Chapter 4 THE BITCH

Marian and Lucian reached Italy around 4 p.m. the next day. A car was waiting for them at the airport. After they packed their bags into the vehicle, it set off. The car finally stopped in front of an elegant duplex. Two maids were waiting at the entrance to greet them. As soon as they stepped out, the maids walked to them.

"(Welcome back, lady)" the maids said in unison as they took their luggage. Lucian paused for a moment, confused by the maids' greeting. He wondered if his mother had been here before, then followed her inside.

"Look who's here, (my love)" a man said happily, opening his arms for Marian. Lucian raised his eyebrows in confusion.

"I think I understand that part-it's 'my love'" Marian said as she embraced the man.

"I am so happy to see you" the man said warmly.

"Me too, sweetie" Marian replied. The man then turned to Lucian.

"You must be Luciano" the man said.

"It's Lucian. And who are you?" Lucian asked, intrigued.

"Greco... Greco Gambino" the man introduced himself. Lucian furrowed his brows as he recognized the name, feeling a slight familiarity.

"Mom, why are we here, and why are you calling this man 'sweetie'?" Lucian asked.

"Lucian, it's a complicated situation. This is the man I love. You've already heard a bit about how your father and I came to know each other, right?" Marian said.

"But this doesn't feel right. Dad loves you" Lucian said. At that moment, the door opened, and a boy who seemed to be about Lucian's age walked in.

"Dad" the boy said as he walked in.

"Cardo, welcome, son" Greco greeted him happily.

"Oh, Cardo, I didn't get to meet you last time I was here. I heard you travelled for a school trip and camping. How was it, and how are you?" Marian asked with a warm smile as she looked at Cardo.

"It was good, thanks. Who's this woman, Dad?" Cardo asked, as one of the maids collect his backpack.

"She's Marian, your stepmother, and this is Lucian, your stepbrother" Greco introduced.

"(Oh, She's the bitch you always travel to New York to meet and spend nights with at the hotel)" Cardo said disdainfully in Italian language. Lucian clenched his fists in anger. He understood every word, though he tried to keep his reaction in check so no one would notice he understood Italian. His father had taught him the language in secret, and Marian was unaware of his proficiency.

"Cardo" Greco called out, trying to maintain order.

"What did he say, Greco?" Marian asked, maintaining a seemingly pure smile.

"I just told my dad that you look like a beautiful New York doll. Clearly, he found that offensive" Cardo explained.

"Oh, it's nothing to scold him for, Greco" Marian said, brushing it off.

"Lucian, I'll get to talk to you later" Cardo said, waving to him. "Dad, We need to talk, now." He added

"Alright, son. Marian, the maids will show you to your rooms. I'll be right back" Greco said.

"Yes, my love. Come with me, Lucian" Marian said. Greco then walked into Cardo's room, while the maids guided Marian and Lucian to their respective rooms.

Cardo sat angrily on his bed as his father entered and closed the door behind him.

"Cardo, what was that all about?" Greco asked, sitting on the edge of the bed.

"That was the woman you've been seeing even before my mum died," Cardo said.

"Cardo, you have to understand that I am a man. I loved your mother so much, and Marian can never replace her. But, I need Marian to be your stepmother and my wife" Greco explained.

"You first cheated on mum with Camila in this house, and now it's Marian" Cardo said, his voice filled with frustration.

"How did you find out about Camila?" Greco asked.

"Because I came home from school the day Mom was rushed to the hospital, that was when I saw you with Camila, doing some nasty things." Cardo said.

"Your mum wouldn't have gotten angry if she had seen us. I was without a woman for a year while your Mom was bedridden before Camila started working for me" Greco said.

"And where is Camila now?" Cardo asked.

"She still works for me, but privately" Greco answered.

"I would have love her to be here instead of that woman. At least she cared for Mum. Do you really love Marian?" Cardo asked.

"Yes, Cardo, but not more than I loved you and your mum" Greco said.

"Fine, but I won't let Marian and her son take you away from me" Cardo said firmly.

"Of course not. You're my son. You need to be brave" Greco reassured him.

Meanwhile, Marian was organizing her wardrobe when Lucian walked in.

"Darling, are you done unpacking your clothes?" Marian asked, glancing at Lucian through the mirror.

"Mom, we need to talk" Lucian said, sitting down in front of the dressing mirror.

"I'm with you, dear" Marian said as she continue to hang her clothes.

"Since when have you been cheating on Dad?" Lucian asked. Marian immediately turned to face him, looking shocked.

"What are you talking about?" Marian asked, taken aback.

"So Greco is the friend you always meet at the hotel. That's why you never introduced him to Dad. And you only meet him at the hotel to do things you shouldn't while you are still married to Dad" Lucian said.

"Who told you that?" Marian asked.

"Mom, this family doesn't love you. I can see that" Lucian said.

"Stop talking nonsense! Greco has always been there for me when your father wasn't" Marian snapped.

"When has Dad ever not been there for you? He bought you things and gave you a lot. He never cheated on you. He tried his best to be the perfect man for you. What else did you want that made you leave Dad for this man?" Lucian asked angrily, only to receive a thunderous slap from his mother.

"How dare you raise your voice at me? I'm still your mum. You were right about everything you said, but those things weren't what I wanted. I needed attention and affection. I needed someone who would make me feel like a woman, not your weak father. He's a failure in every aspect" Marian said.

