Episode 5

The rest of the dinner was filled with exchanging glances and a very tense atmosphere. Augusto and Mirella finished dinner before them and left, leaving Pietro behind, feeling quite upset.

"Pietro, calm down. It's normal for him to be angry with you. He thinks you're really interested in marrying his sister. You know better than anyone how close they are, so try to understand his side."

"I know all of that, Debora. I think my anxiety is getting the best of me. I just want this birthday to come quickly so I can be even closer to him."

Pietro was very impatient for things to happen soon. Waiting for eighteen years for that moment wasn't easy. After he arrived, his anxiety only increased. But he knew he needed to stay in control because nothing he planned during that time could go wrong.

Alice's birthday had arrived. Augusto wanted her day to be perfect since he didn't know what to expect at the party. So he started by bringing her breakfast in bed, while already having other things planned for the day.

"Happy birthday, sis," he congratulated after waking her up.

Alice stretched in bed and sighed before responding to her brother's congratulations.

"I don't know if we have anything to celebrate. I can't even say that I'm happy about my birthday since you know what that means."

Alice looked at him with sadness. Her brother hadn't told her what his plan was for that contract. That would be his birthday gift to her.

"I don't want any sadness today, okay? After your party, I have a gift that will cheer you up, so let's enjoy your day."

Alice raised an eyebrow in curiosity and seemed to have brightened up a bit with what he said. She gave him a smile and a hug, showing that she trusted her brother's word.

"Have your breakfast, get ready, and come downstairs. We're going to be out all day today, so look beautiful."

"I won't have to try too hard," she said confidently.

They both smiled, and Augusto became more excited to see his sister playing and less sad. That's how he wanted to see her always. He allowed her to start her breakfast and went downstairs to have breakfast with his parents.

He went down, and before he could sit at the table, he heard the doorbell ringing. He didn't imagine who could be there so early, but he went to answer it anyway. Augusto was surprised to see four security guards outside.

"Good morning, sir. We have orders to stay on the premises or accompany Miss Alice wherever she goes."

Anger dominated Augusto again. He thought Pietro was being cautious, thinking that maybe she would try to escape. He nodded in understanding and closed the door, returning to the table, showing that he was very irritated.

"That idiot really thinks she's going to run away? Or that we would try to hide her? Doesn't he think that if we were going to do something, we would have done it a long time ago? Why would we leave it until the last minute?"

"What happened, dear? Why are you so upset?" his mother asked, concerned.

"Pietro sent some men to watch over us. Maybe he thinks we'll escape with her."

Augusto's mother became a little tense, and he noticed her nervousness. He knew she hadn't been the same since that day they made that contract. He noticed Alice coming downstairs and changed the subject. He didn't want her to get upset about anything on that day. They all pretended everything was fine, her parents hugged her and wished her a happy birthday. She sat with them, and they chatted for a while. Soon, Augusto finished his breakfast, and they got ready to go out.

As soon as he opened the door, she was startled by those men outside the house. She held her brother's hand, and he tried to calm her down.

"It's okay, they're just going to accompany us as a precaution. Pietro ordered them to protect us," he tried to reassure her.

"Let's go out. I'd like us to go in separate cars so she feels more at ease," he informed the guards.

The truth was, he didn't want them to invade their privacy. They already had to endure being watched all day, so at least he hoped they could have some moments alone with his sister.

They went straight to the mall, bought some things, watched a movie, and had fun with other things. They spent the whole morning and part of the afternoon there. At a certain moment, while they were walking, Alice received a message from an unknown number.

"I've reserved the venue for you. When the time comes, the security guards I left with you will take you there. See you tonight. Pietro."

Alice's breathing quickened upon reading that message. Augusto grabbed his phone to see what it was about, and he became irritated when he realized that this man already thought he could decide her schedule and couldn't wait to end his joy.

Upon receiving that message, she decided to go home, take a shower, and wait there for the moment when they would take her to the venue. After they arrived, Alice no longer had the same excitement as before. She went up to her room, put away the things they had bought, and started getting ready.

Some time later, Augusto went up to see his sister. Since she hadn't come down, he went to check on her. When he entered her room, he found her packing a suitcase and with an expression that indicated she had been crying. Augusto grabbed her wrist, stopping her from continuing.

"You don't need to pack, Alice. Didn't I tell you I have a surprise for you? I won't let you marry him."

His sister looked at him, tears still falling, and hugged him, crying even more. Seeing her like that completely broke him. Augusto was willing to do anything to no longer see his sister in that state, even if it meant sacrificing his own life and happiness.

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