
Chloé stayed silent, fury boiling inside her, yet her back remained straight and her head held high.
Chloé (cold, imposing)
— Fine. If you refuse, then forget it. But I'm not backing down. Right now, I want to see Lorenzo. Take me to the morgue.
Marco felt his heart stop for a moment. Nervously, he ran his hands through his hair.
Chloé (curious, almost pressing)
— What's wrong? Didn't my in-laws take care of the arrangements? Which morgue is Lorenzo in? I want to see him, and afterward I'll go see them about the funeral.
Marco (trembling voice, hesitant)
— I'm sorry… but you can't see him right now.
Chloé's eyes widened in confusion and shock.
Chloé (surprised, confused)
— Wait… I don't understand. Three days have passed! Since I came back, I stayed home, but now I want to see him!
Marco (stammering, almost pleading)
— But… it's not possible yet. You're too sensitive, and—
Chloé (furious, eyes blazing with rage)
— Sensitive? Me? No, Marco! I'm furious, so furious that if you refuse to let me see my husband right now, I'll do the worst possible thing. So give me the car keys if you won't take me yourself!
Marco (calm but firm, frowning)
— Sorry, Chloé… but you can't see him. Lorenzo has already been buried. His parents strictly forbade me from telling you.
Chloé (shocked, mouth wide open)
— Whaaaat?! Lorenzo… buried?!
Marco (serious, low voice)
— Yes… his parents decided it. They thought it was better for you, for your condition… they didn't want you to stress...
Chloé felt her heart rip apart inside her chest. Pain surged violently through every inch of her body. Tears streamed uncontrollably down her face.
Chloé (trembling voice, almost screaming)
— Are you kidding me?! How… how could you… bury him without even letting me see him?! You… you… aaahhhhh!
A terrible pain suddenly shot through her lower stomach. She staggered, about to collapse. Marco reacted instantly. He caught her and lifted her into his arms like a fragile princess.
Marco (worried, hurried)
— I'm taking you back to your room...
Chloé (crying, breathless)
— It hurts… Marco… aaahhh… my baby… call the doctor, please!
Without wasting a second, Marco rushed out of the kitchen with Chloé in his arms. He climbed the stairs quickly while Valentina, already awake, spotted them.
Valentina (eyes wide, panicked)
— What's happening?! Chloé… what's wrong with her?!
Marco didn't answer and kept moving. Valentina followed anxiously. Once upstairs, Marco entered Chloé's room and carefully laid her on the bed. Valentina approached and sat beside her, gently stroking her tear-soaked cheeks.
Valentina (worried)
— Chloé… why are you crying? It's going to be okay… you...
Marco (calm, reassuring)
— Val… stay with her. I'm going to call the doctor. I'll be back soon.
Marco quickly left the room, leaving the two girls alone. Chloé sobbed harder and harder, clutching her stomach, unable to calm herself.
Valentina (panicked, trembling)
— Baby… answer me… why are you like this? Did Marco do something to you?!
Chloé (crying, broken voice)
— I'm angry… furious… and I'm in pain. They buried Lorenzo yesterday… without telling me… do you understand?! Neither my in-laws nor Marco told me. They didn't even let me tell him how much I loved him.
Valentina, heartbroken for her best friend, gently stroked her hair to calm her.
Valentina (sadly, soft voice)
— I'm so sorry… I know this is a horrible moment, but you have to stay strong… for yourself and for your child. Even if Lorenzo is gone… you still have a part of him, and you need to take care of it.
Chloé (crying, almost angrily)
— You don't understand, Val… I feel empty, guilty… guilty for not being able to do anything. I wish I could've taken those bullets for him. I wish it had been me underground instead of him. I'll never see him again...
Valentina (surprised, shocked)
— You… you love him that much?
Chloé (trembling, breathless voice)
— More than my own life. I love him like I've never loved anyone… despite everything he's done, despite his flaws… I love him. And I feel like I won't survive without him. I want to die, Val, I want to die… but not before I avenge his death.
Valentina (shocked, eyes wide open)
— Avenge his death?! But… what are you—
Valentina hadn't even finished her sentence when the bedroom door opened and Lorenzo's doctor walked in.
Doctor (calm, professional)
— Hello Mrs. De Santis. Marco told me to come check on you because you're not feeling well… may I come in?
Val stood up from the bed, letting the doctor approach and sit gently beside Chloé. He pulled out his equipment from his briefcase while Chloé lay back to let him do his work.
Val (softly)
— Chloé, I'll leave you with the doctor. I'm going downstairs to see if Marco is there.
Chloé nodded weakly, and Valentina left the room, closing the door behind her. Once downstairs in the living room, she saw Marco preparing to leave.
Val (curious, frowning)
— Marco, you're leaving already?
Marco turned toward her, his gaze settling on her with a mysterious smile.
Marco (softly, slightly serious)
— Yeah… I need to act before your friend does something crazy. I have something very important to do.
Val (skeptical, arms crossed)
— Okay… I'll stay with her and then I'll go…?
Marco smirked slightly, teasing.
Marco (mischievous)
— I want you to come to my place tonight.
Val (surprised, eyes wide)
— Your place? Uh… why?
Marco (smiling innocently)
— For a sleepover.
Val burst out laughing, shaking her head.
Val (laughing mockingly)
— You? A sleepover?! Are you serious right now? I remind you that you're not a girl, so we're not doing spa masks and gossip nights. So maybe speak clearly and stop joking around?
Marco shrugged, the corner of his lips still curled into a smile.
Marco (serious but amused)
— Okay, okay… I just wanted to show you where I live, that's all. I'll send you the address by email. If you feel like it, come by at 8 PM.
Val (surprised, curious)
— And… can I know how you got my contact info when I never gave it to you?
Marco (smiling mischievously)
— Haha, you ask too many questions! Anyway, I gotta go now or Loren— uh… I'll be late.
He stepped closer, placed a soft kiss on her forehead, then turned and left. Val remained standing there, butterflies fluttering in her stomach, her cheeks flushed, unable to stop herself from smiling.
Val (murmuring dreamily)
— Oh Lord… I think I'm falling in love.
She turned to head upstairs when she saw the doctor approaching.
Val (curious, worried)
— Doctor, is everything okay? How is she?
Doctor (calm but firm)
— For now, both she and the baby are fine. But if she doesn't rest, there's a risk of miscarriage.
Val (panicked, hands over her mouth)
— Oh my God… no… that can't happen!
Doctor (firm, serious)
— Then take good care of her. Don't let her expose herself to anything that could make her vulnerable or overly angry, so her blood pressure remains stable.
Val (determined, worried)
— Okay, doctor. We'll follow your advice. I'm going upstairs to see her right away.
Doctor (calmly)
— Good. I'll be leaving as well.
The doctor walked away, and Valentina hurried upstairs to rejoin Chloé.
To be continued...