"Your clothes. They bother me. 𝐓𝐚𝐤𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐦 𝐨𝐟𝐟."
~
Marriage was not for love -it was for business. It was a strategic move that one had to make wisely. For the Lombardis and the Morettis, this marriage was the most calculated, showstopping...
Oops! This image does not follow our content guidelines. To continue publishing, please remove it or upload a different image.
Malena Moretti, Roman's grandmother, was the real backbone of the Famiglia.
Some might say that it was the Capo Dei Capi, Roman, or even Malena's husband, Giovanni Moretti. However, many people overlook how Malena drew out many undercover cops when the mafia was swarmed with them. She saved their entire livelihood thanks to her talent for networking and Italian, feminine charm. Not to mention she convinced Vincenzo, Roman's father, to make Moretti Holdings --the world's leading holding company that made the family worth unfathomable billions.
So it was safe to say that Malena had a nose for liars or people who weren't who they said they were.
"Have you seen Santina?" Roman's grandfather, Giovanni asked aloud, looking around frantic.
Giovanni had reached that age where days were blurring and memories were fading. Now, he was stuck in a time before Malena, before their son, before their grandson, and before pain.
"Santina Lombardi is dead, Giovanni," Malena bit out, eyes rolling at the mention of the other woman her husband pined after for his entire youth and adulthood.
"He's talking about her, again?" Vincenzo and Roman walked through the doors and into their backyard, overlooking the valley. They frequented this side of the estate often, mainly to check on Malena and Giovanni to make sure she hadn't killed him yet.
"As always," Malena lifted curled wrinkled hands to fists, but only brittle strength responded.
Giovanni loved Malena more than life during their marriage and as little as ten years ago, the love and vitality were still there until his health started to rapidly deteriorate, and with that, his mind.
He never quite got over the one that got away...Santina Matilde Lombardi.
Angeline's grandmother.
Giovanni and Santina were twinflames, soulmates, whatever you call it; they were meant for each other. They were set to be engaged at one point and were lovesick puppies until Santina was married off the second she was of age to Angeline's grandfather. Giovanni eventually healed and fell in love with Malena, living happily but Santina didn't.
Her marriage was loveless and abusive. Santina died giving birth to Carmine Lombardi. She was all but twenty.
Roman or Vincenzo never heard a peep about Santina and didn't even know who she was up until a couple of months ago when the wedding date of Roman and Angeline was announced. It was like a flip had been switched in Giovanni's mind, pushing him back into a time when he was a teenager again and hopelessly devoted to his first love.
Giovanni wasn't allowed at the wedding for one reason: Angeline looked exactly like Santina.
Roman's family was afraid that his fragile mind would break if he saw his dead first love's grandaughter who looked exactly like her.
