The Double Life of My Pregnant Ex-Wife (Carmen and Marco) novel Chapter 82

The Venetti estate was quiet when Marco and Carmen returned, but the silence was heavy with tension. The men who had survived the assault moved with grim purpose, tending to injuries, repairing damage, and readying the family for whatever came next.

Marco stood in the courtyard, watching as the last of the reinforcements returned. His face was a mask of exhaustion, but his posture remained rigid, unwilling to show weakness.

Carmen approached him, her footsteps soft against the stone. “They’re waiting for you,” she said gently.

Marco glanced at her, his jaw tightening. “What am I supposed to tell them, Carmen? That we lost Rafael? That their sacrifices didn’t matter?”

She reached out, her hand brushing his arm. “You tell them the truth. That this isn’t over and that their sacrifices are what made it possible for us to fight another day.”

Marco sighed, but her words seemed to steady him. He nodded and followed her into the main hall, where their closest allies had gathered.

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Inside, Sergio Montini leaned heavily on his cane, his injuries from the previous battle still fresh. Luca stood nearby, arms crossed, his expression serious. Around the room, the heads of smaller families murmured amongst themselves, their uncertainty evident.

Marco stepped forward, the room falling silent as all eyes turned to him.

“We’ve taken a blow,” Marco began, his voice firm despite the weariness beneath it. “Rafael escaped, and we’ve lost good men and women. But this isn’t the end. We’ve weakened the Consortium, taken their resources, and forced them to retreat. Now, we regroup, rebuild, and finish what we started.”

There was a murmur of agreement, but it was faint, lacking the usual fire of Marco’s supporters. Carmen stepped forward, her voice calm but resolute.

“Rafael’s escape was a setback,” she said, meeting their gazes. “But it wasn’t a defeat. Together, we’ve proven that the Consortium isn’t untouchable. And together, we’ll prove that the Venettis are stronger than ever.”

Her words carried more weight than Marco’s had, the murmurs growing louder with approval. Marco noticed the shift, his chest tightening with a mix of pride and unease.

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Later that night, Marco sat in the study with Luca and Sergio. The fire crackled in the hearth, casting flickering shadows across the room.

“Some of the families are starting to doubt,” Luca said bluntly. “They think your decision to strike without more preparation cost too many lives.”