Chapter 19: The Grief

MARIA'S POV

My bodyguard led me into the house. Ursula and Zia watched their favorite telenovela in the living room when I came in. I tried. I tried to look like everything was fine, but seeing them, my resolve shattered. They ran to me when they saw how much I was shivering. They didn't say anything but only hugged me.

"I lost him," I struggled to say, but they did not understand me. I don't remember how, but the next thing I knew, I was being immersed in the bathtub.

Zia Benedetta turned on the warm water, letting it cleanse me. I don't know if she knew this, but it wasn't only my dirty body. My soul was in rot. I was in so much turmoil.

Every time the thought of how I was so close to reuniting with my brother resurfaced, I shuddered at my weakness in not being able to protect him. The image of his face caught in chaos appeared in my head. He looked so scared and clueless.

He didn't recognize me, which was worrying at first, but it didn't trump my desire to save him. The tears fell from my eyes freely now. I felt Zia's hand on my back, stroking gently. I welcomed the calming touch. It made me feel not entirely alone. Zia Benedetta thought I had enough of the bath already and urged me to come out.

Left to me, I wouldn't have. But she insisted, and frankly, I was too weak to resist. She led me to my room and handed me my nightwear. How I managed to put it on was a mystery. I lay on the bed after, welcoming the softness of my bedspread. Ursula came to lay by my side while Zia Benedetta stood over us.

"I don't know what it is, but we'll figure it out together," Ursula whispered reassuringly to me. All I could do was nod.

"I'll leave you now to rest," she said and made to leave when I stopped her.

"Stay with me tonight, Ursula," I simply said, and she understood. Zia Benedetta nodded and bade us goodnight.

In my mind, I laughed. This was going to be everything other than a goodnight. I didn't think I would be able to sleep at all. Even if I did, I was sure my nightmares were stalking in the shadows, waiting to strike.

"Tell me a story, princess," I said, hoping for a distraction.

Ursula was more than eager to do. She never ran out of stories to tell and always knew the exact one to capture anyone's attention. She chose to tell me about the woman with a thumb for a tooth. It was the most ridiculous of them all, but it was a welcome distraction. I didn't know how, but I managed to fall asleep.

I woke up today feeling better. I turned to see Ursula sleeping soundly. I smiled, grateful she spent the night with me. The pain no longer crippled me, I felt last night. If anything, I was more than determined to save my brother now.

The smell of Zia's cooking hit my nose, and I drooled. As if on cue, the door opened, and Zia, followed by some maids, came in with food.

"Breakfast in bed," she announced, and Ursula jumped up. I rolled my eyes, and Zia laughed.

"Weren't you just sleeping?" Zia asked, but Ursula was already adjusting herself to eat.

A table was brought, and the food was set on it. We sat forward and began to eat. "I'm glad you have an appetite, my child," Zia said.

"Mum said no matter what, I should not skip meals. The duchess was also very strict with that. You remember Ursula?"

"Of course!" Ursula said with her mouth filled with food. "The duchess would harass us with food. She said we should never punish our body and skipping meals ars the body's biggest punishment."

"She seemed like she was lovely," Zia said. This was the first time we would be talking about the duchess as a group. I didn't say much about her, mainly because you couldn't describe the duchess accurately to people who didn't know her personally. She was that complex and unforgettable.

"Yeah. I gave her hell, but she never gave up on me" I smiled, her resurfacing memories.

"I know she's looking down at you with pride," Zia said. "Now, both of you, eat."

We ate until our belly was packed, and we were well and delighted. "Zia Benedetta, have I ever told you how much of an excellent cook you are?" Ursula said with googly eyes.

"You say it all the time," she replied, laughing. The maids were called to come to clear out the plates while Zia stepped out a bit.

"You slept in the middle of my story. Anyway, I forgive you. Now tell me how you feel this morning?" Ursula asked.

"Way better. I feel like I can face whatever happened last night today."

"Exactly what happened last night?" Ursula asked. Just then, Zia returned with a cup in her hand. I didn't need a wizard to tell me it was her famous calming tea. She handed it to me, and I thanked her earnestly.

"You said you couldn't save him. Who exactly were you referring to?" I looked at both of them, eager to hear, so I narrated the events of last night to them.

"Are you sure it was Marco?" Zia asked with tears in her eyes after I was done? I nodded sadly, and she began to cry.

"He's alive? My poor baby has been alive all this while? He must have suffered so much," she repeated, wailing. Instinctively, Ursula and I held her.

We tried our best to calm her down, but she was too upset. "Has he not suffered enough? Why did those bastards retake him?" She asked after calming down.

"Vincenzo. He wanted to one-up me. He took my brother because I insisted I knew nothing about his prototype," I said, admitting the role I played in this mess.

"Well, what is done is done. Now we have to find a way to trade his prototype for your brother," Ursula said, and I laughed bitterly. "What's that about?" She asked, confused.

"That's the thing, Ursula. He doesn't want to trade anymore. Now he wants to punish me. Something about me crossing him one too many times."

"Bullshit!" She exclaimed in disbelief. "Who exactly does that bastard think he is?" She stood up and paced.

"I really can't believe this," Zia sniffed. I didn't know what to say to calm the situation.

I knew I was a big reason for Vincenzo's action. He wanted to show me that I was on his turf and was supposed to dance to whatever tune he chose to play. But that was precisely what I did not want.

I was not about to bend to the will of Vincenzo. I knew the Santoro's. Their specialty was exploiting the weaknesses of their rivals until they drained every ounce of self-worth you have. However, my brother's life was at stake.

"I mean, regardless, we can't just give up. We can still try pushing for a negotiation," Zia said.

"Or I show him why he shouldn't mess with me," I said stubbornly. Ursula paused mid-pace and turned to me.

"Hell no, Marie! You will stop the show of power. This is your brother's life we're talking about here. You will not use it to show off!" She said with a frown.

"You don't understand, Ursula. I,"

"I do not care to understand, Marie. What we're going to do is wait for Vincenzo to calm down and then offer again to trade his prototype for your brother," she said.

"You don't know this person, Ursula!" I screamed in frustration. "They take and take and never stop.

They've spotted my weakness and won't fail to use it against me. Not suggesting trade will stop Vincenzo from doing what is on his mind."

"So then what? Will you two keep up with this back and forth till someone taps out? What are the odds of you winning this way? Vincenzo can build another prototype. He may lose a lot of money, but it is not money that can't be regained. You, however, have your brother to lose again. You need to think carefully before taking your next step," she said.

"I've made up my mind already," I declared without caring.

"And what's your decision?" Zia believes she spoke up for the first time in a while.

"I will demand my brother, and if he doesn't meet my request, I'll pay a visit to every partner his damned company has. I already got Roy to pull out from him. It wouldn't take much to convince the rest," I explained.

"I think it's a bad idea that will only worsen things," Ursula said.

"Well, whatever you do, just make sure Marco comes home in one piece," Zia said, leaving.

"I'm coming with you," Ursula said, and I could feel her anger. But she didn't understand, and I didn't know how to convince her. Sighing, I laid back down on my bed and weighed my plan.