"I don't want you to take your father's place because of me," I said, after Lorenzo had freed me and taken me to his apartment.
"I have no choice."
"Yes, you do. I will go away. I will disappear from your life and you will no longer have to worry about me." After all that, Lorenzo had gone through, I would never have forced him by making him live the life he had rejected seven years ago.
"Oh yes? And where do you intend to go? "He asked, almost amused. He did not believe a word of what I had said to him.
"Anywhere, as long as it's away from here."
"I thought you loved me. I mean, I went through hell because of our relationship and now you're telling me you're throwing in the towel? "
"Just because my love has only brought death and pain, I think it is right to step aside and stop being selfish. I couldn't stand the idea of seeing you again in the hands of my father's men. You ... you have no idea what I went through ... ", I whispered closing my eyes as if I could erase all the evil and blood I had seen in those days.
"Were you afraid?"
"Yes, and I'm still terrified. Every time I think back to what I caused with my rebellion, I feel like dying. I know you don't believe me, but I swear I would do anything to erase everything that happened. "
"Our meeting too?" He asked, staring straight at me.
"Yes ... I have no choice," I stammered in awe.
"Well, then go away," he exclaimed, pointing to the door with a gesture of defiance." Let's see how tough you are, since you've always told me to love me and cannot live without me."
"I prefer to live without you than to see you die at the hands of my father."
"You underestimate me, Ginevra."
"You are wrong. The truth is that I am destroying your life between your father's pressures and the threats from my father. "I got angry and started moving towards the door.
"Do you really think I'll let those two treat me like a puppet?" He snapped grabbing my arm and preventing me from leaving. "Now I'll tell you what's going to happen: I'll take my father's place and destroy his shitty empire."
"Your father will never let you."
"Once I am in charge of your business, I will be free to do what I want. I will exploit the power of the Orlandos to the bone to destroy the Rinaldi clan by taking away everything. And then I'll do the same with mine. "
"You talk about it like it's a walk in the park."
"It isn't, but I know how the business world of our families works and I know where they are most vulnerable. Of course, it will take years to do it, but I can assure you that I know how to be very patient and persevering ", Lorenzo replied calmly enough to make me troubled.
"How are you going to do it?"
"Thanks to you."
"Me?!"
"Yup. By combining our two last names, we will provide a signal so strong that it will upset all the balance of our city, and in the end, people will come to us. My aim will be to have the support of the city for what we are and not because of our last names. "
"But isn't there a risk of creating a third faction in this way?"
"Yes, and it will be untouchable, because no Orlando will turn against you for fear of damaging me and no Rinaldi will turn against me for fear of ruining you."
"There is only one small problem that you have not considered. You will inherit an empire and become untouchable, while I have been disinherited and have no support from anyone. "
"So, you underestimate yourself. Your strength is not in your last name but in your ability to please people. You're an easy woman to love. "
"Tell my family!"
"I'm not referring to that gang of demented people, but to people in general. Just look at how many people worship you here at Bridge! You have been imprisoned and treated like an enemy by myself. Yet I know that everyone has showered you with attention and I have been repeatedly threatened to be left without employees if I had not freed you. I even had to close the Bridge because they refused to work until you came back to us. Even in this part of town, I know you are not known, but many have had nice things to say about you, even though your real last name came up. "
"Just because everyone knew we were together."
"It will amaze you, but the truth is that I do not enjoy the admiration bestowed on you even if I am an Orlando. Someone respects me, but in reality, they are only afraid of annoying me and ending up poorly, while with you it is different. "
"So, you want me to support your subversion plan?"
"No, I want you to marry me."
Marry?!
I was amazed.
"You hate me," I reminded him.
"Yes, I hate you. I hate you so much that I am willing to turn the whole city upside down to keep you safe. I hate you so much that I forgive all your lies. I hate you so much that I am crazy at the thought of losing you. I hate you so much that I can't live without you anymore. I hate you so much that the love I feel for you kills me every time I think of not being reciprocated, "he confessed, pulling me into his arms. "I will never allow you to stay away from you, even if it will lead me to radically change my life."
"But I don't want you to sacrifice yourself for me. I'm not worth it, "I confessed afflicted.
"You are worth more than anything else, more than any day of my life," Lorenzo sighed, placing his lips on mine.
"Are you sure?" I asked him when I left, after a long and poignant kiss full of promises and love.
"I already told you long ago: we belong to each other and there is no going back. Whatever it takes. I love you, Ginevra, and I won't let anyone take you away from me."
"I love you too, Lorenzo," I was moved. I didn't think I'd hear those words again. "And I promise you that I will do anything to help and support you on this crusade. I too want Rockart City to become united and I am willing to do anything to eliminate the divisions that our families have created. "
"So, will you marry me?"
"Yes," I exclaimed happily, kissing him passionately.
"Oh God, I missed you so much," Lorenzo murmured hoarsely, letting his hands run all over my body.
"You too," I sighed, twisting his hair between my fingers.
Each caress and kiss that followed was like a request for redemption for every lie, secret, injury, minute of captivity we had spent.
We made love and for the first time it was just the two of us: Lorenzo and Ginevra.
No last name.
No past.
But only the union of our two souls and what we swore to do to be happy and put an end to everything that had driven us away.
Ours was a promise.
The promise to start again and lay the first foundations to our future.
A promise that we would commit ourselves to respect. Together. For better or for worse.