CHAPTER 121

**Francesca**

- Of course not, one because she disappeared and another because she comes to hit on our husbands, we don't know what she has become. But with her track record, I don't doubt at all that she fell in life.

I get ready to go out and shut these bitches when I hear another voice approaching.

- You should be more careful when talking about people, Francesca was the victim of an unscrupulous person, as well as Rafaella, me. You should be more empathetic, instead of judging who you don't even know.

"Stop, Melissa, now you're going to defend a little girl you don't even know?"

"I've been judged and I know very well what it's like to live in fear of something you didn't do.

I decide it's time to reveal myself, open the door, and then the four girls look at me.

They seem to be embarrassed, except for Melissa who smiles friendly.

"Well, I'll make a few things clear here. The bitch would never hit on her husbands and you know how I know that?

Melissa gives a smile of someone who knows the answer while the others are white and looking at each other.

"Because she has a beautiful fiancé and doesn't need another man, even though she's admired by a lot." Nice to meet you, I'm Francesca Diana Zucalli or as you knew me Francesca Diana Garrotti.

They look at each other and Melissa continues to smile.

"You know, for many years I was haunted by those days and everything they did here to me, not only after that shooting, but even before when I was just the teacher's daughter without a father.

"I'm sorry, we didn't know," Priscilla says, taking the lead.

"It's easy to judge the other when you don't know the story behind the facts, but know that that humiliated girl won, she became someone and it wasn't because of a last name, since I fought hard for that. Today I have money, a respectable surname, a fiancé who loves me above all else, and a career I'm proud of. I go to sleep every night with a clear conscience, even though my ex-husband has done some, after all it was something he did and I in a way tried to redeem myself, even though I was not guilty.

"I'm sorry," they stammer and leave the bathroom.

When I'm alone with Melissa, she looks at me and then starts laughing, which makes me do the same.

"I love it, you put those snobs in their place.

"I confess it wasn't easy, I was scared to death of her judgments, but her words helped me realize that I'm stronger than that.

I reach over and take his hands.

- Thank you, Melissa, for that and for showing me who Giuseppe was, I will never be able to thank you as you should.

- Thank me for being happy, after all you were a victim of that. I still got rid of it when he died, but you were years away from the one you loved and harbored a hatred for the wrong person.

"I feel like a fool for this, I spent ten years hating a person I'm only supposed to love. And yet I plotted a baseless vendetta against the CEO of my heart.

"I understand you, the cretin manipulated you well, you just needed some help to take the blindfold off and figure out who you should hate."

"I'm sorry I didn't call you earlier, but these months have been crazy with my reconciliation, finding out who Giuseppe was, moving house, everything.

"I understand, the important thing is that now we've met and I think it's all right.

I hug Melissa who responds.

- Thank you very, very much. You helped me to break free and be happy. If you want, I would like to have you in my circle of friends.

— I like, Francesca.

I smile and there we seal our friendship that was just beginning.

Now, I'm free of all the past and ready for a new cycle of love with my CEO.

I am now one hundred percent free to live my love story.