Meanwhile, in the shadows of the mansion, Bella stands at the window of her bedroom, looking out over the sprawling city below.
The conversation with her father earlier that evening still lingers in her mind, Giovanni may not show weakness, but Bella can see the cracks.
She thinks of Roberto, her husband, the man who once made her believe in the idea of power, of loyalty.
She had trusted him, believed that their union was more than just an arrangement.
But now, the cracks in their relationship are impossible to ignore.
His infidelities, his secret dealings, the whispers of betrayal that have started to reach her ears they all add up to one undeniable truth: Roberto is slipping away.
A sudden knock on the door snaps Bella out of her thoughts.
"Come in," she says, her voice steady despite the turmoil churning inside her.
The door creaks open, and Maria, her most trusted servant and friend, steps inside.
She's been with Bella for years, watching her grow from the daughter of a mafia boss into the woman she is today.
Maria knows Bella better than anyone.
"You've been quiet tonight," Maria says softly, her eyes scanning the room with concern.
Bella doesn't answer immediately.
"I've been thinking," Bella finally says, her voice barely a whisper.
"About everything. About the man I married. And the empire we're trying to build. I don't know if I can do this anymore."
Maria steps closer, a hand gently resting on Bella's shoulder.
"You've always known what this life demands, Bella. You've made your choices. But I see the pain in your eyes. The doubt. It's not weakness to question it. But you must remember: your father built this empire for you. He chose this life for you."
Bella's eyes flicker with pain.
"I know. But I didn't choose this. I didn't choose to marry a man who is already lost to his own ambitions."
Maria's words hang in the air, heavy with truth.
Bella has always known what the price of power is.
But now, as she stands on the precipice of losing everything, she feels the weight of it more than ever.