The One Who Always Stood Behind

Six months later, at Milan’s annual business charity gala at the Hotel Principe di Savoia, the Romano family, the Moretti family, and Visconti Holdings were all in attendance.

I arrived with Lorenzo, appearing publicly at his side in front of Milan’s elite for the first time.

Valentina showed up not long after, on Alessandro’s arm — they were still only engaged, the wedding having been postponed twice for various reasons that never quite worked out.

Valentina’s smile, the moment she spotted me standing next to one of the most powerful men in Milan, froze for a second before she managed to pull it back into place.

Near the end of the party, when Lorenzo stepped out onto the balcony to take a work call, Valentina came straight over to me.

“I didn’t expect you to end up with someone like that,” she said, her voice sweet with something sharp underneath.

“I’m guessing he doesn’t know much about your… history?”

“What are you trying to do, Valentina?” I asked her directly.

She only smiled and took a sip of her wine.

Later that night, right at the main table, my mother approached, taking Valentina’s hand, speaking with an air of “sincerity”: “Mr. Visconti, my eldest daughter Valentina has admired you for a long time. My Chiara is shy, doesn’t really fit in an environment like this. Perhaps you should spend more time getting to know Valentina.”

My father chimed in, turning to me: “Chiara, don’t make a scene here. Think about the family’s reputation, won’t you, dear?”