VALENTINA'S POV

“Get your hands off her.”

Alexander?

“Valentina, Valentina, look at me.” He urged.

I tried to open my eyes but it was difficult. “Ale..” I succumbed to darkness.

The bright light woke me from a deep slumber. I opened my eyes, trying to adjust to the blaring light in the room. “Where am I?”

I rose from the bed and surveyed my surroundings. I was in the hospital. How did I get here?

The events of what happened to me came rushing in my mind. The betrayal, the humiliation and lastly, the pain. A drop of tear falls on my hand and they kept coming. I cried, for the pain I supressed these past few days.

Nothing hurts more than the cold betrayal from Matteo. The fact that he was willing to ruin my reputation just for a divorce.

The door opened and Alexander walked in. “You're awake! How are you? Are you in any pain?” He rushed out.

I couldn't speak, I simply nodded my head. “Thank you for saving me. If you hadn't come earlier….” The words stuck in my throat.

“But, how did you find me.” I asked.

“Something didn't quite feel right. I turned back around but the lady from earlier lied to me that you were in the restroom. I searched for you but you weren't there.”

“Then I heard you scream. She tried to stop me from going in the room but my men held her down. That was when I broke the door down.” He explained.

“And Matteo? Did you see him?” I asked. I don't know the answer I was going to get, but maybe, just maybe…

“He wasn't there, only Alana, a young lady and a man were outside.”

“I don't want to intrude but I need to know what exactly happed that led to that incident.”

“Uhmm.” I licked my lips. “It was plan.” I said finally.

“Plan? What plan?” Alex asked.

“Its a long story.” I saidz trying to avoid the conversation.

“I have time.” Alex sat down on the bed beside me. “Valentina, you can talk to me okay?” He held my hands in his, I don't know if he was trying to comfort me but it was soothing my nerves.

I took a deep breath. “Matteo, my husband and his siblings, Ariana and Damien planned to ruin my reputation inorder fronhom to get a divorce from me.” I started.

I looked at Alexander who was quiet. “Matteo loves someone else, Alana, the one who dragged me from you yesterday.” He nodded.

“They plan to get back together after removing me from the picture.”

“Three years, three years Alexander. I thought Matteo lovede but it was all a pretense. A pretense to put up with me until he's able to cast me aside.” I cried.

Alexander's hold on my hand tightened. I watched as he fumed. “That bastard. He's going to regret doing that to you.” He promised with conviction.

“I called your brother, he should be arriving anytime soon.” He said.

My eyes widened, my brother? How did you know my brother?” I asked, confused. If he knowsy brother, how come I've never met him.

“Uhh.. he's my best friend and brother.”

“I'm not getting you here. Besides, I would have known about you. You've never been around him, how come you're best friend.”

“Well, we hardly meet. And the fact that we are now both headed the family businesses both legal and illegal, we hardly have time to hangout.” He explained.

“Illegal? Which family mafia are you?” I couldn't help but ask.

“I am the head of the Greek Mafia.”

I gasped. “You..you are Alexander Volkov?” He nodded.

“But, why are you under the name Romano?”

“Romano is the legal name for the business and Volkov is for the Mafia and the real one.”

“Wow.” Then something downed on me. “Where are they? The guys who..”

“They are in my warehouse. You don't have to worry about them. They will be well taken care of.” He smirked. And it wasn't a good one.

Oh boy.

“Peanut,” I heard my brother's voice. He rushed to me and hugged me tight. “Thank goodness, you're safe.”

I hugged him tight. I've missed him. In these three years, I never visited home once and it's because Matteo doesn't allow me to.

“I missed you bro.” I cried in his arms.

“I missed you too, peanut, I thought you didn't want to see me, that's why I stopped reaching out to give you more time.”

“What do you mean?” I asked, confusion manning my face.

“I reached out to you a couple of times to visit you but the letters always came back with another one stating you ‘,you were married now and you don't have time to see anymore’

“But I never got any letters.” I said.

