Chapter 256

Chapter 256
Alia POV

So it wasn't something Sabrina taught her, but something inherited from this seemingly proper Marco. She really was his daughter.

Marco: "I'm just stating a fact."

Me: "..."

I chose to remain silent. As a small fashion designer, how could I be a match for Marco?

I heard from Nicola that Marco used to be the captain of the university debate team. Trying to win against him in eloquence would be like dreaming.

Marco lowered his head to kiss me again, holding me as he let out a long sigh of relief: "I can sleep well tonight."

I wondered to myself - did he mean he hadn't been sleeping well before?

Marco fell asleep contentedly holding me, but I couldn't sleep in his arms.

There had been no news from Nicola's side these past two days. I wondered how things were progressing?

If they found evidence of Andrea's murder, would Marco and I be able to continue walking forward as warmly as we were now?

I didn't know!

If Marco and I really had to separate...

Thinking of this, I turned my head to look at Giulia lying beside us, couldn't help but pinch her chubby little cheeks.

"Sigh..." I let out a soft sigh. If that day really came, I wouldn't want anything else, but Giulia must belong to me.

"Mrs. Vittorio, what are you thinking about?" The voice of the man who had already fallen asleep suddenly sounded above my head.

I shook my head: "It's late. You have to work tomorrow, go to sleep early."

From my tone, Marco could tell that I must be hiding something in my heart. He rubbed my head and said: "Alia, remember what I told you, or I won't be polite to you."

Though they were clearly threatening words, when I heard them they were full of deep concern. I smiled: "Yes, sir, Mr. Vittorio!"

...

The next day.

The sun hung high in the sky, shining so intensely it seemed the earth might crack open.

But people were still busy, not stopping their work for even a moment.

Simone was currently sitting in Portano's best coffee shop.

Simone really liked this place. Every weekend since coming to Portano, he would come here, order a cup of authentic Blue Mountain coffee and a piece of Black Forest cake, and stay for half the day.

Today was no exception.

But compared to sitting alone lost in thought as usual, today Simone had a "friend" for company.

Marco sat across from Simone. He still wore a white shirt and black trousers, with gold-rimmed glasses. Behind the lenses, his black pupils were deep and quiet, showing no emotion, his aura cold and regal like an emperor.

He sat there, gazing at Simone with deep eyes.

Simone had spent years mingling in the Dragon Country's royal court. Even though he was somewhat amazed by Marco's presence, he could still chat and laugh easily.

Simone picked up his coffee, the aroma rushing into his nostrils: "On such a hot day, Mr. Vittorio still made a special trip here. What brings you?"

Marco smiled, though his eyes remained as quiet as before: "You know very well. Why the unnecessary pretense?"

These past few days, Marco had already investigated Simone's identity. Simone would definitely know some inside information that he hadn't uncovered yet, so this meeting naturally proceeded smoothly.

Simone naturally understood Marco's words, but wanted to intimidate Marco first and gain some verbal advantage. He hadn't expected Marco to throw the question back at him.

Simone smiled: "In that case, Mr. Vittorio needn't waste words either. Let's get straight to the point."

"My thoughts exactly." Marco pushed his glasses, his narrow eyes slightly narrowing, creating a sharp intensity.

Marco: "I heard that Simone has been looking for someone for over ten years?"

Simone nodded: "That's correct."

Marco raised an eyebrow slightly: "Found them?"

"Found them." Simone put down his coffee. "Speaking of which, I should thank Mr. Vittorio. She has a noble status, and after wandering outside for so many years, fortunately the Vittorio family took such good care of her. Otherwise, who knows how much she would have suffered."

Marco shook his head, the smile at the corner of his mouth suddenly turning much colder: "No need. She's my sister."

The implication was clear - regardless of what Sabrina's identity was, first and foremost, she was a child of the Vittorio family, his sister.

"Oh?" Simone sighed softly. "Mr. Vittorio must have already discovered Sabrina's identity, right? Her mother was a Dragon Country princess. If the princess's family hadn't suddenly disappeared in Portano back then, causing Sabrina to wander lost, she wouldn't be some Vittorio family young lady now."

Simone's words were equally pointed. He clearly felt that Marco wasn't qualified to stand as siblings with Sabrina.

Simone's mockery was so obvious, but Marco remained unmoved. He definitely wasn't someone who could be intimidated by a few words.

Marco looked at Simone: "As long as she remains Sabrina, she will be my sister. As for... whether her mother was a princess or a beggar, I don't care. Moreover..."

Marco paused, looking at Simone with eyes that no longer seemed so quiet, as if overwhelming waves were gathering.

"Moreover, I didn't come here for her identity at all. I just want to know... who killed Sabrina's parents back then? Does it have anything to do with Niccolò Paladino?"

Hearing this, Simone's face, which had been smiling all along, actually showed surprise.

It had taken him over ten years to find Sabrina and understand what had happened to the princess's family in Portano back then... yet Marco had found so many clues in just over ten days...

Simone looked at Marco: "Why should I tell you? Mr. Vittorio is a businessman - surely you know that to get something, you must give something in return?"

Marco raised an eyebrow: "What do you want?"

Simone looked at Marco with a half-smile: "What I want, only Mr. Vittorio has, but I'm afraid you won't be willing to give it to me."

Marco said steadily: "Speak."

Simone leaned closer to Marco and said quietly: "Alia!"

"Alia? You want Alia?" Marco laughed coldly, looking at Simone with eyes sharp as a sword, as if he could send Simone to heaven at any moment.

"Yes. I want her." Ignoring the sharp killing intent emanating from Marco, Simone continued: "Mr. Vittorio, are you willing to give her to me?"

Marco looked at Simone, his gaze slightly narrowed, with a half-smile.

Marco's seemingly absent smile felt like a thorn in the back. Suddenly, Simone felt a chill down his spine.

But having rolled around in political circles for years, he had long since developed the ability to remain unmoved.

Simone smiled: "Mr. Vittorio, don't look at me like that - you're scaring me. If you can't bear to part with her, then you can't. I don't have the ability to snatch her away, so she's still yours."

Marco leaned back steadily in his chair, stable as a mountain, and spoke without changing expression: "Simone, we're both intelligent men. Why don't you just say what you really want?"