2026-01-24 23:38:45
Previous Chapter
Latest Chapter
127: The Divorce Finalization
Dante gulped hard, his motion slow and deliberate.He adjusted the cuffs of his suit, an attempt to steady himself as he stepped into the high court.Today was the day. The day everything would be made official.The day his marriage to Giulia would be annuled. For a fleeting second, he paused just inside the entrance, his sharp eyes scanning the room.The atmosphere felt stiff like a place where emotions came to die. A few people sat scattered across the benches, murmuring in low tones.He exhaled slowly and moved forward.A few days ago, they had already signed the papers. That brief, suffocating meeting at the Santoro Manor had sealed it in principle so this is just the conclusion. The final nail.Santoro had tried. Only God knows the old man had tried.He had talked and talked, his voice heavy with authority, then softened with desperation.He had reasoned, pleaded, even commanded at some point. But Giulia had remained unmoved. Her mind was made up.What stung the most wasn’t just
126: I Need Space
“I can notice the uneasiness on your face,” Mr. Santoro began, his voice carrying a weight that made the room feel smaller than it was.He paused, clearing his throat as though the words in there needed effort to come out.“Well, I’m really deeply sorry for calling this meeting without notifying you about the purpose of it.”Dante exhaled slowly, the tension that had been coiled in his chest loosening. At least the old man recognized his mistake. That alone took the edge off the irritation Dante had carried all the way here.“Well, to be honest, that’s exactly how I feel,” he replied, leaning back just a fraction, though his posture remained guarded. His gaze didn’t leave Santoro’s face."It feels more like a summon.” He forced out a faint smile that didn't reach his eyes.“Once again, I’m sorry for the misconduct,” Santoro continued, nodding faintly as though acknowledging his own fault brought him some measure of relief.“I hadn’t expected it either. But the truth is, what you’re as
125: Unexpected Meeting
After Dante’s return from his firm, Santoro had called him over to his manor so they could talk.He hadn’t emphasized what the discussion was about, despite Dante’s attempt to find out.In his words, “There’s something we need to discuss.”That was all, nothing more attached.Because of this, Dante didn’t waste time before leaving for the Santoro estate.To him, it felt like a personal meeting, one that wouldn’t take much time.However, upon his arrival at the family house, he was surprised to see Giulia’s car parked in the garage.That alone stirred a quiet curiosity within him."Had she been here all this while, and Mr. Santoro just decided to call me today?" he wondered.The thought lingered longer than he expected as he stepped out of the car, handing the keys over to one of the attendants. His eyes flicked back briefly to the vehicle, as though it might offer him answers, but of course, it didn’t. It only confirmed one thing—Giulia was here.Dante walked into the manor with his us
124: A Scrutiny Visit
It was early Monday morning when Dante stood in his room, meditating. The quiet hum of the air conditioner was the only sound accompanying him as he prepared for work.The curtains were half-drawn, allowing thin streaks of pale sunlight to slip into the room and stretch lazily across the polished floor.He had been awake for a while, longer than usual, though he would never admit that sleep had eluded him. Today wasn’t an ordinary workday.He had decided to visit his branch office in Milan, a move he had contemplated for days but only finalized this morning. There were things he needed to see for himself, operations he wanted to observe without filters or rehearsed reports.The incident he witnessed in the Armani headquarters had already made him realize that too much had been happening lately.Dante trusted his instincts more than the polished words of his subordinates. Still, as he buttoned his shirt with careful precision, his mind wasn’t entirely on Milan.Giulia hadn’t returned h
123:. A Disdainful Glares
Giulia paused mid-sentence, her lips parting slightly as if the next words had suddenly slipped out of reach.For a brief moment, she looked lost, like someone standing at the edge of a memory she wasn’t sure she should revisit."Grandpa, you know we had issues in the past, which seemed to have been resolved,” she finally began, her voice quieter than usual, weighed down by hesitation.The effect was immediate.Santoro’s expression shifted, the faint calm he had been holding onto dissolving into something sharper, more alert.Dante’s reaction was even more pronounced, his face hardened and his eyes narrowing as he turned to her.“What do you mean?” Dante asked quickly, his tone edged with suspicion. “What issue are you talking about?”Giulia swallowed; her throat suddenly felt dry. She hadn’t expected such a strong reaction. Now that she had their full attention, the pressure of explaining herself felt suffocating.She paused again, carefully choosing her words, as though one wrong ph
122: What's That?
When Dante heard that Mr. Santoro had been discharged from the hospital, relief washed over him.He instructed his driver to drive forward to the Santoro villa instead of his home.The entire ride felt longer than it actually was, and that was because Dante was longing to see him again.By the time he arrived, the compound was already filled with people. Well-dressed men and women stood in clusters, exchanging hushed conversations and artificial smiles. Some held gift bags, while others simply lingered, their eyes sharp and observant.To the average eye, it looked like a gathering of well-wishers, but Dante knew better.Not all of them had come out of concern. Some were here to confirm rumors, to see with their own eyes whether the mighty Santoro had truly survived or if the family was simply putting on a show to hide a loss they couldn’t afford to admit.Dante stepped out of his car, barely sparing anyone a glance. The murmurs around him grew slightly louder as a few recognized him,
You may also like
The Ultimate Husband
Skykissing Wolf7.8M viewsThe Almighty Dominance
Sunshine2.0M viewsThe Hidden Successor In Disguise
SHIROE78.7K viewsI Married a Beautiful Boss After the Breakup
Seafarer's Strike200.3K viewsRise Of The Broken Son In Law
Dhellymilly438 viewsWar God’s Last Stand
SHSA141 viewsThe Hidden Heir
ARINZE CUBANA803 viewsThe Silent Benefactor
Ivy Rogers1.4K views