“What? Leave that, well discuss some other time. Tell me what happened.”

I recounted the event to Dante and by the time I was done, he was fuming.

“Matteo will pay for what he's done.”

Suddenly, Alexander's assistant rushed in. “Boss we have a problem. Miss Valentina is all over the news.”

VALENTINA'S POV

“Miss Valentina is all over the news.” Was the only thing I heard before everything faded away. I couldn't move, I couldn't speak, I just cried.

I knew what Daniel meant, by I was on the news. They succeeded.

“What do you mean by Valentina is on the news.” I could hear Alexander ask his assistant.

“Here, sir,” Daniel replied, handing Alex his tab. Through blurry eyes, I could see the strong hold Alex had on the tab.

“Let me see.” My brother said, collecting the tab from him.

“That bastard!!” Dante seethed, throwing the laptop across the room.

“After everything our family did for that bastard, this is how he repays us?! Dante yelled, fury dripping from every one of his words.

“Dante, calm down, what's done is done, now we need to focus on damage control before dealing with them.” Alex reasoned, calmly.

I sat there, the pain and betrayal sliced through my soul. I wiped my tears, it wasn't worth it. I looked towards Dante who was still seething. Given his over protective nature, I wasn't surprised. I glanced at Alexander, his hands in his pockets. But I could see through the storm brewing beneath his calm exterior.

I took a deep breath before speaking. “I already had my lawyer draw up divorce papers.” I said breaking the silence.

Two heads turned to me, their eyes filled with questions. “I’m supposed to meet up with my lawyer today to pick up the divorce papers.” I explained.

“We can start from there,” Alex said. “Can you give Daniel your lawyer’s contact so he can pick them up?”

“Yes,” I reached for bag and pulled out my lawyer's card.

“I’ll get to it now.” Daniel said, walking out of the room. Leaving me with two angry mafia heads.

“Dante?” I called my brother in a small voice. He rushed to my side in an instant.

“I'm sorry,” I sobbed. “You warned me but I was too in love to listen. I'm sorry.” I cried harder this time.

“Why are you sorry peanut, it's not your fault. You just fell in love and nothing is wrong with that. You fell for the wrong man. Don't blame yourself for something you have no control over.” He cooed, his arms wrapped me in a comforting hug.

Dante wiped my tears, just as Alex spoke. His voice was calm, calculated and edged with a restrained fury. I could tell he was still enraged and he was doing a damn good job at keeping it cool.

“We need to get Valentina out of this place. The reporters are already in front of the hospital. I'll have my men control the situation and get us an exit.” He said, as he was already dialing on his phone

Dante walked over to the window and peered out. “Damn it”. He muttered.

“Control the situation at the front and get me an exit.” Alex ordered whoever was on the other end of the phone.

Dante pulled out his phone also. I rolled my eyes. No wonder they were best friends. “Get the jet on standby.”

I said nothing. Just watched the two men bark orders to their men. I picked the remote and tuned on the TV in the room, curious to see what was being said.

“Italian heiress, Valentina Rossi cheats on husband, Matteo Da Vinci with five men at the B&B lounge.” The headlines read.

They even had a blurry, obviously photoshopped image of me on the floor, with a man on top of me. The comments were vile My character and upbringing were questioned on the internet.

“My grip on the remote tightened. Matteo and his siblings would live to regret what they did to me. Alana included.” I promised as fresh tears ran down my cheeks

Alex's phone rang. “ I need the hospital staffs cleared out until Valentina leaves the hospital. Send out the best guards to room 409.” He ordered.

“Get dressed Valentina.” Dante said as he grabbed my bag.

“What about the divorce papers?” I asked. Weren't we supposed to wait for Daniel?

“Daniel knows where to meet us with them.” Alex answered.

A knock sounded on the door before it opened. “Boss.” A man said, walking in.

“Valentina meet Micheal, my right hand man.”

Alex introduced.

“What's the situation out front?” Alex asked.

“Worse.”

“What about the exit?”

“We have it under control.” Micheal assured.

