Chapter 134 Another Rival

However, after Enzo's death, Alessandro became preoccupied with family matters and explaining the situation to the Italian Mafia Council, a board of retired mafia bosses who govern and coordinate various mafia organizations in Italy. In his focus, he didn't realize that a week had passed in the blink of an eye. He presented all the evidence regarding Enzo's betrayal and the attempts on his and his wife's lives, orchestrated by his stepbrother. He convinced the Italian Mafia Council to keep the matter confidential. Although he promised Maria that the information would remain hidden and he wouldn't make it public, he did not promise to withhold the information from the Italian Mafia Council. Every year, the council selects a new leader, and Alessandro had been the reigning leader, with no one ever defeating him. He didn't want to go to Enzo's funeral, but he had to be there for Maria's sake. She insisted he should attend; otherwise, people might suspect something about Enzo's death. Alessandro only stayed for a minute, making a quick excuse about work to Maria before leaving. As he walked away, his phone buzzed with a notification about Adam's marriage. Matteo, still in Paris handling Alessandro's business matters, had sent him a text after seeing the news update. The message informed him that Adam Whitmore was getting married to another woman named Claire Simon, making it clear that there was nothing between Adam and Mia. Alessandro felt a wave of relief wash over him. Though he had misunderstood the situation, he was never one to step back from a fight—especially not when it came to love. But now, he realized he never had to fight for Mia. She had always been his. The thought made him smile. Impatience gnawed at Alessandro as he couldn't wait for the drama in Florence to end. His thoughts were consumed with one goal: rushing to Paris to see his wife and children. Eager anticipation filled him, and his mood lifted as he scrolled through his phone, unlocking the photo folder where he kept the secret snapshots of Mia and the children. Each image brought a rare, warm smile to his face, the sight of their innocent expressions softening his hardened heart. But his happiness was short-lived. Suddenly, Alessandro received a message from the chief of the bodyguards assigned to follow Mia and the children. The message was alarming: Mia had suddenly left Adam's wedding, taking the kids with her, and had gone with Duke Alexander Montecarlo. "What the hell!" Alessandro cursed loudly, his heart racing as he quickly dialed the chief bodyguard's number. "Are you still following her, right?" he demanded fiercely the moment the call connected. "Sir, we tried, but the Duke's guards realized we were keeping an eye on Miss Peterson, and they stopped us," the chief bodyguard responded, his voice tense with concern. "Do I pay you to follow others' instructions?" Alessandro bellowed over the phone, his anger barely contained. "But sir, you said we needed to follow her discreetly and ensure no one found out. I was only following protocol," the chief bodyguard shot back, trying to explain. "If anything happens to Mia and the children, you won't live to see another day. Do you understand?" Alessandro warned, his voice cold and lethal. The chief bodyguard took a deep breath, knowing how dangerous and short-tempered his boss could be. "Don't worry, sir. I have one of my men following them secretly. He informed me that Miss Peterson and the children are fine and safe in Monaco," he reported, trying to reassure Alessandro. "Monaco?!" Alessandro mumbled in disbelief. "The Duke took them to his estate?" "Yes, sir. My man is sending updates on Miss Peterson and the children," the chief bodyguard assured him, hoping to calm his furious boss. "Alright. Keep a tight watch on them and update me every minute," Alessandro instructed before abruptly disconnecting the call. "Monaco..." he muttered under his breath, reaching for his phone to make another call. But before he could dial, the screen lit up with Matteo's picture and name; his phone was already ringing. "Alessandro," Matteo's panicked voice came through the phone speakers. "I just realized Mia was missing from Adam's wedding, and when I tried to find out, I learned she's in Monaco with Duke Alexander Montecarlo." "I know," Alessandro replied coldly, pinching the bridge of his nose as frustration welled up. "You know?!" Matteo was shocked. "Yes, I have my men following her. By the way, I'm leaving for Monaco right now. Are you coming?" Alessandro informed him, his voice steady but tense. "Of course, I'm coming," Matteo replied firmly before Alessandro ended the call. Alessandro's fury simmered just beneath the surface, fueling his predatory instinct. The urge to kill surged within him, a dark need to eliminate anyone who dared stand between him and his family. He had thought his final task was to convince his wife to return, and he knew exactly how to do that. They could have lived peacefully together in their home, finally free from the chaos. But now, a new rival had emerged—first Adam, and now Alexander?! What the hell was wrong with these men? Could they not find any other woman but his wife? The thought of it made the Italian don seethe with rage. He was so angry that he could barely contain the urge to kill every last one of those who dared to threaten his dream of being with his Aria again. The annoyance boiled over, and Alessandro knew he was on the brink. This time, he wouldn't stop himself from shedding blood if anyone tried to keep him from his wife and children. Whoever dared to shatter his dream of finally being with them would pay with their life. It didn't matter if they were a movie star or a Duke!