Book 2: Chapter Eighty-Five - Bankrupt

Book 2: Chapter Eighty-Five - Bankrupt
The next day, Evita visited them with her son, Riccardo. Not once did she mention Rafael during the entire time she stayed in their house. Amelia felt bad for her. She was quite nice and didn’t deserve a man like Rafael who destroyed her life. 

“You should move on, my dear. You can’t live alone all your life,” said Matteo’s Mama. 

“I’m working in a multinational company now as a PA to the CEO. I’ve moved on, Aunt Bianca.” 

“I meant it on a personal front. Rafael didn’t marry you despite everything. I think you should marry a nice young man and settle down.” 

“I am marrying my boss next month, Aunt Bianca. He loves me and Riccardo. No one has ever loved me the way he does. I’m glad I met someone like him,” said Evita, and they felt relieved that she found the happiness she deserved. 

“What’s his name?” asked Marco with avid interest. 

“Leonardo Bernardi.” 

“Ah, Leo? He’s a gem of a guy!” said Marco with a satisfied grin. 

“Do you know him?” asked Evita with surprise. 

“Yes, he’s Viola’s cousin. I met him at my wedding.” The world was indeed a small place to live in!

Marcello left for the airport after Evita and Riccardo went home. He wasn’t interested in spending a night more in Florence now that they were free. He would get their house cleaned up for them. His Mama didn’t stop him at all. It would be a great help indeed. 

In the evening, Carlos sent his men and two cars to fetch them, along with their luggage. With their flight early the next morning, they would spend the night in Carlos’s house. 

“Are we leaving this house forever, Papà?” asked Mariella, as they walked towards the cars. A beautiful unspoken bond had developed between the two just overnight. 

“Yes, Marie. Our actual house is in New York. We will go to Sicily to settle Nonna and the others first. Then we will go home to New York.”

“New York? In the USA?” she asked with wide eyes. 

“Yes.” 

“Won’t we live with Nonna, Uncle Marcello, and Angela?” she looked a little upset. 

“We will visit them often. You will like New York! There’s a huge shipping port and park nearby. We can go see the ships. It’ll be fun,” said Matteo, and Mariella’s eyes widened with excitement. 

“Really? Can we go now, Papà?” 

“We will go to Sicily first.” 

Matteo felt relieved that Mariella had accepted everything readily. She had been with his family since birth, and separating her from them seemed like an impossible feat. Amelia smiled at him with relief. 

One look at his wife again made his heart skip a beat. She seemed like a breath of fresh air in his life. Ever since he reunited with her, all his problems, both mental and physical, disappeared from his life. 

They reached Carlos’s house and met his family after ages. Even Evita was there with her fiancé and son. Genelia had made peace with Evita and so had she. Carlos took them all to his restaurant, which had a flashy signboard, reading Trattoria Sorrentina in bold golden letters. He had arranged a lavish dinner for them on the newly built upper floor.

“We’re inaugurating it tonight with you!” he announced proudly. They all appreciated the authentic Italian decor and the warm, vibrant colors used to add a cheerful ambiance to the place. 

“Congratulations,” said Matteo and the others too congratulated him. 

“I love what you’ve done to the place, bro,” said Evita, who had come here before. 

“Let’s order. The delightful aroma of food is making me hungrier,” said Genelia.

“Can we have a mini meal for the children?” asked Viola. Carlos suggested some options, and they ordered readily. Amelia interacted with Brooklyn’s twins, Brycen and Nikson. They were more interested in discussing the two luxury cars parked outside than the meal.

Alex had grown up into quite a charming thirteen-year-old. He helped Genelia with her little daughter, Ziana, and the newborn twins, Gordon and Bryon. Brooklyn’s three-year-old daughter, Brianna, got along well with Mariella and Angela. 

Carlos’s grandparents, and his sister Catarina, were friendly, and Amelia soon warmed up to all of them. Matteo’s Mama sat chatting with Carlos’s Nonna while Donovan eyed Catarina throughout the meal. It was quite an enjoyable evening for all. Matteo smiled, watching the warm glow on Amelia’s cheeks as she giggled with her best friend and sister. 

