Everyone was gathered in the grand hall, all Bianca wanted was to leave the place. She might be blind, but she can sense the energy of the room and knows she is not welcome there.
Otavio walks with her toward a large table. One of the councilors calls him over to offer his well-wishes, so Otavio ends up stepping away from Bianca momentarily, and she is left alone beside the table with the cake on it.
Seeing her chance while Otavio is distracted, Joyce moves in on Bianca, her intentions far from benevolent, something Bianca will soon find out.
"Hello worthless, so, you’re aiming to con Otavio, are you?"
"Who are you? To answer your question, no, dear, I am not conning anyone."
"Who am I? My, you really are pathetic, pitiable."
"I don’t understand why you’re so angry with me!? Oh wait, I think I do... you probably wish you were in my place, but unfortunately, it's the pathetic, pitiable one that’s married to Otavio." Bianca couldn’t let herself be bested, not after hearing all those insults and staying silent, even though she didn’t want to be there, she would not allow herself to be humiliated by anyone else. What she didn't realize was that Otavio was watching and listening to everything from behind Joyce.
"Don't forget where you belong, you're just the replacement."
"I haven’t forgotten, but I assure you, I’ll enjoy every bit of it while you seethe with your anger and jealousy."
Bianca's words were not true, but Otavio found the boldness of the spirited little one amusing. What Bianca couldn't imagine was that Joyce was unprincipled and treacherous, and in a swift act, Joyce discreetly pushes Bianca into the cake table, causing her to fall in front of everyone. Bianca feels ashamed and can sense everyone watching her and hears snide remarks about her.
Ellen immediately steps in to help Bianca get up, her face flushed with embarrassment. Otavio is furious because he saw everything while talking to the councilor. He makes a signal to his mother to take Bianca to her room, but before they can go upstairs, Otavio speaks out.
"Listen, everyone, I said it before and I’ll say it again—if anyone else does anything against Bianca, they will pay with their life, just like our dear Joyce, MEN TAKE HER TO THE SHED!"
Everyone looks around, astonished by Otavio's stance. The men grab Joyce and take her away, as she screams – Joyce is the daughter of the most prominent councilor, but Otavio would not let her go unpunished for what happened.
"Otavio, my Don, please forgive my daughter, she’s harmed from losing the only man she ever loved. If you bear any regard, please spare her."
"Giuseppe, my friend, you know better than anyone that forgiveness is God’s domain, my job is to send to hell those who don’t listen to me."
"Please, my Don, I beg you, spare my daughter."
"Let’s do this. I will leave the punishment in Bianca's hands. Whatever she decides, will be done."
Before Giuseppe could say more, fearful because his daughter’s fate now rested in the hands of the don’s wife – even if she was merely a stand-in, as long as she was married to him, she would have to be respected and protected by the Mafia. Giuseppe knew that Joyce’s action could cost his daughter her life.
After Otavio laid down the conditions to Giuseppe, Otavio ordered everyone out of his house. He was fed up with the sight of them. After everyone left, with only a few trusted men and his friend John remaining, Otavio could finally breathe, sit down, and take a swig of his good old friend whiskey beside John, who chuckled at the whole situation and the mess his friend had gotten into, knowing full well a war could start for having defended his wife so staunchly.
"What's the matter, John?"
"I think that little blonde spitfire is turning your head, my friend."
"I just don’t like injustice."
"Come on, my friend, you’ve never cared about anyone other than your mother, especially not someone you’ve just met."
Otavio does not reply, and lets out a soft sigh, knowing his friend is right. However, Bianca is awakening something within him, an instinct to protect her, and he cannot understand why.
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Updated 103 Episodes
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