Chapter 221 - Choices We Make

Two more weeks passed with Persephone enjoying her days with Cameron and Santiago when Santiago was busy with his work and Lara with her work. Valencia often spent time at Killian's house. She had met Ellison and Emma two times after the former was discharged from hospital. She didn't know why but Ellison seemed to be too quiet these days. She wasn't her bubbly self. 

She had almost a month before her baby would be in her arms. She was so excited that she couldn't help but have the desire to decorate the nursery. But since she couldn't move much, she would often order the boys to do things for her. 

Valencia had offered to shift into a rental house in the neighbourhood as she didn't want to feel imposed on them but how could Persephone let her dose of entertainment move away from her when Santiago came home late at night? 

It was a rare day that Santiago was home in the afternoon. 

"Don't you have work?" Persephone asked with a scowl. She couldn't do things her way when Santiago was home. 

Santiago gripped her shoulders and made her sit on the bed. "Sit down. We need to talk." 

Persephone looked at him in confusion but she did sit on the edge of the bed. "What happened?" 

Santiago sighed, running a hand through his hair. "Red, I may need to leave for New York in a few days." 

"Why?" Persephone questioned him. "Santiago, if it's not urgent, can you postpone your trip?"

"You know it's not possible. I have waited for this moment all my life," Santiago told her. He hoped that Persephone could understand what the trip to New York meant at this time. "The war is going to start, Percy. Salvatore has been preparing for it. I will get what I wanted and he will get what he wants from the war. I can't back out now." 

"What about Sophia and mom?" Persephone whispered. "I have no idea what Salvatore is planning or what he is going to do with the proof he has against Alessandro Marino. But what about Sophia and mom? They needed to be protected too." 

Santiago understood what Persephone meant but he couldn't protect Sophia and Carina as Persephone thought. Sophia was Nicolas Scuderi's wife, a man whose loyalty ran with Alessandro Marino. Nicolas and Salvatore were enemies and there was no way they would ever join hands. As for Carina Marino, she would never leave Alessandro Marino. Even if he wanted to help Sophia and Carina for his wife's sake he couldn't. 

Seeing the expression on Santiago's face, Persephone flinched. She knew what he meant. Smiling bitterly, she stood up to keep herself busy with some work so that she wouldn't stress in this condition. 

"Red?" Santiago walked up to her. Hugging her from behind, he murmured. "Don't be sad. I don't want to promise you anything at times like this but I can assure you that I will try my best to keep your family safe." 

Persephone left herself to be hugged by him because there was nothing she could do except for trusting him. 

… 

Thousands of miles away, Sophia was sitting in the living room, entertaining the woman. Their husbands were all high ranked in the famiglia. To make sure that her father accepted Nico as his consigliere soon, she was helping him by making relations smooth with the women whose husbands could Nicolas in his career. 

She was wearing a white-coloured knee-length dress from the latest collection. On her finger was a huge rock, indicating her position as the hostess of Scuderi households. She was wearing expensive and exclusive clothes, jewellery and shoes. Everything a woman desired to have in her life, Sophia had that. Yet, she didn't have a moment of peace in her life. 

Did she think marrying the man she had been in love with would make her the happiest woman on the planet? 

How stupid she was. 

Still, there was no fire she wouldn't pass for Nicolas. 

"A minute," Sophia said, placing her wine glass on the table as she saw Nicolas entering the hallway. She walked towards him with a huge smile stretching on her face. "Nico." She stopped near him. 

Nicolas looked behind her. It was one of those parties again. Sighing, he maintained the perfect smile on his face and kissed her lips. "Sophia." 

Taking her hand, he walked with her back to the ladies whose husbands were going to be great allies for him. He greeted the ladies with a mannerism of a gentleman. 

What woman wouldn't like compliments from a charismatic man such as him? 

The party ended with ladies leaving for their respective homes with content looks on their faces. 

Sophia threw the diamond necklace that she was wearing on the dressing table as soon as she entered her bedroom. Nicolas dropped the charismatic smile from his face that was making him look like a gentleman. His cold face glanced at the frustrated woman and let out a snort. 

"You don't have to do things you don't like," Nicolas commented. "Why do you organise luncheons and dinners if you don't like their attitude towards you?"

Sophia looked at him with blank eyes. "Do you think I want to? I'm merely doing what's useful for you. Because of my mistake, you are suffering. My father is punishing you by demoting your rank. I'm just doing what's good for you and the family." Taking a deep breath, she added, "But when they look at me with the looks that say I stole my sister's husband, I want to gauge their eyes out. I didn't steal you from anyone. She didn't even want you." 

Nico's face darkened hearing her words. "I'm not a charity case, Sophia." 

"You know that's not what I mean," Sophia said with a look of exasperation. They had enough of this conversation in the last few months. 

"Of course, that's not what you mean," Nico said in a sarcastic tone. "I could never be good enough for Marino children." 

"What do you even mean?" Sophia sighed out. 

"Your brother thinks I can't keep you safe," Nico said with a look of hate. "He said I should hand over you to him. Why does Salvatore Marino, the arrogant prince, think I can't even protect my wife and family. Does he thinks I am as incompetent as him?"

"Salvatore said this?" Sophia asked weakly. 

"He doesn't but I can decipher the meaning of his words clearly," Nico growled. 

"Nico, you said the situation is not good lately," Sophia began saying. "Perhaps, Salvatore meant our wellbeing. He is still my brother. Although Papa doesn't allow us to go back to the Marino family, I still can't break all the relationship with my brother, can I?"

"Sophia, you need to remember that you are no longer a Marino!" Nico told her. "If you think I can't keep you safe, you are free to leave me anytime." 

"Nico, I don't mean this," Sophia said with a pale face. "I will never choose anyone over you no matter what the consequences may be. I have vowed my loyalty to you, my husband. I will never leave you." 

Sophia may not know today what dilemma these words would be in. But one thing was clear, in this war, she has willingly chosen her husband. Whatever choices Nico would make, Sophia shall bear the consequences with him. 

… 

"Mama?"

Carina turned to find Salvatore standing a few inches away from her. She was ordering the gardener to plant new flowers as spring would be coming soon. 

"Salvatore, how come you are home today?" Carina smiled at him and walked to him. 

"I missed you and so I came to see you," Salvatore said as he leaned forward to give the older lady. 

Carina smiled and patted his shoulder. Not many knew but Salvatore was a mama's boy. He would never complain about anything and would do everything in his power to make sure she was comfortable. There was only regret in his mind and it was that he couldn't separate her mom from the monster she was obsessed with to spend the rest of her life with. He knew how badly he treated her in secrecy. 

"Mama, if I asked you one day to come with me, would you?" Salvatore asked, still hugging the elderly woman. 

Carina laughed at his question and broke the hug to look at his sweet face. But when she saw the seriousness on his face, the smile in her eyes dimmed. She wanted to ask what he had done or what he was going to do. Because right now, in her heart she knew that her son was doing something he wasn't supposed to do. However, all she could say was, "Ah, what would I achieve by following my sweet son?" 

"A very precious granddaughter and a beautiful daughter," Salvatore said without batting his eyes. 

Carina stared at her son as she didn't know what to say at this time. 

Perhaps, she had answers. 

Perhaps, she didn't want to answer. 

Surely, she didn't want to make a choice at this time. 

At one side was the man she had alleged her loyalty and every breath of life to and on the other side was her heart wanting to feel loved for once in this life.