“Come down to Johannesburg to see us, Matteo. Gia is also settled there. I’m sure Amy and Mariella would love it there,” said Ryan. 

“Sure, we will.” 

“We don’t want the money Rafael left behind. Amy won’t listen to us, Matteo. I want you to use it wisely in your business or otherwise. You’ve been through a lot. You will need it,” said Ryan. Matteo smiled and nodded, but didn’t commit. He hardly found the time to check his bank account. After so many years, he had forgotten his password and account number, too. Right now, he had some money Amelia gave him. Once he reached Sicily, he would have to withdraw some money.

“I will talk to her.” 

After dinner, they slept over at Carlos’s uncle’s house. They would leave by seven in the morning the next day. 

The next morning, everyone was awake to bid them an emotional farewell. Donovan drove them to the airport while Carlos followed them in his car with Nikolas, Brandon, and their families. They boarded Nikolas’s sleek private jet, waiting for them at a private enclosure. The girls were impressed by the aircraft, and Brycen and Nikson showed them around. It was amazing to listen to the knowledgeable duo. 

“Even I don’t understand so much about jets!” said Brandon with an eye roll. Genelia occupied a bedroom to feed the twins. Amelia, Viola and Brooklyn joined her there. It was the last time they would interact before returning to their hectic lives. 

“Don’t disappear this time, Amy. Keep in touch,” said Brooklyn.

“Sure, I will. You can always call me on my old number now.” 

“Oh, thank God! Keep it switched on, then.” 

“It is on now!” 

“I’ll plan all our vacations in Sicily to see you,” said Genelia. 

“We will go to New York in a few days. Matteo’s apartment and shop are in Brooklyn. Our lives are settled there.” 

“Oh, then I can accompany Nikolas on his work trips to New York. We’ll meet soon,” said Brooklyn excitedly. 

Nikolas dropped them in Sicily before flying away to Napa Valley, California. Genelia and Brandon would stay with them for a few days before heading home. 

Amelia was a little dejected to part with her family. They could hardly interact much!

Marcello was waiting outside the airport to take them home. 

“Did you get the house cleaned up?” asked his Mama, but he just scratched his head and gave her a blank look. 

“Sorry, I forgot!” They all glared at the guy. How could he forget something so important? 

“Forgot? What did you do for the last twenty-two hours?” demanded his Mama in the middle of the parking area. Matteo and Marco rolled their eyes. They had just set foot on Sicilian soil and it started again! Some things never changed! 

“What could I do? Alessia and her family bought the house next to us. They invited me over and I couldn’t decline.” 

“Alexia was in Genoa, right? How did she buy the house next to ours?” asked his Mama with her hands on her waist. 

“It’s Alessia, Mama. Well, I informed her. She coaxed her grandparents to buy it. She left her parents' house and is living with her grandparents.” The excited look on his face was enough for them to know what was going on. 

“Soon she’ll be living with us,” grumbled his Mama while they all chuckled. They bundled into the minivan and sped towards their home.

“It will be so dirty. We should stay over at a hotel until the house is cleaned. Marco, call the cleaning services and get the place cleaned up and sanitized first. My old bones cannot clean such an enormous house.” 

They checked into a hotel nearby. It was a huge dorm room the whole family would share. Matteo felt frustrated with the arrangement and cursed Marcello. 

“Sorry, bro!” said the goofy guy, looking at all of them with guilt. 

Matteo and Amelia went to their bank nearby to check his account, since his net banking wasn’t working. 

“It was working fine last month when I withdrew a little money,” said Amelia worriedly.

“Haven’t your accessed it for a month?” 

“No, I didn’t need to.” 

They walked into the bank and met the customer care representative. She checked the account and shook her head. 

“Mr. Ricci, the account doesn’t have the required balance. All facilities have been withheld until you deposit more funds to maintain the minimum balance.” 

They both gaped at the executive with shock. Where did all his money go? “How can that be possible? I have withdrawn very little in the last five years,” said Amelia. 

“There have been bulk withdrawals every year for the last five years,” she informed them, turning the screen of her laptop to show them. 

Matteo checked the figures and sat slumped in the chair, totally shattered. Where did all his hard-earned money go? Who could do this to him? What would he do now? He was totally bankrupt!