Chapter 77: I Can’t believe it

Ana
The new day dawned with a dim light filtering through the curtains. I got out of bed feeling a mix of anxiety and determination. Paolo was still sleeping peacefully in his crib, and I leaned down to give him a soft kiss on the forehead before getting ready for the meeting.
These moments with Paolo, where the world seemed to stop and nothing else mattered, just my baby and me, made me feel invincible. I know the world outside shows no mercy, and that’s why I won’t show any either. I want to give my son the best, a future where we don’t have to worry about anything, where he knows he is safe and can have whatever he wants.
When I went out, I found Martin in the kitchen, as always, making me coffee. His look was serious, but there was a spark of hope in his eyes. We knew today could mark the beginning of the end for Luisa. It was tough considering she was my mother, but I was willing to do anything to bring her down. Luisa had taken more from me than I ever thought possible.
“Ready for the Golden Garden?”
“More than ever. I feel somewhat optimistic, is that normal?”
“You’re about to take down your mother; I might feel the same way, don’t worry.”
The journey to the Golden Garden mirrored the previous day: silent, both of us lost in our thoughts. When we arrived, Nick and Carol were already waiting at the same secluded table. Nick stood to greet me, his expression revealing the gravity of what he was about to say.
“Ana, we’ve devised a plan to overthrow Luisa. It’s not going to be easy or clean, but it’s necessary. We need to expose her movements, her dark dealings, everything she’s been doing behind your back.”
Martin frowned as Nick continued.
“We’ve found solid evidence. Documents, transactions, witnesses. Everything we need to destroy her reputation and power. But we also have to be ruthless. We can’t leave any loose ends.”
“What else, Nick?”
“Ana, there’s something else you need to see. It’s important to understand the whole situation.”
I stood up, feeling a rising anxiety. Nick guided me through the Golden Garden casino, a place I had always known as an exclusive club, but today it felt laden with secrets and shadows. Martin stayed close, his presence always comforting.
We stopped in front of a discreet door, and Nick gave me a serious look before opening it. Inside, the atmosphere was different: soft lights, background music, and an air of luxury and mystery. Nick led me to a corner where I could see without being seen.
What I saw took my breath away. Dante was there, I could hardly believe it, but that wasn't the problem—he was passionately kissing Sabrina, a girl who used to work with my mother, maybe she still does. The sight was a dagger in my heart. I felt the ground crumble beneath my feet.
“Why...?” I couldn't believe it. “He's really alive.”
“You needed to see it with your own eyes. Luisa has manipulated him, turned him into someone else. This is part of her plan to control you. But now that you know, we can do something about it.”
“What happened? What did Luisa do to him?”
Nick exchanged a look with Carol before turning his attention back to me.
“Dante is no longer Dante. He’s an agent now, her best agent. They call him Raphael. Luisa erased all his memories of you, of his former life.”
I felt a slab of ice slide down my spine. My Dante, turned into a memoryless pawn under Luisa's control.
“How could they do that to him?”
Carol stepped forward, her voice soft but firm.
“They used extreme procedures, mental manipulations. All to ensure he served her without question.”
“And what do they have him doing? What does Raphael do for Luisa?”
“Everything she needs. Missions, assignments. He’s her right hand, though he doesn’t know it. He thinks he’s serving a greater good.”
I watched Dante—now Raphael—so close yet so far from me, kissing Sabrina without any trace of the person he once was. The pain in my chest grew with each passing second.
“I have to help him. I can't leave him like this. He has to remember. He has to know who he really is.”
Nick nodded, his expression serious.
“We knew you'd say that. And we're here to support you. But you must be aware that it won't be easy. Recovering his memories and freeing him from Luisa's influence will be a monumental challenge.”
Martin approached me, his presence always comforting.
“We’re with you in this. You’re not alone.” I looked at Martin, Nick, and Carol, feeling a new wave of determination mixed with pain.
“Luisa is going to pay for this. And Dante... I’ll bring him back. No matter what it takes.”
We left the casino, leaving behind the image of Raphael and Sabrina. Every step felt heavier than the last, but the anger and resolve in my heart pushed me forward. In the car, as we headed back, Martin looked at me with concern.
“Are you okay?”
“No, but I will be. I have a plan, Martin. I can't just sit and wait. Luisa has crossed a line, and I won't rest until Dante is free and she pays for everything.” Martin nodded, his gaze steady.
“You can count on me for anything you need.” We arrived home, and I went straight to Paolo’s room.
I found him asleep, his small figure wrapped in a blanket. I approached him and gently stroked his head.
“I’ll protect you, my love. No one will hurt you. And I’ll bring Dante back, I promise.” I left the room and headed to my office.
I had to start planning, mapping out every move. I couldn’t afford any more mistakes. Every second counted. That night, while the world slept, I stayed awake with maps, documents, and strategies spread out before me.
I had to be precise, I had to be ruthless. Because this time, it wasn't just my life at stake, but Dante’s and our son’s future.
Luisa had no idea what was coming for her.