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Marco Salvatore’s pov!

“What is your plan, Marco?” Caesar Salvatore, my grandfather stared at me square in my eyes.

“I am thinking of expanding our business to Asian countries too, nonno. Our expansion into the American countries proved a great success. You have seen that, haven’t you? My intention is to globalise the Salvatore Shipping Industry. I am sure we are going to be the Number one Shipping Industry in the world very soon.” I said, without skipping a beat and saw my grandfather's face growing darker in fury.

“I am not talking about the bloody business, Marco. And you know it.” He snapped angrily.

Of course I know it. But I am in no mood to discuss what he has in mind right now. Well, not ever.

I took deep breaths to control my temper.

I love my grandfather deeply. But he is so annoying at times. Well, most times nowadays.

“What else is there to talk about, nonno?” I asked, as if I didn’t understand what he was talking about.

I definitely did understand. But I was hoping he would take the hint and leave the topic.

Who am I kidding?

“Damn you, Marco. It’s high time you settled down.” Grandpa said and I rolled my eyes.

He is such a family man and he leaves no stone unturned to get people married. Just because he has been happily married to my grandmother, Rosa, for over fifty years now, he thinks that every single person on this earth should also follow his footsteps into marital bliss.

What nonsense!

Business and Family are two different entities.

But Caesar Salvatore never understands that. He strongly believes that men who lead a playboy life never take their responsibilities seriously and that they will never take their business seriously either.

A person’s intellect and smartness is what matters when doing business. Not his commitment to a family life.

In recent years, two well known people resorted to a contract marriage, just to please Caesar Salvatore’s traditional mindset. He makes the mistake of mixing business and personal matters. And he refused to do business with people who don’t put family first.

It was only pure luck that Theron Nicolaides and Lorenzo Ferrari fell in love with the women whom they married under official contracts.

“I am a well settled man, nonno.” I said with a casual shrug, as I focused on my MacBook, rather than listening to the bullsh*t nonno is about to sprout.

“You need a woman in your life, Marco.” Nonno said sternly. I stopped myself from rolling my eyes once again.

“I have more than enough women in my life, nonno. I am surrounded by beautiful and intelligent women every day. I don't see why I need to settle down with just one, when I can always have my pick." I said arrogantly. It is no secret that I lead a carefree lifestyle now.

Nonno let out a frustrated sigh.

"You don't understand, Marco. It's about building a legacy, continuing the family name.”

“If that is worrying you, then I can look for a surrogate mother who is willing to carry my child. The family legacy will continue. I will not compromise with that.” I said casually, as if my traditional and conservative grandfather will not get a shock listening to the terms IVF and surrogacy.

“We, Salvatores, have always believed in strong family bonds and the importance of passing down our traditions." Nonno said in exasperation.

“Not again, nonno. I have tried that once, didn’t I? And how did that end?” I asked, the past hurts still haunting me.

I closed my laptop and turned my full attention to my grandfather.

"Nonno, I respect our family's traditions and values. But I cannot go through all that again. You have seen it first hand, nonno. How can you expect me to do it all over again, when you clearly know how it has affected me. I have dedicated my life to expanding our business and making it a global success. Isn't that enough?" I asked in exasperation.

Nonno's eyes softened as he looked at me.

"Marco, I am proud of what you have achieved with the business. You have surpassed my expectations. But I worry about your happiness and the future of our family. There is more to life than just work." Nonno said in a soft voice.

“My happiness? Probably happiness isn’t destined in your grandson’s life, nonno.” I said, with a self deprecating smile. I saw nonno trying to paste a smile on his face, just for my sake. But it wasn’t working.

“It’s been five years, Marco. Five years since Laura. It’s high time you moved on.” Nonno said.

Laura..

The face of a pretty, brown eyed blond girl flashed in front of my eyes and I closed my eyes tightly to stop the memories from crowding my head.

“Nonno, I am not interested in having a discussion on this topic anymore. I hope you understand.” I said, half pleadingly and half sternly.

Nonno probably saw something on my face. So, he, without another argument, left from there.

I let out a deep sigh, once he left.

I closed my eyes and my head got filled with images of Laura and my memories with her.

The sun is high in the sky, casting a warm golden glow over the sandy shores. Marco and Laura are lying on a beach towel, their fingers interlaced. Laura's laughter rings out as Marco playfully sprinkles sand over her feet.

“Marco, stop that!” Laura said, laughing.

“Can't help it, you know. Just adding a touch of nature's exfoliation!” Marco said with a grin.

Laura playfully swats at him, and they both laugh.

Marco opens his eyes, and he takes a deep, shuddering breath, struggling to hold back his emotions. He reaches for the drawer and opens it. There he finds a delicate seashell, its pearlescent surface reflecting the overhead light.

This seashell... Laura found it on that day at the beach. She said it was a symbol of our love, each layer representing a moment we shared.

How can something so beautiful turn into memories that ache?

Why Laura? Why did you…

I shook my head to get myself out of those painful memories.

I don’t know how long I sat there staring into space. This always happens when anyone mentions Laura.

Move on! Haa! It’s easier said than done.

The knock on the cabin door brought me out of my wandering painful thoughts.

“Come in..” I called out and Dante walked in.

Dante Bernadi is my right hand man!

“Sir..” Dante called out and from his face, it was pretty damn clear that he didn’t bring good news.

“What is it, Dante?” I asked. The day is turning out to be more and more worse with each passing minute.

“Your suspicions were right. Ethan Wright is not what he portrayed to be for the last three years.” Dante said, as he placed a file in front of me.

Ethan Wright, my brother in law, is a British man with whom Melissa, my darling little sister fell in love with, while she was on a holiday in the UK.

Ethan was a charmer and he had charmed his way into our family, just like how he charmed his way into Melissa’s heart.

Things were all good for three years. It was only recently I started noticing the dwindling of money from the company account, which Ethan was managing. I had trusted him with the responsibility and didn’t bother with the accounts as I believed he was family.

But it was my PA who brought the discrepancies to my attention.

From then, I have been keeping an eye on him and my suspicions grew that it wasn’t only money that he was cheating out of us.

“What does this say?” I asked Dante, as I stared at the file in apprehension.

“Ethan has a mistress. The new business he was trying to set up in Greece, it was all a lie. That’s where his mistress lives and they live together in her apartment there.” Dante said and my heart ached for my sister’s upcoming heartbreak.

She is so dearly in love with Ethan. How will she cope with this heartbreaking information?

“Who is she?” I asked, my fury rising. If I could get my hands on either of them right now, they would be six feet under the ground.

It’s time I exposed Ethan and saved my sister from the clutches of this man.

At that exact moment, my phone rang. It was my mother.

“Yes, mom.” I said, as soon as I picked up the call.

“Marco, you are going to be an uncle.” She said happily and I froze.

Damn!!

I opened the file and  stared at the picture of Ethan and a brunette in his arms.

The woman was outrageously pretty. Her grey eyes sparkling as she laughed with Ethan.

I read the name on the dossier with all the hatred in me.

Raelynn Galanis!