"Failure?" Lucian said, touching his slapped cheek.

"Yes, and too weak for my liking" Marian said.

"I don't like it here. I want to go back to Dad" Lucian said.

"You should be grateful I didn't abandoned you. Did you just say you want to go back to your dad? Where will you live? What will you eat? Will he be able to pay for your tuition? Have you thought about that? Ungrateful child" Marian said, while Lucian shed a tear.

"Mom, I can't be treated with love here. Believe me, I'll just call Dad" Lucian said, reaching for his phone. Marian immediately snatched it from him, removed the SIM card, broke it, and smashed the phone into pieces.

"You will never contact him again. You better behave yourself if you want to enjoy the benefits I've planned for you here. Now get out of my room" Marian said, and Lucian stormed out in anger.

At dinner time, Greco, Marian, and Cardo were already at the table, with the maids serving them.

"Where is Lucian?" Greco asked.

"He should be in his room" Marian replied.

"Call him" Greco instructed one of the maids.

"There he is, Dad" Cardo said as Lucian walked into the dining room. He took a seat, and the maids began serving him.

"Do you like this place, Lucian?" Greco asked.

"Hmm" Lucian responded with a hum.

"How old are you?" Greco asked.

"I'm thirteen" Lucian said.

"Cardo is just fourteen, a year older than you" Greco said.

"And that makes me your older brother, Lucian" Cardo said.

"That's not correct, Cardo. You're only my stepbrother" Lucian countered. Cardo, in frustration, slammed his hand on the table.

"Cardo, where are your manners? He's right. You're brothers, and no one is older than the other" Greco said, while Marian continued to eat, observing the conversation.

"Yes, Dad" Cardo said, glaring at Lucian as they locked eyes.

"Marian, I think it would be a good idea to enroll Lucian in Cardo's school" Greco proposed.

"I've been meaning to discuss that. Thank you, my love. Lucian, what do you think?" Marian said.

"Thank you, Sir Greco" Lucian said.

"You should address him properly, he's your stepdad" Marian said with a stern look at Lucian.

"Thank you, stepdad" Lucian said.

After dinner, as the maids tidied up, Cardo and Lucian were seated in the living room, watching a movie.

"Cardo" Lucian called.

"What is it?" Cardo asked, his eyes filled with hatred as he turned to face Lucian.

"I just wanted to ask what your school is like" Lucian said.

"You should hope you never come to my school because I'll make it a hell for you. I just want you and your bitch mother to leave and go back to wherever hole you crawl out from. You're taking my dad away" Cardo said angrily.

"My mother isn't a bitch" Lucian snapped back.

"She really is. (She left your dad to come live with mine because she's a bitch)" Cardo said scornfully.

"What did you just say?" Lucian asked, pretending he didn't hear.

"It's too bad you don't understand Italian" Cardo said, turning off the TV.

"But I was still watching" Lucian said.

"It's my father's house and my father's TV, so it belongs to me. Go watch your coward father's TV" Cardo said, heading to his bedroom.

As Lucian made his way to his own room, he heard his mother's voice from her bedroom.

"Hmmm, oh my... so good, yes, I love it" Marian moaned loudly.

"You're my bitch. (I fucking love your wide hole). Ride me, Marian, move it" Greco said, pressing himself against her. Lucian was confused and about to leave when his mother's voice came through again.

"Oh Greco, I'm going to die... oh shit" Marian moaned loudly.

Lucian, fearing Greco might be hurting his mother, barge into the room without knocking.

"Mum!" Lucian called out. Marian, naked and on top of Greco, quickly threw a duvet over them as Lucian appear in the room.

"What are you doing here? Get out!" Marian shouted, and Lucian immediately leave, closing the door behind him.

Lucian climbed into his bed with a sad and heavy heart. He couldn't erase the images from his mother's room out of his mind. Was this what Cardo meant when he called her a bitch? He thought.

Back in Marian's room, Greco rub his chin in anger "You know, my son would never barge into any room like yours did. That was really embarrassing" he said.

"I'm so sorry. We should have gone upstairs to your room" Marian said, gently caressing Greco's bare chest.

"You should have locked the door" Greco said.

"It was locked, remember? I had just stepped out of the bathroom when you came in and immediately... well, you know," Marian said seductively.

"I can't help it. I've missed you so much" Greco said.

"We should continue" Marian said as she climbed on top of Greco. "I can't get enough of you."

"What about the door?" Greco asked.

"He won't come in again" Marian said, moving her hips rhythmically against him.

Minutes later, as they lay in each other's arms, Greco's phone rang. Marian glanced at the caller ID while Greco answered the call.

"You should call me back later, I'm busy right now" Greco told the caller before hanging up.

"Camila-who is she?" Marian asked.

"She's part of my team" Greco replied.

"We should get married, Greco" Marian said.

"Marian, that's not possible right now. There's a party for my position in a few days. We can't let anyone know about us" Greco said.

"You're right. Most people will recognize me as Ronaldo's daughter-in-law" Marian said.

"Exactly" Greco said, tenderly caressing Marian's body.

"But I'm afraid of losing you, and I don't want anyone else to have you" Marian said.

"I'm all yours" Greco said, pulling her close as Marian smiled softly.