Ottaviano ✓

♥ Chapter Fifty ♥

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    •••••••••• Ottaviano••••••••••••✓

      From a young age, I was groomed to take over my family's illicit empire, a legacy spanning generations. But my path to becoming a cold-hearted leader was paved with unimaginable betrayal.

     It all began with my mother, a woman whom I loved and adored. She was the one who taught me strength, loyalty, and the importance of family. But as I grew older, I started to notice a change in her behavior. Cryptic phone calls, hushed conversations, and secret meetings became a part of her routine.

 
   I remember her coming to my room reading me my favorite bedtime stories every night, her having the maids prepare my favorite meal after my football games, and her smuggling candy for my siblings and I when Bud said no. She was a good mum, I don't know where it all went south.

  Was it the late night calls?

  Her obsession with control?

 
  Her love for money?

    What caused her to hurt our family like that? I forgave her when she cheated on Bud when I was thirteen, I forgave her when she missed the twins tenth birthday because she was busy, I forgave her when she first laid her hands on Rio.

     My mother made a lot of mistakes and I forgave each and every one of them, but one of her mistake came at the cost of my little sister's life. Something I'll never forgive her for. And the fact that everyone seems to forget that and move on like nothing fucking happened, not only hurts but pisses me the fuck off.

   And the bad part is that I don't even know whether my baby sis is alive or not.

    I hate how I fucking remember her.

  So I felt numb to every emotion until I only had one, anger.

     The anger and resentment I felt towards my mother transformed me into a hardened leader. I threw myself into the world of crime, honing my skills and building an empire that would make even the most powerful tremble at my name. I became ruthless, unaffected by emotions, and merciless in my pursuit of dominance.

  I became a shell of the man I once was, asking if I'll ever be the same again.

    But fate has a way of weaving its intricate tapestry. As I reached the pinnacle of my power, I met Jasmine and her son Luca. She was a woman of beauty and grace, her vulnerability hidden beneath a tough exterior. Something about her intrigued me, an indescribable magnetism drawing me closer.

    Jasmine and Luca had found themselves at the wrong end of a vicious turf war. Their lives were in danger, and I couldn't turn a blind eye. My cold heart thawed just a fraction as I took them under my protection, offering them safety within the confines of my fortified mansion.

   But all of this scared me. She made me feel something I've never experienced before.

And I fucking hated it.

     Days turned into weeks, and weeks into months. Jasmine's presence began to slowly chip away at the walls I had built around my heart. Her unwavering dedication to her son, her strength, and her compassion challenged the stoicism I had grown accustomed to. And as for Luca, his innocent laughter and big gray curious eyes had the power to melt even the coldest of ice. 

    Yet, as emotions stirred within me, fear gripped my soul. The memories of my mother's betrayal haunted me, whispering cautionary tales of misplaced trust and shattered hearts. I was afraid that opening up to Jasmine would leave me vulnerable to yet another betrayal.