The Double Life of My Pregnant Ex-Wife (Carmen and Marco) novel Chapter 72

The Venetti estate was quiet, but the air inside Marco’s office was heavy with tension. Luca stood by the door, his arms crossed as Marco poured over files spread across the desk. Carmen sat in a chair nearby, her expression a mix of determination and unease.

“They’ve sent us a name,” Luca said, breaking the silence. “Rafael Moretti.”

Marco’s hand stilled mid-turn of a page. Slowly, he set the file down and looked up at Luca. “Moretti?”

Luca nodded. “He’s the one behind the Consortium. The one pulling all the strings.”

Carmen frowned, her gaze shifting between the two men. “Who is he?”

Marco leaned back in his chair, a rare flicker of discomfort crossing his face. “A ghost from my past.”

“What does that mean?” Carmen pressed.

Marco exhaled, his gaze distant as he began to explain. “Years ago, when I was rising through the ranks, I dealt with the Moretti family. They were powerful, ambitious—but reckless. Rafael’s father, Alessandro, wanted an alliance, but I knew it would end in disaster. He didn’t just want to work together; he wanted control.”

“What did you do?” Carmen asked, her voice calm but sharp.

“I betrayed him,” Marco admitted. “Exposed his weaknesses, turned his allies against him. In the end, the Moretti family crumbled. Alessandro was killed, and Rafael disappeared.”

Carmen’s lips pressed into a thin line. “And now he’s back.”

“He’s more than back,” Luca said grimly. “He’s spent decades building the Consortium, waiting for this moment. Everything he’s done has been about revenge.”

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Later that day, the Venettis gathered their remaining allies in the estate’s war room. Sergio Montini, still recovering from his injuries, stood at Marco’s side, while other family heads listened intently to the briefing.

Marco’s voice was firm as he addressed the room. “Rafael Moretti has declared war on us. He’s used the Consortium to destabilize not just our family, but the entire region. If we don’t stop him now, he’ll destroy everything we’ve built.”

Sergio nodded, his tone serious. “This isn’t just your fight, Marco. The Consortium threatens all of us. If we stand together, we can take them down.”