Episode 16

The days went by, and Sandro was already feeling like the new head of the family. He organized a symbolic ceremony to bury his brother, and together with Kara, they pretended to be suffering the pain of loss.

Sandro, holding his brother's photo in his hand, said, "The loss of my brother, still so young, was unfortunate. When my father chose Maximilian to lead the family, it was the right choice at the time, as he was much more prepared than I was. But now, as the sole heir of the Maximilian family, I will assume the responsibility of taking care of the business, and I count on your cooperation." He bowed humbly.

Soon after, they heard clapping coming from the other side, and when they looked, they were surprised by what they saw.

Kara also looked totally surprised and started pulling on Sandro's sleeve.

And when Sandro looked, he was startled to see his brother standing before him, alive and elegant as ever. "Lorenzo, but how... You're here? It's impossible! The firefighters, the police, they searched that entire place and found nothing."

Lorenzo looked at him without any reaction or emotion. "I'm not dead, to your misfortune, am I, brother? Because if it were up to you, I would be at the bottom of that hill, dead with Willy."

Sandro looked at him with feigned surprise. "You can't imagine the joy you've given me by seeing you here, alive, right here in front of me, my brother."

Lorenzo stared at him. "Unfortunately for you, I know you were the one who ordered what happened to me, and I'll make sure this doesn't go unpunished, brother. And now, you can stop with your charade."

Sandro looked around, seeing the other men looking confused. "I think the funeral turned into something else."

Lorenzo looked at everyone, still serious. "What are you still doing here? Didn't you see that this funeral is over? You can all go, you vultures."

And so everyone began to leave the place immediately.

Kara approached Lorenzo, smiling. "You can't imagine the joy you've given me, seeing you here alive in front of me, my love." And when she went to kiss him, she was abruptly pushed away.

Lorenzo looked at her furiously. "How dare you even touch me after siding with my brother? You're not worth the ground I walk on, you dirty woman," and he walked away.

Willy went after him, adjusting his suit. "I think you should go easy on your brother."

Lorenzo got into the car and sighed deeply. "I know he's despicable, but I can't do everything I want to him because he's my older brother. But that doesn't mean he won't get what he deserves, I guarantee you. And don't forget, keep an eye on Mark; I don't want him in danger."

Willy also got into the same car but in the front seat. "I've already taken care of it, and also, they shouldn't let him notice their presence. His driver is aware of the security measures."

Lorenzo rested his head on the seat, relaxing his body a little. "Thank you, Willy, for always being by my side all these years."

Willy looked in the rearview mirror and, noticing his friend's fatigue, didn't say anything else, just told the driver to continue driving.

Mark was at an event, covering it and taking many pictures of everything. There were many important people there, such as senators, businessmen, and other powerful men.

When he finished, Mark went to the food court and sat near the window when he was surprised by a colleague. "What are you doing here? Shouldn't you be recording everything?"

The man picked up his drink, laughing. "What's wrong? Did you think I didn't see those compromising photos you took of the senator with that escort?"

Mark looked at him. "And that's exactly why you came to me."

The man looked at him. "What, are you scared? You know you could earn a lot from those images you have there. You just have to know how to use them at the right time."

Mark looked at him and, without saying a word, left the place without finishing his food.

Sometime later, at the end of the event, Mark was in the parking lot walking to his car when he was surrounded by some men who attacked him.

Mark managed to fight with a few, but he ended up taking a hard blow to the head, knocking him unconscious. One of the men grabbed his camera and destroyed it completely. Just as one of them was about to kick him again, they were surprised by the security guards who attacked them.

The driver helped Mark, calling his name and staunching the wound. "I'll take you to the hospital, sir."

Mark sat up, saw his destroyed camera, and looked at the pieces. He picked them all up and left without saying a word.

The security guards took the men away, and the driver told Lorenzo what had happened.

He, in turn, was distressed and ordered the driver to take Mark to the mansion immediately, without any detours.

The driver looked at Mark in the car, still quiet, and then drove to the mansion without Mark realizing the route they were taking. When they arrived...

The driver opened the back door. "The boss asked me to bring you to the mansion. I'm very sorry, sir."

Mark just sighed, looked at him, and went straight to the room that had once belonged to him, closing the door behind him.

The driver just parked the car and stayed there.

Sometime later, Lorenzo arrived, running and asking where Mark was. The driver told him, and Lorenzo went to him.

Mark was sitting by the pool, looking at his destroyed camera, and Lorenzo saw him and sat down next to him. "I'm so sorry about your camera."

Mark looked at him. "What they did was overkill. They could have just deleted the images; there was no need for that. Honestly, I don't know why I still carried that camera to work. After what happened with you, I should have learned my lesson and left it at home safe. That way, this wouldn't have happened."

Lorenzo looked at him and, seeing his sadness, hugged him. "We can have your camera repaired and buy you a new one for work."

Mark pulled away from him and looked at him. "I don't need you to buy me anything, and I also don't understand why you brought me back here again. Am I your prisoner again, by any chance?"

Lorenzo smiled, looking at him. "Of course you're not my prisoner. Now you're mine. Have you forgotten, journalist?" He gave him a kiss. "And I was worried about what happened to you, that's all."

Mark looked at him again. "And how are you? After all, today was your return from the dead?"

Lorenzo sighed deeply, looking at the sky. "I guess being the head of the Maximilian family isn't as easy as everyone thinks. There are a lot of intrigues and conspiracies among them. My own brother wants me dead." He gave a sad smile, looking back at Mark.

Mark looked at him. "I'm so sorry about that. But if you know it's like this, then why not walk away from it all and live your life?"

Lorenzo lowered his head, looking at his hands and closing his eyes. "I wish I could, but there's so much more to it than that. If I walk away now, all those who supported my father when he was alive, and now me, and their families, they could all be at risk. Maybe even you, for being with me now. Do you understand?"

Mark looked at him and smiled. "Well, as my mother always says, as long as we're alive, there's always a solution. Just like my camera, you can fix your life, and your family can too."

Lorenzo looked at him and smiled. "With you, everything seems so much easier, doesn't it, my love?" He kissed him.

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