Revegenful Billionaire

Chapter 3 | Marinelli Bankruptcy

Five years after the horrific event, Carlotta celebrated her 21st birthday. A luxury event at a famous hotel in Verona. The event was expected to end with a clash between Carlotta Marinelli and Roberto Mancini.

Carlotta thought of Alessandro until then. His lavish birthday party seemed insignificant compared to his friendship with the young man who was only a few months old. All the fancy decorations, congratulations from his friends, nothing hit his heart.

When the cake arrived, Carlotta gave the first cake to his sister, Ciara, and the second cake to his sister, Carina. Not one more piece of cake he gave to others, including his father or his future fiance, Roberto.

Given that the event was covered by many media, Carlotta still had to keep his family's good name by continuing to smile. He really kept smiling until his lips felt stiff. Of course no one noticed. No one knows him as well as Alessandro.

"Blow the candle, brother!" Ciara exclaimed cheerfully.

Roberto glared at Ciara. "Don't listen to your sister, Carlotta! You have to make a wish first."

Gretta rolled her eyes lazily. "Why are you so noisy? Just blow out the candles and end this boring event."

Gretta's father, Mr. Mancini, pinched her daughter hard. Gretta paddles with a shrill.

Carlotta's father just laughed. "It's okay, Signor Mancini. Kids love to joke."

Gretta had the upper hand in getting a plea from Carlotta's father. "That's it, Papa. I was just kidding. Carlotta's father knows."

Carlotta doesn't care about any of that. His body was there, but not his mind. His mind always wanders to faraway places. To the past where he sat alone with Alessandro in the back garden of his spacious house.

Oh, how Carlotta misses those times so much.

"Are you done making a wish?" Roberto asked.

Carlotta smiled and shook her head. He quickly closed his eyes and thought of something to ask.

However, what? What should he ask for? He has no desire for himself now. He had lost hope of reuniting his father and mother. He had also lost hope of living happily with Alessandro.

In the end, Carlotta simply said inwardly, "May Alessandro live happily, wherever he may be. And hopefully someday he can forgive me."

***

When the party was about to end, Roberto asked for time to take over the course of the event. He knelt on one leg and presented Carlotta with a large diamond ring.

"Dear Carlotta Marinelli, will you be my fiancee? If we get married, I'll make you the happiest bride in the world. I'll do anything to make you happy."

Carlotta panic. It's not ready. More precisely, he did not want to.

Seeing the rejection coming from his daughter's lips, Carlotta's father immediately signaled Carlotta to accept the proposal. Everyone present there cheered in support of Carlotta to accept Roberto's proposal.

Carlotta then realized one thing. Her marriage will never be about herself. It's all about his father's business. About the kinship relations between business giants in Italy.

Perhaps so will the marriage of his brothers.

Carlotta can't be selfish. After all, even if he rejected Roberto, he would not be able to unite with the love of his youth. It has to be realistic for now. For the future of his family.

Thus, Carlotta nodded and involuntarily tears trickled down her cheeks. Everyone cheered in Carlotta's reply. The girl's tears were interpreted as tears filled with gratitude.

The next day, all the media in Italy ran about the news of Carlotta and Roberto's engagement.

***

Alessandro Ferrara was boiling in his place. He threw a newspaper about Carlotta's engagement to the desk. Alessandro ran both of his hands to shuffle his own hair in frustration. He thought this moment would never come.

Alessandro had thought of several possibilities. First, was Carlotta just threatened to break up with him? Second, does Carlotta still love him and not want to be engaged to someone else? Third, did Carlotta actually dislike Roberto and just use the man's name as a shield?

And today, all these possibilities have been proven to be untrue. Alessandro was indeed just a lowly man who was unworthy in Carlotta's eyes. The evidence? Carlotta is engaged to Robert Mancini.

Someone knocked on the door of his study.

"Lake in." Alessandro.

Her grandmother, Mrs Ferrara, came in with a hot drink and biscuits. "You haven't had breakfast, my granddaughter."

Alessandro smiled warmly. "Thank you, Grandma."

When he first came to Rome, his grandmother was the one who believed in him. His grandmother said his face looked a lot like his father when he was young. Meanwhile, his grandfather demands for a DNA test. While waiting for the results of DNA tests that prove 100% match out, his grandmother told him about everything that happened.

His grandfather kicked Alessandro's mother out of the house. However, no one in the house knew that her mother was pregnant with Alessandro. Had they known, perhaps Alessandro would have grown up in the luxury and affection of the Ferrara family.

His grandmother also told him about the tragedy of Alessandro's father's yacht accident. His father did not want to marry anyone else. He was busy partying and drinking alcohol every day. Until finally, one night, Alessandro's father was drunk and fell into the sea from his yacht. No one realized that Alessandro's father was missing. Alessandro's father's body was found a few days later.

"We're so grateful you came to us, son. We don't think we have any heir." His grandmother said at the time. Alessandro was hugged and his injuries were treated well. Except for the burns on his hands. Alessandro doesn't want that one treated.

Alessandro has since lived in the Ferrara family. At the age of twenty-three years, he has successfully developed his grandfather's business to international level. The business profits are seven times higher. Ferrara Group has finally established itself as the largest multinational company in Italy. All thanks to Alessandro's hard work.

"Did anything bother you, son? You look agitated." Grandma asked.

Alessandro shook his head and smiled. "It's okay, Grandma."

"Is this a job issue? You did your best, son. If you're tired, you can rest now."

Alessandro nodded once more. "No, Grandma."

"What is the love problem? She promised not to repeat the mistakes of the past. We'll let you choose your own future wife, no matter who she is."

Alessandro smiled sadly. "I'm sorry, Grandma. Please don't expect much from me about marriage. I don't think I'm getting married."

His grandmother was surprised, but managed to gain control of herself quickly. "You're young, son. There's plenty of opportunity ahead."

Alessandro did not answer.

"Then, Grandma will leave you to take care of the work. Grandma won't bother you anymore. Don't forget to eat, son." Ferrara's grandmother pointed to the biscuits and the warm drink she had brought.

When his grandmother was out of his study, Alessandro called his confidant, Lombardi, in. The man, who is only seven years adrift of Alessandro, has worked for a long time in the Ferrara company. He was nimble, ruthless in bulldozing other people's businesses, and most importantly, loyal to Ferrara. Lombardi was raised in an orphanage owned by the Ferrara family and had vowed to serve Ferrara for life. Alessandro was helped by Lombardi's presence.

"Signor called me?" Lombardi came in quickly.

"You know about the plan I had years ago?" Alessandro asked without further ado.

"Plan on the destruction of the Marinelli family business?" Lombardi. He felt somewhat surprised why the plan that had been prepared long ago was not implemented. In fact, this new master is always deft in doing all the plans that have been carefully prepared.

Alessandro. "I want you to add the confiscation of all their assets."

"Okay, Signor."

***