Code name: Athena [18+]

Code name: Questo e altro

"You won't!" Mariano shouted from the closet.

"It's Apollo and Mariano sleeping in the same bed, naked," I whispered with a devious smile.

Abra laughed "I need to see that picture right now."

•Mariano Salvatore•

Before going to the home office, where Allegra is waiting for me, I checked on Viola and Serafina who are still in the master bedroom with their cousin. I left them with Arabella, Abra, and Sofía so they're in safe hands. Apollo walked me to the home office, he wanted to go in with me but I told him I needed to do this on my own.

"It's okay," I smiled weakly looking at him "I'm going to be fine."

He sighed deeply and then hugged me tightly "I love you, Mariano," he said.

"I love you too, buddy," I whispered as I hugged him back "just stay here," then I pulled away and pecked his lips before going into the room. Allegra was sitting on the chair behind the desk, looking at her phone which I find extremely insensitive.

"Marian–"

"You can't see our daughters," I said looking into her eyes.

She stood up "I'm their mother."

"You left us."

Allegra sighed deeply as she approached me "Mariano–" she was going to touch my cheek but I took a step back.

"Don't touch me," I stated, "You disgust me and not because you slept with others but because you left two innocent creatures who need you more than anyone in the world; how can someone even begin to consider that?"

"I needed a break," she said as if what she did could be justified.

I scoffed "That's not a valid reason, I need breaks too but that's parenting Allegra. One thing is you going on a small getaway to the Hamptons and another, very different one, is leaving the people you love in the snap of a finger; as if we were disposable."

"I know I was wrong!" she exclaimed, "but I didn't want everything to go so fast, I wanted us to flourish as a couple before we had kids!"

"And because you couldn't have that with me, you went to look for someone else to fuck and drink with," I chuckled bitterly "I have full custody of Viola and Serafina so feel free to go have an orgy every two hours."

"I need to see them! Let me see my children!" she shouted in anger.

"THE MOMENT YOU LEFT THEY STOPPED BEING YOURS IN ANY WAY!" I yelled in anger "you might've carried them but I've been taking care of them from the moment they were born!" I was out of breath and my chest was tight; adrenaline "was it everything you imagined?" tears sprung my eyes "leaving the people who loved you the most. Was the oxygen purer?! Is your life better now?!"

She jumped at me and was able to peck my lips...I didn't feel a thing so I started laughing "This isn't funny, Mariano."

"It is," I had to use a little more force when pushing her away but didn't hurt her because she won't turn me into a monster "because I no longer feel anything for you. I now realize I stopped loving you from the moment I read that letter, I cried for my children who I called orphans but they can't be abandoned by someone who was never there," I wiped my tears away.

Allegra frowned "Stop being so harsh, I needed time."

"And I needed you!" I said in desperation "I loved you with every fiber of my being! I would've gone to hell and back for you but not anymore, not ever again..."