CHAPTER 122: SENTIMENTAL REUNION WITH SARA

"I begged in front of Dad, but he didn’t listen to me," Frida complained bitterly to Diego, who quietly sat on a chair, appearing withdrawn. Their mother was currently in the kitchen, putting away some fresh groceries.

"Mom shouldn’t have signed the divorce papers," Diego murmured, focused on the floor.

"Dad said he wouldn’t give a single penny to Mom if she refused to sign. One way or the other, he would have made her sign," Frida stated, her frustration mounting. "While Sara is enjoying her life to the fullest, we lost everything in such a short time. Thankfully, I still have my company, but ever since people found out what I did to Falcone Industries—especially the investors—they aren’t showing interest in my fashion brand. I thought everything was going well, but I was totally wrong."

"Now, it’s all in the past. I’ve learned a good lesson this time," Diego muttered vaguely.

Frida gazed at her brother suspiciously, sensing a shift in his demeanor. "Don’t tell me you’re no longer taking revenge on Sara. She destroyed us completely," she said sharply.

"No. You destroyed us," Marcella announced from the doorway. Both her kids looked up at her as she walked in and sat heavily on the couch. "You were overconfident in taking down Sara. You didn’t discuss your plan with us. You only told us about it after you executed it."

"Mom, how could you possibly blame me for this?" Frida’s voice rose sharply in fury. "Weren’t you and Diego both happy seeing Sara finally kicked out of the house after all those years?"

"Both of you should calm down," Diego interjected, taking a deep breath, trying to mediate the escalating argument.

Marcella shifted uncomfortably on the couch, a raw, regretful tone filling her voice. "I think... I did wrong to Sara ever since she was a child. Adam married me for love, yes, but he also explicitly asked me to give a mother’s love to Sara. And I couldn’t stand the sight of her."

"Mom, she didn’t consider you her mother either," Diego scoffed, trying to defend their past actions. "Have you forgotten how she used to throw away the food you would make for us?" He chuckled without humor. "I agree Sara didn’t get a proper feeling of family from us, but she was no less than an evil person when it came to retaliation."

Marcella remained quiet, her gaze fixed on the floor. She did not tell them the hidden truth: how she would intentionally mix extra salt and excessive spices into Sara’s portion of food, hoping to drive her away and force her to leave the house. That time, and even up until the day before yesterday when her own life had completely collapsed, she never once regretted her malicious actions.

But suddenly, facing the destruction of her own life, a life she had centered entirely around Adam and her children, she realized with painful clarity just how much evil she had truly inflicted upon Sara.

"Don’t tell me you’re going to see Sara and beg her," Diego said sharply, looking at his mother, anticipating a weakness. "I did that too, but she threw that kindness right back in my face. And what happened after that!? Dad abandoned me. I can’t even work anywhere, especially with my experience and reputation now."

"Work in my company," Frida offered dryly.

"No. I’m not into fashion," Diego replied, dismissing the suggestion instantly.

"I never wanted to divorce Adam. I wish I could change his decision," Marcella murmured wistfully, avoiding eye contact. "Now that his first wife has returned, he will be under even more stress."

"He hates his first wife, Mom," Frida reminded her mother, trying to keep the focus on their current enemy. "Also, based on the settlement and the size of the share you got from him, I think soon after, he will announce Sara as his sole heir," she opined, the thought sickening her. Her fists clenched at her sides as the mere possibility filled her with more insecurity and the devastating sense of loss of her identity and future.

"Frida, don’t even try to do anything that will create more troubles for us," Diego warned his sister, his expression grave. "My friend , Mathias, advised me one thing: Not to touch Sara. Because Luca has her back, and he’s far more dangerous than we know. Well, we’ve seen how easily he pointed a gun at us," he remarked, making them both vividly recall that terrifying evening.

"I won’t do anything," Frida conceded, though her tone still held resentment. "Luca is a mafia boss. Even his extended family is deeply involved. His grandfather was a notorious mafia figure, and so were his ancestors."

"How did you find out all of that?" Diego mused, surprised by the detailed information.

"Well, I ended up having a small conversation with Sara’s former school classmate," she revealed. "He transferred schools after a major argument with Sara, and Luca was apparently behind that transfer. That’s how I connected the dots."

"My head is aching. I will rest for some time," Marcella murmured, rubbing her temples, desperate to escape the painful conversation. She excused herself, clearly not interested in any further talk about their failed revenge.

"Mom, have something first. I’ll order food," Diego offered gently.

"No," Marcella refused. "I just want to sleep for some time." With that, she disappeared into a room close to the living room.

Diego turned back to Frida, his gaze serious. "Frida, we have to give a better life to Mom. We both have only done things which brought her head down in shame lately. Let’s focus on building a better future for her." He spoke with quiet conviction. "Let’s forget Sara completely, and also our stepfather and that whole family. Let’s promise not to ever get involved with Sara or Luca and the others associated with them again."

Frida looked at her brother and nodded at him.

~~~~

Paulina removed her shades as she stepped out of her car and looked at the tall gates of the De Augustino estate. Putting her sunglasses inside her handbag, she walked ahead and looked for the security guard.

"I would like to go inside," she said as soon as she spotted one.

"Who are you?" the security guard asked, maintaining his professional distance.

"I am... Sara’s mother," Paulina said with a confident smile.

The guard stepped up and opened the heavy, imposing gates for her. Paulina thanked him and stepped back into her car before driving in. After a five-minute drive through the extensive grounds, she was finally in front of the gigantic mansion. Pulling the car into the driveway, she exited it and walked toward the entrance.

"So, this is the house she lives in! Filled with luxury and money," Paulina murmured, clearly impressed by the opulence, as she walked through the red carpet lining the corridor toward the main hall. She stopped and found the main hall empty.

"Who are you?" Vinni frowned, seeing a strange woman approaching from her left.

Paulina turned to her, extending a hand. "You must be Sara’s mother-in-law. I am her mother, Paulina Montes," she introduced herself with a warm smile.

Vinni’s eyes widened instantly as she saw the uncanny physical similarities between the woman and her new daughter-in-law, confirming the relationship.

"Please, have a seat," Vinni said, managing to act normal despite her surprise. She didn’t know much about Sara’s background, except that she had grown up under the shade of a stepmother. Vinni chose not to comment on their complicated familial history and simply guided Paulina to a comfortable seating area.

"Thank you, Mrs. De Augustino," Paulina said graciously as she lowered herself onto a sofa chair.

"I’ll inform a maid to call Sara," Vinni stated.

"Sure."

Vinni gestured to a nearby maid and gave her the instructions before sitting down on the main couch, facing her unexpected guest. The silence stretched until Vinni could no longer contain her curiosity and protective instincts.

"You came here empty-handed," Vinni finally observed, her voice polite but edged with judgment. "As far as I remember, you left Sara when she was a small child. Shouldn’t a mother bring some form of gift or token for her daughter after they will be meeting for the first time in such a long time?"

Paulina’s smile faltered slightly to hear that Vinni had done her research. "Did Sara tell you that I left her?" she asked, her voice losing some of its previous warmth.

"No. I did my own research the day she married my son," Vinni replied coolly, maintaining eye contact.

Paulina didn’t say anything, briefly looking away as she processed the fact that her history was already known.

"So, why are you really here?" Vinni stated, seeing straight through her polished facade. "I don’t think you have come all the way here just to share a sentimental reunion with Sara."

"I am here simply to meet my daughter," Paulina replied, forcing a confident tone.

"It doesn’t seem like that," Vinni remarked, her expression one of polite but skepticism.