I had cried all night.
I felt more and more like I was choking.
It was as if I was being crushed by a closing vice.
How long would I be able to carry on with all these lies?
The time has come for me to leave.
I was still thinking about what to do when Marielle warned me that Lorenzo had to talk to me and was waiting for me in his apartment.
I went there immediately but, as soon as I entered, I stopped.
Lorenzo was waiting for me in his study. He was sitting at the desk and the table was strewn with documents and photos.
I winced when I recognized Maya's grandfather's cottage.
"Sit down," he ordered calmly.
I obeyed without batting an eye, aware that the moment I had feared since I had met Lorenzo for the first time had arrived.
He discovered my true identity!
I was not even surprised or shocked when I noticed a gun resting on his legs through the transparent glass of the desktop.
"Do you know any of them?" He asked icily, pointing to a photograph taken at an inauguration which I had not attended. Maya's family was complete as was mine, except me.
"Yes," I whispered.
"You never told me that your friend is the daughter of the Rinaldi accountant."
"I didn't think it was important. She is not at all involved with the family business," I defended her, worried that this might hurt her.
"Do you know her family?"
"Yes," I answered uncertainly. It was obvious that I knew the whole Gerber family since I was a Rinaldi. Was it possible that Lorenzo didn't understand who I was?
I quickly covered the photos. They were all recent and I realized that I was in none of them.
"Do you also know the Rinaldi family?"
"Yup."
"And you never thought of telling me?"
"I didn't want you to know."
"Why?"
"I was afraid you wouldn't accept me if you knew the truth."
"That is for sure. And let me guess ... You did not meet Brian Esposito in New York, did you?" It was a question, but from his hardened gaze I knew perfectly well that his was a statement that allowed no replies.
"No, I met him at the Rinaldis' house."
"So, you work for them?"
"No!"
"Don't lie to me!" Lorenzo was suddenly furious, getting up from his chair in anger.
"I'm not lying to you. I swear, "I said, trying to remain calm.
"So, what are you doing here?"
"You know, I was looking for a place to go."
"Are you running away from them?"
"Yup."
"Do you know that if they find you here, they'll kill you?"
I was silent because I didn't think my father would go that far.
"And you also know that if you stay here, you could end up being killed anyway?"
"I haven't done anything wrong and I am not a spy."
"Yesterday I told you about things and ..."
"I swore to you that I wouldn't tell anyone the things he said to me," I reminded him offended by his insinuation.
I got up too because I had no intention of being insulted or pass for a traitor.
I raised my chin and faced him directly.
I no longer cared about what would happen to me, but at least I would have done everything possible to get out of this mess unscathed.
"You are in too difficult a situation not to use this information to save your life with the Rinaldis and be able to be welcomed among them once more."
"Who told you I want to go back to them?"
"Nobody, but you know better than me that a false Id will not save you from their thirst for revenge, if you go away. Nobody can leave the family after you've struck a deal with her. "
"I know that perfectly well, believe me."
"Then you will also understand that I can no longer trust you. I should kill you."
Suddenly I found myself with my back to the wall.
I had no way out.
Lorenzo was in front of me and continued to advance with the gun in his hand.
"Do you know what my grandfather always said?" He said at one point. "He told me that if a Rinaldi and Orlando collided, it could only end one way."
"With the death of one of the two," I said. "I heard it too."
"Then you know at this point it is either you or me."
"I could never hurt you and even less kill you," I confessed, feeling my tears sting my eyes. How could I ever kill the one I am madly in love with?
"Why would I believe you after all the lies you've told me?" He raged, screaming at me.
"Because I love you!" I shouted in turn losing control, before a lump in my throat choked my every word.
"Don't lie to me!" Lorenzo lost his temper, putting the gun barrel to my throat.
"I'm not lying to you," I sobbed through tears. I didn't understand what hurt more; not being believed or fear of dying. "Maya was right. I should never have come so close to you and fall in love with you. I knew it was dangerous for both of us, but I couldn't stay away from you anymore and I was wrong. "
"Swear to me you're not making fun of me just to save your life," he growled at me a few inches away, angrily grabbing my face with both hands.
"For what? You will never believe me. You already decided to kill me, didn't you? "
"Change my mind."
"How?"
"By telling me your real name, to begin with."
"Ginevra. My name is Ginevra, "I whispered in front of his wide and hateful eyes.
"Ginevra ... Rinaldi?" He asked with difficulty, as if had difficulty believing me. Lorenzo knew that Edoardo Rinaldi's daughter was disabled and was always with Brian, so it couldn't have been me. However, his eyes revealed a deep uncertainty. A doubt that was devouring him.
"Just Ginevra."
"What about your last name."
"If I told you it's Rinaldi, would you believe me?" I challenged him.
"No. It can't be ... Ginevra hasn't left home for years because of her disability and Brian has been saying for weeks that the girl won't leave him alone for a moment. Even on the evening he came here, he had just dined with her. Not to mention that the daughter of a mafia boss would never be a maid and redo the guest rooms. Least of all for an Orlando. She wouldn't even know how to start a vacuum cleaner," he took strength from the lies he had heard to reject the truth I had confronted him with. It was as if he didn't want to believe what I had just told him because he didn't want to accept reality.
"Yes, the rich and spoiled Ginevra Rinaldi that everyone knows is certainly not like me. She doesn't have to get up and prepare breakfast every day, she doesn't have to clean her apartment ... No, she spends all the days being pampered and loved by her family, who would do anything for her, "I said full of bitterness. "I'm sorry, Lorenzo, but I'm not the Ginevra Rinaldi you think I am."
"So, who are you?" Snapped Lorenzo with a tormented look, exasperated by the state of disarray in his mind.
"I'm nobody," I asserted convincingly without taking my eyes off of him. "I don't have a family that covers me with love and attention. I don't have a boyfriend who loves me for who I am. I don't have a home. I do not have a job. My only friend is Maya Gerber who, unlike me, has a much livelier life. And do you want to know what's even worse? I love a man who doesn't trust me. I would like to live my first love affair with him, but there are too many lies behind this relationship and I know that what I have been experiencing since I have been staying at the Bridge is destined to end. What I feel for him is wrong, forbidden, and dangerous but I can't live without it. To the point that I am no longer afraid of anything. Not even dying, "I confessed.
"You're crazy."
"You are right. Loving someone who will never return your love is madness, but it happened, and I can't help it. "
"Be careful what you say, because if I were to find out that you are making fun of me, I will ..." hissed Lorenzo with clenched teeth a few inches from my face. Our noses touched each other for a moment.
"What would you do?"
"I could destroy you," he whispered to me before placing he lips on mine with such heat and anger that left me gasping for air.
I answered his kiss and let myself go to what only he could give me.
"Are you ready to become mine? Forever," he said when we broke away to catch our breath.
"Yes," I replied anxiously. I knew what he was asking for and part of me was terrified I could not do it.
"Once you're mine, you won't be able to go back or run."
"I will not do that. I promise you."
"Don't make promises you won't ..."
"I will keep my promise. I swear it," I reassured him. "I would never do anything that could harm you or make you suffer. You have my word."
"I want to believe you. Don't make me regret it, because I don't think I would ever be able to forgive you, "he warned me for the last time before picking me up and taking me to his bedroom.