Episode 2

Augusto wanted to go after his sister, wanting to talk to her, try to calm her heart, but his father stopped him.

"It's no use going there now, she won't want to listen to you, let her digest this information first, then you can talk," he was already getting emotional.

His father sat on the couch, putting his hands on his face, starting to cry.

"If I had another option, I would use it, just so I wouldn't have to see my daughter in that state and having to marry that man, I would be willing to die if necessary, just to not see her go through this," he tried to hold back his tears.

"I'm going to find a solution, Dad, I promise, I'll go upstairs and take a shower, then I'll meet up with Mark, we'll think of something."

"Take the box he sent you," he asked her son.

He reluctantly took the box, but it was better not to contradict Pietro or he could create problems, just because he didn't wear that. Upon arriving in his room, he threw the package on the bed and went to take a shower, took a quick shower, and went out to get dressed. He looked at the box on the bed, deciding to open it.

Inside, there was a white tuxedo, very beautiful and elegant. He didn't understand why Pietro had sent it in white, but at least he had good taste, it was truly impeccable. He threw it back in the box and went to get dressed. He needed to go see his friend as soon as possible, so he took a copy of the contract and left.

When he went downstairs, he found his parents still in the living room, talking. He approached, informing them where he was going.

"I'm going out to try to find a solution. Keep an eye on Alice, don't let her do anything foolish," he was worried.

He left, heading to Mark's apartment. He arrived quickly, as they lived close to each other. When he arrived, his friend answered the door already looking a bit serious, but it didn't surprise him, considering the situation was quite complicated.

Mark

"Would you like a drink?" his friend offered.

"I accept, I'll need it," he said, taking off his jacket and placing it on the couch.

Mark made a drink for his friend, and they went to his office, grabbing the copy that was already there and both began to review it again. After a while of silence and reading the paper, he broke the silence.

"So, are we going to kill him?" he shrugged as he spoke.

"I'm trying to save my sister, not commit suicide," he smiled as he spoke.

Augusto considered that idea a real suicide, since others had tried that feat before but ended up dead.

"He deserves it," he said, finishing his drink.

Mark found that remark a little strange. He already knew that his friend didn't like Pietro, but the way he spoke made it seem like he had a personal resentment against the leader. It wasn't just because of Alice.

Mark stood up, grabbed another drink, and went over to the window. He took a deep breath and spoke.

"Or you could give him an aunt, a cousin, or even yourself since it doesn't mention Alice's name, just states that it has to be a member of the Castro family," he took another sip of his bourbon.

Augusto smiled and was about to reprimand his friend when he paused for a moment and thought about what he had said. He looked back at the contract and had a crazy idea.

Mark returned and sat back down beside him, noticing the slight smile on Augusto's lips. He should have been happy, but in that moment, he felt sad.

Augusto turned to him, holding his face and kissing his cheek. Mark felt a little awkward due to this proximity but had to pretend that it didn't mean anything to him.

"Hey, I know I'm good-looking, but don't overdo it," he forced a smile at Augusto.

"You're a genius!" Augusto was ecstatic.

"I know, I know, but what did you discover again?"

"Don't you understand that you made me see something that I hadn't noticed before? It only states that when a member of the Castro family reaches adulthood, they must be married to Pietro Albertini. It doesn't specify who it is, so it could be anyone from the Castro family who is of legal age."

Mark looked at him in a way that Augusto couldn't decipher. His friend looked away, gazing ahead, and Augusto wondered what might be happening with him.

"What do you plan to do?" he asked, still not looking at him.

"First, I need to talk to a lawyer from the mafia, but if it's as I think, I'll make Pietro nullify this contract."

Augusto got up, grabbing another drink before continuing to explain.

"Pietro is a complete womanizer, so I'm going to offer myself in place of my sister, claiming that the clause is not clear. Being proud of his masculinity as he is, he won't accept that, and even his father won't allow his son to marry a man," he drank in one gulp, feeling excited and hopeful.

"Augusto, have you considered the possibility of this going wrong and him accepting?" This time, Mark spoke while looking at him.

"There's no possibility of him accepting that, but if I'm unlucky enough for it to actually happen, then I'll have to live with the choice I made. But what will console me is knowing that I saved my sister."

After Mark brought up that possibility, it made his friend a little nervous to think about what he had said. After all, it was about Pietro, a cold and cruel man. He could accept just with the intention of humiliating or torturing him for ruining his union with his sister. He tried to rid himself of that idea, or he would be even more anxious.

"Mark, can you schedule an appointment with your uncle for me? I want to talk to him about the contract."

The other nodded and grabbed his phone, calling his uncle. He answered promptly, and when his nephew said that Augusto wanted to speak with him, he replied that he could go immediately.

Augusto was happy that he didn't have to wait, he wanted to resolve that doubt as soon as possible.

"So, are you coming with me to see your uncle?" he asked, grabbing his jacket.

"It won't work, I have something to take care of. I can't go with you," he made an excuse.

Augusto didn't know if it was in his head, but it seemed like Mark had suddenly changed after he had the idea of turning himself in instead of his sister.

"So I'll send news as soon as I talk to your uncle, hoping that we're right and I can do it."

He quickly walked towards his car, Mark watched him leave, lowered his head, and apologized, even though the other couldn't hear him.

"I'm sorry, I can't defend you and I'm sorry for being so cowardly all these years, for not expressing how I truly feel."

Mark picked up his cellphone, wiped a tear from his face, and dialed a number. He had an angry expression as he waited for the person on the other end to answer.

"He already knows about the clause, I've done my part."

He ended the call, went back inside his house, returned to his office, poured more alcohol, and picked up a photograph from the table. It was a picture of him and Augusto together. He ran his hand over the photo and couldn't hold back his tears any longer, starting to cry.

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