shuhaige
Chapter 167
. Chapter 167 The Claim
"Daddy, is this our home?" Maximo and Gia chirped, their cute faces beaming with happiness. After their private jet landed in Florence, Alessandro's right-hand than, Lucas, was waiting for them outside the airport. Though Alessandro had decided to step down from the Mafia, Lucas was reluctant to leave his side. To him. Alessandro was still his boss, and he remained fiercely loyal.
The entire Valentino family sculed into the luxury car, making their way to the grand mansion. As Maximo and Gia stepped out of the car and saw the imposing structure before them, they couldn't help but ask their father their eager question. Alessandro bent down and picked both of his children up in his arms, one on each side. "Yes, my little stars, this is our home." He kissed their cheeks, making them giggle with pure joy.
"We want to see the whole mansion!" Gia and Maximo both insisted eagerly.
"Later, kids," Mia interrupted gently. "After such a long flight, you must be tired. Rest for a while and cat something first," she suggested, but both children looked unhappy with their mother's instructions and turned to their father for help.
"It's okay, amore mio," Alessandro cut in with a soft smile. "They can explore a little while you prepare their favorite food," he said, winking at the kids, whose smiles widened with joy.
Mia sighed, rolling her eyes, knowing her attempts were in vain with the father and children on the same
team
""Fine!" she conceded.
"Mrs. Carlotta, please take Gia and Maximo for a tour of the mansion," Alessandro asked, addressing the head maid of the house.
Mrs. Carlotta was an elderly woman of short height, dressed in a maid's uniform with a name badge identifying her as the head maid. Her graying hair was neatly tied up in a bun at the top of her head.
"Yes, Mr. Valentino," she replied with a warm smile. "This way, young Master and Miss," she gestured to Gia
and Maximo.
Both kids happily followed her, hopping and jogging along, their squeals and giggles echoing through the mansion, a clear sign of their excitement and joy.
Alessandro wrapped a protective arm around Mia's shoulders as he guided her inside. "Why did you move to Florence from Turin?" Mia asked curiously. In Turin, Alessandro had established his business and built a modern mansion, while this mansion in Florence was ancestral and still had an old-fashioned charm.
"After you went missing from my life," Alessandro sighed, his eyes reflecting the pain he had suffered in the
past when he had to live without his wife, "I couldn't stay in that mansion. Your memories were haunting me and driving me mad day by day. Matteo suggested moving to Florence, so I decided to shift my business and everything here. But it seems it was a good decision because, after I moved here, my good stars returned, and I found you again, amore mio he said, kissing her forehead.
"It actually seemed like a good omen because I didn't feel the insecurity here that I used to feel back in that house in Turin," Mia muttered, her voice tinged with pain.
"I won't let you feel that pain again, baby. I promise," Alessandro vowed solemnly.
apter 16
The Claim
Finished
"Wait!" Mia and Alessandro's moment was abruptly interrupted by a harsh voice. They looked up to find Maria standing before them, her face twisted with anger and her eyes red with fury. "You can't be serious, Alessandro, bringing that woman into your home just like that?!" she spat..NôvelDrama.Org © content.
"What do you mean, that woman, Mother?" Alessandro's voice was laced with danger. "She is my wife!" he declared loudly.
"And what proof does she have that she is Aria and not Mia Peterson?" Maria accused, crossing her arms over her chest.
Mia was taken aback by Maria's accusation. The whole world had accepted her true identity, and Alessandro had always affirmed that he believed from the beginning she was Aria Valentino. Maria's refusal to accept her left Mia in shock. She had always thought Maria cared for Alessandro, and Alessandro had always treated Maria as his mother, not just a stepmother. But now, Mia was seeing a different side of Maria, one that made her believe something was deeply wrong. Her instincts told her that Maria was not as she appeared. Moreover, Mia had heard from Alessandro that Maria had shot her own son, and she struggled to reconcile this with any justification.
"I don't need any proof to know that she is the woman love," Alessandro said firmly on Mia's behalf. "My heart knows who she is to me," he confessed, gazing deeply into Mia's eyes with all the love in his heart.
"You're being an emotional fool, Alessandro. She's trying to pass her children off as your own. She's an imposter here with some ulterior motive." Maria shot back, glaring at Mia with fierce accusation.
"Don't worry about me. I'm fine as long as I have her by my side. We don't need to prove anything to anyone. She is my wife, and Gia and Maximo are my children-that's all that matters," Alessandro roared, his voice echoing through the mansion and making the walls vibrate with its intensity.
"Alright, do whatever you want," Maria said with a dismissive wave. "But you can't claim the inheritance that has already passed to Enzo. After him, it belongs to his widow and children."
"I don't want anything, Mother," Alessandro said through gritted teeth. "Let Vittoria keep everything, but stay away from my family," he demanded angrily.
Maria struggled to suppress a smile of victory, but her joy was evident, causing Mia to frown in concern.
"As you wish," Maria murmured, turning to leave.
"Wait!" Mia interjected firmly, stepping forward. "That inheritance rightfully belongs to Alessandro and our children. I'm claiming it."
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