The Double Life of My Pregnant Ex-Wife (Carmen and Marco) novel Chapter 86

The Venetti estate was a whirlwind of activity as Marco moved through the halls, issuing orders and listening to reports from his men. The battle against Rafael was over, but the scars of war lingered. Families who had stood by the Venettis were grieving their losses, and tensions simmered beneath the surface of even the most loyal allies.

“Enzo,” Marco said, addressing one of his trusted men, “I need a full report on our territories by the end of the day. Prioritize the regions hit hardest during the war.”

“Yes, boss,” Enzo replied, bowing slightly before leaving the room.

Marco sighed and ran a hand through his hair. His empire, once strong and unyielding, now felt fragile. He couldn’t shake the weight of responsibility pressing on his chest.

As he turned to leave the study, he found Carmen standing in the doorway. She looked poised, her expression calm but thoughtful.

“You’re working too hard,” she said softly.

Marco gave her a small smile. “Comes with the territory.”

Carmen stepped closer, placing a hand on his arm. “You don’t have to do it alone, Marco. Let me help.”

“You already are,” Marco replied.

“Not enough,” Carmen said, her voice firm. “We need more than brute strength to rebuild. We need alliances, trade, trust. Let me handle that side of things.”

Marco hesitated. For years, he had been the one to shoulder the burden, the one to make the hard decisions. But as he looked at Carmen, he saw her strength, her intelligence, and the calm resolve that had carried them through the worst of it.

“Alright,” Marco said finally. “But you tell me if you need anything. We do this together.”

Carmen smiled, relief softening her features. “Together.”

________________

The next day, Carmen sat in the main dining room with a group of smaller family heads and neutral faction leaders. The room was quiet but tense as she addressed them.

“Rafael Moretti’s defeat was only the beginning,” Carmen said, her voice steady. “The Consortium’s chaos left gaps in power and security. That’s where we come in.”