Giovanni's father's voice rang in his head, and from a young age, the deep hatred he felt for the Vincente family seeped into his soul. "Giovanni, they are our enemies. We don't hang out with them. "We take what is ours and destroy anything that gets in our way."
It was the lesson Giovanni had learned and lived by until now.
He thought about her. Sophia Vincente. He couldn't stop thinking about her picture, even now. The way her dark eyes always held a lot of unspoken thoughts, and the way her lips would curl into a smile that could melt even the hardest heart. He had always known her and grown up with her, but their families' hatred for each other had always kept them apart. That unspoken rule, never let your heart betray your bloodline.
Giovanni clenched his teeth, wasn't it supposed to be easy? Stay away, keep the hate, and play the game, but when he found out that Sophia was sick, everything fell apart.
He was secretly in love with Sophia Vincente, and she was dying. It seemed like the world around him was closing in. The stress and the unbearable pain of not being able to do anything tore at him in ways that nothing else had. He would have done anything to keep her safe and save her from this terrible fate. But what could he do when their families were tied together by blood that ruined everything?
Giovanni knew better than anyone that the DeLucas had never followed the rules. He had been taught to be ruthless, take charge, and never show weakness. But when Sophia got sick, he felt completely helpless. There was no plan or protocol that could fix this. He had to do something, but what?
His phone buzzed on the desk, which broke his train of thought. It was a text from Marco, the man who had been there for him through thick and thin and was his closest friend. The words on the screen were clear: It's time. Your dad wants you to take care of this, we can't let the Vincentes win. You know what you have to do.
Giovanni's jaw tightened. He understood exactly what Marco meant. The DeLuca style. Take what was theirs and get rid of the threat. It was how the family had made it through all these years, but now it felt different. Everything seemed off.
He thought about Sophia again. To the way she looked when she whispered the word "donor" to Dr. Fernandez. She had no idea that the man she had always kept a safe distance from the one she thought was her enemy, was the one who could save her. He was the one who kept her alive.
Giovanni had taken a risk and quietly set up a kidney test. He was aware of the risks and what could happen if anyone found out. If Giovanni's father found out about it, he would cut him off right away. The DeLuca family and the Vincentes did not get along. But everything changed when he got the results and found out he was a perfect match for her.
There was no way to go back. He couldn't forget what he knew. He couldn't hide his love for Sophia in the dark corners of his heart anymore. It was real, and it was risky.
The study was quiet until someone knocked on the door. Giovanni didn't have to look up to see who it was. Marco walked in without waiting for an invitation. His usual confident stride showed that he was tense in his shoulders.
Marco said in a low voice, "Giovanni, we have a problem."
At first, Giovanni didn't say anything. He narrowed his eyes as he looked up at Marco. There were a lot of unspoken words between them, but Giovanni could see that Marco was worried. Now, the war they were fighting was about more than just land. He didn't know who would win, but it was all about staying alive.
"What is it?" Finally, Giovanni asked, his voice steady.
Marco said, "We know what's going on with Sophia Vincente," and he was careful with his words. "I also know about the test for the kidneys." I know you two are a good match. He stopped for a moment to let the truth sink in between them. "You're thinking about it, aren't you?"
Giovanni's fists were tight at his sides. He had hoped to keep it a secret for a little longer. Marco, on the other hand, knew him too well.
Giovanni said in a cold, firm voice, "I'm going to save her, Marco." "I'm not asking you to agree with me." I am doing this for her.
Marco's face grew serious. "Giovanni, do you hear what you're saying? You are talking about turning on your own family. The DeLucas can't afford to look weak. We're about to take control of everything. And you want to help her, the enemy of your family? Marco shook his head. "You'll ruin everything we've worked for."
Giovanni didn't move. "You don't get it." I can't just stand by and let her die. I can't— He stopped talking, and for a moment, the room was full of his confession. "I've loved her for so long." "There's no way I can lose her."
Marco's eyes narrowed, and he looked like he couldn't believe what he saw. "Love? You know what's at stake. Do you think this is just a story? She is Vincente's daughter. The bloodline we fought against. This is about having power. Nothing else.
Giovanni got up, and his chair scraped the floor as he walked toward Marco. "Do it if you want to fight for power." But I won't let her die. Not when I can save her.
The room went quiet, and the tension in the air was like static before a storm.
Marco opened his mouth to argue, but Giovanni's voice was harsh and cut him off. "This is my choice." "It's done."
Marco didn't say anything else. He just nodded, but his eyes showed that he wasn't sure. "You're wrong if you think this won't come back to get you."
Giovanni turned away from Marco, the weight of the decision weighing heavily on him. He was about to do something that no one in the DeLuca family had ever done before, but Sophia was worth it. She was always worth it.
Giovanni took a deep breath and pulled his phone out of his pocket. He then dialed a number he had never been brave enough to call before. He waited for the line to ring, his heart racing in his chest.
Giovanni didn't wait when the voice on the other end answered. "It's time." Please set up the transplant for me. Make it happen. "I'll do the rest."
There was a pause on the line before the voice said, "Are you sure, Giovanni?" "This is risky."
Giovanni's jaw was set, and he had already made up his mind. "I'm sure." This is the only way to do it.
Giovanni stood there in the quiet of his study after the phone call ended, feeling the weight of his choice. This was it. He couldn't separate his life and future from Sophia Vincente's life and future.
But while he was looking out the window, he heard his father's voice echoing through the hallway outside, which broke his train of thought. Giovanni now understood that the DeLucas were coming for everything. But this time, it was for love, not power.
He had changed, just like the war.
And as the stress grew inside him, one thing became clear: he couldn't go back now.