“Let's move.”

VALENTINA'S POV

“Can we go to the house please.” I asked no one in particular.

“No.”

“No.” Dante and Alexander said at the same time. I rolled my eyes.

“We are going and that's final,” I stated firmly, glaring at the both of them.

“I see no reason why you need to go back to that house.” Dante replied with his own glare

“I need to get my things, if not all, I have some valuables.”

“Valuables? Let me guess, your jewelries?” He asked and I nodded giggling.

“Have Daniel meet us at Matteo's house to sign the contract.” I told Alex, who just gave a curt nod. The idea clearly doesn't sit well with him.

His silence, the clenched jaw and fist gave it all away.

When we arrived at Matteo's mansion. Alex opened my door and held his hand out to me which I took. That was when I noticed the fleet of cars in front and behind us. We were in the middle.

“Wow.” I whispered.

We walked inside, the door was open and we made our way to the living room when we heard voices coming from there.

“Wow, Alana, you really amaze me. How did you get those images photoshopped?” Ariana praised Alana.

“Oh well, it wasn't that hard. A few connections here and there and you get things like this done.” She said proudly.

“I'm just glad she's out of our lives.” Damien voiced out.

“How's the divorce preparation coming along brother?” Ariana asked.

I looked at both men on each of my side. Alex looked like he was about to rip someone apart and Dante was no better. I placed my hands on theirs. And I felt them calm down, a bit though.

“The papers will be ready tomorrow.” Matteo answered. He sounded cold.

“There's no need for that.” I came out from where I was with Alex and Dante by my side.

They all looked like deers caught in the headlights. Matteo and Alana were the first to recover before. Damien didn't give a fuck and Ariana looked stunned for a moment.

“Well, the slut came out of her hiding spot.” Alana accused.

“Excuse my manners.” I said, battling my eye lashes.

“Micheal, please lead the guys to my room. My valuables are coming with me. Two doors on the left.” I instructed.

“Yes ma'am.” Micheal was about to take the stairs when Matteo stopped him. “Stop right there!!” He yelled.

“Valentina, what is this? You bring men to my house now?” He accused. I looked at him, unbelievable. Seriously?

“Micheal, do your job.” Without another moment, Michael and a few guys went up to my room.

I looked as each of them disgusted. “Daniel, hand me the papers.”

Daniel handed me the papers and a pen. I signed and looked up. “You wanted a divorce right?” I asked Matteo. “You should have just asked me for it. There was no need to go through the hassle of ruining my image.” I threw the papers in the air.

“You think we framed you?” Alana said, offended.

“Then who did? Me? You guys think I didn't know of your plans? The spiked drink?” I looked at Damien who looked uncomfortable.

“What, you think I'm stupid? That I wouldn't find out?” An unbelievable laugh escaped my lips.

I walked up to Matteo. I stared at him and he gave me a cold stare. It didn't faze me. He didn't know who he messed with. They don't know but they will soon enough.

“You disgust me. Framing your own wife, just because you want to be with a slut.”

“Watch your mouth Valentina,” he warned.

“Or what.” This time it was Alexander who talked. He walked up to him and stared at him like a predator ready to devour his prey. For a moment I saw Matteo waver.

“And yes,” Dante said from behind me. “The deal for the ammunition is over. You'll be getting nothing from us again.”

“Oh, I don't care anymore. I've gotten as much as I wanted In these three years.” Matteo said nonchalantly.

Dante smirked. “You wouldn't say that again, I promise you.”

“All of you, will pay for the stunt you pulled. That's a promise I'm will keep.” I threatened.

“There's nothing you can do Valentina.” Alana said.

“You don't know me Alana. It's best if you keep your filthy mouth shut.” I smirked.

Micheal and the guys came down with my luggages

. “It's done.” He said.

I looked at the four of them. “You all will pay for what you did to me. I'll be back for each of you.”

“Be ready for my return. You just messed with the wrong mafia princess.” I said, and walked out of the door and their lives for now.