The Second Chance for Ma’aruway
I clinked my glass against his, the faint sound like a spark igniting something deep within me. Tomorrow, I’d walk away from the wreckage of my old life. And maybe yeah… Maybe with Matteo’s help, I’d make sure Lorenzo and Stefania felt every ounce of the pain they’d caused me.
“I will show you something later,” Matteo said after a long silence. “Just heads up, if you’re still in love with Lorenzo head over heels this will be an ultimatum for you to break down.”
“No worries. I am tough now… Thanks to Lorenzo and Stefania.”
And just as Matteo told me earlier. I was still a bit shocked even though I already expected what to feel.
My hands trembled as I flipped through the diary Matteo gave me. He said he found it buried in Lorenzo’s safe. The edges of the pages were worn, like they carried secrets too heavy to keep. And then I saw it–that one line that hit me harder than any punch ever could
“That was the happiest time of my life
I sucked in a breath, my fingers tightening on the spine. The next few entries felt like knives slicing through me, one by one. Lorenzo’s handwriting, bold and deliberate, practically screamed his confessions.
*No matter how much I tried, I could never turn Aletta into Stefania.”
I dropped the diary as if it burned me. My heart raced, the words echoing in my mind like a taunt Stefania. Always Stefania. Even now, after everything I glanced at the mirror across the room and saw myself, my hair in the soft waves he always liked. But it wasn’t for me, was it? It was for her
“I already hinted that it was Stefania he has wanted since then. But the reasons here in the diary why it was me he needed to marry makes me wanna go to him and slap this thing to his face I muttered, my voice breaking. My reflection didn’t flinch, didn’t crumble. But inside, I was falling apart. “Damn you, Lorenzo. I added painfully.
“Cry it out…” Matteo suggested.
I looked at him. I shook my head. “No,” I said seriously. “I’m done with that.” I sighed. “Anyway, thank you for this.”
“I better go,” Matteo said next. “See you tomorrow, Aletta.” He walked away, leaving me alone in my room.
Aletta First time he said my name. Just my name.
I smiled bitterly. Matteo always called me ‘Damsel‘ and sometimes ‘Signora Aletta Some changes on his part,
right?
I stumbled to the closet, throwing open the doors. Every designer dress, every pair of heels, every shiny piece of jewelry he had ever given me–all Stefania’s style. Of course, they were. I laughed bitterly, shoving the boxes aside. It was like my life had been one big tribute to her, and I’d been stupid enough to go along with it
And all I needed was to read a diary to realize it! Fool me!
I thought that some of his gifts were given to me and it all suited Stefania’s taste, but… I sobbed, but I never thought that all of my things were meant for Stefania from Day One. Yeah, all
The anger came fast and hard, consuming the sadness like fuel to a fire. I grabbed the scissors from my vanity and stood in front of the mirror. My long hair, the one thing I’d always been proud of, the one thing he’d sai
of
around me like ashes from the reminded him of her–gone. Each snip felt like a little victory, the strands falling around me like ashes from the
was burning to the ground.
When I finished, I stared at the stranger in the mirror, Short hair, wild eyes, and a look that could cut glass. The clock chimed midnight. My gaze landed on the countdown calendar I brought here in my room, the words I’d scrawled weeks ago mocking me–To wear the most beautiful wedding dress and marry the man I love
I tore it down, crumpling it in my fist “Fuck the wedding!”
I woke up with a plan the next day Revenge wasn’t going to wait I slipped into a tailored black suit, tossed
the torn calendar into the trash, and grabbed the USB drive I’d spent weeks filling with proof of their lies that were supposed to be in Liz‘ hands but will be under Matteo’s care once I left.
2:01 PM ď ď
Pictures, messages, videos, transactions of Corvino’s companies… All in the USB drive. Enough to ruin Lorenzol
and Stefania. The Corvinos and Volantes
Matteo was waiting for me at the lounge downtown, a drink already in hand. His sharp gray eyes swept over me
as I walked in, and a smirk tugged at his lips.
“You look different,” he said, raising his glass. “You look gorgeous with your new hair. You’re hot, in fact”
“Flattery,” I replied, sliding into the seat across from him, I dropped the USB onto the table. “Everything’s on
there. Make sure it goes live the moment you decide when to air that. But I hope you give them some insights. When their little show starts, show the footage of them making out in the bridal chamber supposed to be mine. Just an appetizer for what they will have next”
He picked up the drive, turning it over in his fingers “You’re sure about that?”
“Let them burn,” I said, my voice cold,
His chuckle was low, approving, “I’ve always admired your fire, Aletta. This is going to make quite the impact” *That’s the idea!” I stood, smoothing my jacket. “You’ll handle it?”
“Like clockwork,” he promised
“Need to go. Ciao!”
“No goodbye kisses?” Matteo teased.
I blew him a kiss. Winked at him and left
I didn’t need to say more. As I walked out, I felt Matteo’s gaze lingering, but I didn’t care. I had bigger things to
handle.
At the airport, the private jet of my mother waited on the tarmac, engines roaring My phone buzzed as I climbed
the stairs, Lorenzo’s name flashing on the screen. I let it ring once, twice, before answering
“What do you want?”
“Aletta, where are you?!” His voice was frantically hissing at me. “The ceremony is starting! Everyone’s waiting!”
I laughed. “Oh, I’m sure Stefania can play the part just fine,” I stated sharply
“What are you talking about?!” he snapped. “This is not the day for your
“You’ll see,” I said, ending the call before he could respond.
As I settled into my seat, the flight attendant approached, “Signora Aletta.” She’s offering champagne.
I accepted, raising the glass in a mock toast to the life I was leaving behind “To freedom,” I whispered, taking a sip. The bubbly liquid burned pleasantly as it slid down my throat, a fitting contrast to the bitter memories I was escaping.
The jet’s engines roared louder as it taxied down the runway. I stared out the window, watching the city I’d spent so long trying to conquer fade into the distance. My phone buzzed again, but I didn’t bother checking it. Whatever Lorenzo had to say, it didn’t matter anymore.
“Goodbye, Lorenzo,” I murmured, leaning back into the leather seat and muting my phone.
