Continued beef

Later that night, Roberto stood alone on the balcony of his penthouse, the city sprawling beneath him. The lights twinkled like stars, but they offered no comfort. The weight of everything pressed down on him, the lies, the betrayal, the war that was about to explode.

 He heard the soft sound of footsteps behind him and turned to see Marco approaching, his face drawn with worry.

"Boss," Marco began, his voice hesitant. "There's something you need to know."

 Roberto's eyes narrowed. "What is it?"

Marco hesitated, glancing around as if to make sure no one was listening. "It's about Bella, Roberto. Vito's helping her. They're coming for you."

Roberto felt a surge of anger rise in his chest, but he forced it down. "And how do you know this?"

"I have my sources," Marco replied, his tone cautious. "Bella's been meeting with some of our rivals. She's planning to hit our supply lines. If we don't act fast."

Roberto held up a hand, silencing him. "I know what she's planning."

Marco blinked, surprised. "You do?"

Roberto's expression darkened, a cold smile tugging at his lips. "I've known for a while. But let her think she's winning. When the time is right, I'll remind her who's in control."

Marco shifted uncomfortably. "And Sofia? Where does she fit into all this?"

Roberto's eyes glinted with something dangerous. "Sofia's playing her own game. But she won't see the end of it."

As Marco left, Roberto turned back to the city, the cold night air biting at his skin. The war had begun, and in this game of betrayal and deception, there would be no mercy.

Later that afternoon, Bella sat in her family's villa, her gaze fixed on the garden outside. The soft sound of water trickling from the fountain offered a momentary respite from the chaos of her life. But the peace was an illusion. She was at war with her husband, and every day brought new challenges, new threats.

Vito entered the room, his face set in a grim expression. "We need to talk."

Bella looked at her brother, the tension between them palpable. Though they were aligned in their goals, Vito's overprotective nature was starting to grate on her.

"What is it?" she asked, her voice clipped.

Vito wasted no time, getting straight to the point. "Roberto knows. About Sofia"

Bella's heart skipped a beat, but her face remained impassive. "What does he know exactly?"

Vito sat across from her, his hands resting on the arms of the chair. "Enough to be dangerous. Sofia's been careless, meeting with people she shouldn't have. Roberto's going to make his move soon."

Bella clenched her fists in her lap. Sofia had been useful, but if she had been reckless enough to get caught, then her time in this game was over.

"We'll have to adjust our plans," Bella said, her voice steady. "Sofia's no longer an asset. We'll need to sever ties with her before Roberto does."

Vito raised an eyebrow. "You're just going to cut her loose like that?"

Bella met his gaze, her eyes cold. "She's a liability now. She played her part, but if she's been compromised, she's no longer of use to me. We can't afford to have dead weight in this fight."

Vito nodded slowly, though his expression remained unreadable. "You're sure about this? It's a risky move."

Bella gave a small, bitter smile. "Everything about this is risky. But I'm not going to lose to Roberto, not now, not after everything."

Vito leaned back in his chair, watching her carefully. "You've changed, Bella."

Bella's smile faded. "I had to. If I didn't, I'd be dead by now. And so would you."