Dante's chest tightened at the sight of Lia standing in the doorway, her figure framed by the warm glow of the villa's lights. She wore a simple sweater and jeans, but to him, she was still the most breathtaking woman he had ever seen.
The warmth of the villa only contrasted with the ice in her gaze.
"Lia," he said softly, stepping closer to the gate.
"Why are you here, Dante?" Her voice was calm, measured, but he could hear the strain beneath it.
"I needed to see you," he said, his hands gripping the cold iron bars of the gate. "I—"
"No," she cut him off, shaking her head. "You don't get to just show up here after everything and act like—like we can have a conversation. Whatever it is, I don't want to hear it."
"Lia, please," Dante said, his voice cracking despite himself. "I know I don't deserve your time, but I need to explain. About Leonardo. About everything."
Her lips pressed into a thin line, and for a moment, he thought she would shut the door and walk away. But instead, she stepped forward, crossing the distance to the gate.
"Explain?" she said, her tone sharp. "Explain how you didn't trust me? How you threw me away without a second thought? How you believed a man like Leonardo over me?"
Dante flinched at the venom in her voice. "I was wrong," he admitted. "I was blind, and I let my pride—"
"Blind?" she interrupted, her voice rising. "You weren't blind, Dante. You chose not to see. I stood by you, supported you, loved you—and you decided I wasn't worth believing."
Her words hit him like blows, each one cutting deeper than the last.
"You're right," he said, his voice low. "I don't have an excuse. I failed you, Lia. But I'm here now, trying to make it right."
Her laugh was bitter, her eyes glistening with unshed tears. "Make it right? Do you think you can just waltz back into my life and fix everything with an apology?"
"No," he said, shaking his head. "I don't expect you to forgive me. But I couldn't stay silent knowing the truth. Leonardo framed you, Lia. He's been stealing from the company, feeding information to our competitors—everything he accused you of, he was doing himself."
Her breath hitched, and for a moment, her anger faltered. "Leonardo…?"
"I have the evidence," Dante said, stepping closer. "I can prove it. I just need your help to bring him down."
Her expression hardened again. "This isn't about me helping you, Dante. You didn't trust me when it mattered. And now you want my help?"
"I want to make things right," he said desperately. "Not just for me, but for you. For us."
"There is no 'us,'" she said coldly. "Not anymore."
Her words felt like a knife to his chest, but he nodded, accepting the pain he had earned. "I understand. But I'm not giving up on you, Lia. Not until I've proven I'm worthy of your forgiveness."
Before she could respond, another voice cut through the tension.
"That's enough."
Dante turned to see Alessio stepping out of the shadows, his expression thunderous. "You've said what you came to say. Now leave."
Dante hesitated, his gaze flicking back to Lia. But her stony expression told him there was nothing more he could do tonight.
Without another word, he turned and walked back to his car, the weight of her rejection pressing down on him like a boulder.
Meanwhile, in Leonardo's World...
Leonardo Moretti lounged in his lavish apartment, a glass of wine in hand as he stared out at the city. His lips curved into a smug smile as he scrolled through the latest headlines on his phone.
"Dante Moretti Faces Backlash as Family Scandal Deepens."
Everything was going according to plan. Dante's fall from grace was all but assured, and soon, Leonardo would step in to take his place at the helm of Moretti Enterprises.
But he wasn't alone in his schemes.
"Vittoria," he said, turning to the woman seated across from him. "How is our little project coming along?"
Vittoria Conti smiled, her red lips curving into a predatory grin. "Lia Romano is still hiding under her brothers' protection, but it's only a matter of time. Once we release the next piece of information, the media will do the rest."
"And Dante?"
"He's distracted," she said with a shrug. "Running after his ex-wife like a lovesick fool. It's pathetic, really."
Leonardo chuckled, raising his glass in a mock toast. "To their downfall, then."
Vittoria clinked her glass against his, her eyes gleaming with malice. "To us."
Back at the Romano Villa...
Lia sat on the edge of her bed, staring at the folder Dante had left behind. She hadn't wanted to take it, but Alessio had insisted.
"You should know the truth," he had said, his tone uncharacteristically soft.
Now, as she flipped through the pages, her heart sank. The evidence against Leonardo was overwhelming—bank records, emails, even recordings. Dante hadn't been lying.
But that didn't erase what he had done to her.
A soft knock at the door pulled her from her thoughts. Marco poked his head inside, his expression curious. "You okay?"
"I don't know," she admitted, setting the folder aside.
He stepped inside, sitting beside her. "What did he want?"
"To make amends," she said bitterly.
"And do you believe him?"
She hesitated. "I don't know."
Marco leaned back, his gaze thoughtful. "You don't have to decide now. But whatever you do, remember—you don't owe him anything, Lia."
She nodded, but as she stared at the folder, doubt crept into her mind.
Dante had hurt her. Betrayed her. But was he really trying to make things right?
And could she ever trust him again?
To Be Continued...