Is this destiny?

~ Los Angeles, Jarred's villa ~

9:41 AM

Mrs. Ronin and Jarred are sitting in the study.

She is reading a book on the sofa while he is working on his computer and making phone calls.

This is how they usually spend their morning: after breakfast, they go to the study and she is giving him company while he catches up on work. Jarred does not go to the office, Smithsonite corp. is in Charlie's hands even though the official transfer of the CEO title still didn't happen. But Jarred's other job (how he calls it) is dealing weapons and he either does things from home online, or he meets with people elsewhere (at restaurants and hotels mostly). Meetings are usually in the afternoon and evening hours.

"What is bothering you?", Jarred's question broke the silence.

She looked at him and blinked. "How do you know that something is bothering me?"

"You didn't flip the page for more than twenty minutes."

Mrs. Ronin smiled. She likes that Jarred notices these things.

She closed the book. There is no point in pretending to read. Actually, she was not pretending. She really wanted to read, but her mind is elsewhere.

Two days ago, the courier confirmed that Angelo received the documents and her letter where she requested a divorce. Angelo was supposed to sign the documents and return them in a pre-paid envelope which guarantees one-day delivery, but other than the email confirmation that he received the letter, no other news arrived. Mrs. Ronin was expecting to see the signed paperwork yesterday.

"Do you think that he will cause trouble?" Mrs. Ronin was unable to hide how anxious she is.

Jarred stood up from his chair and walked to her. He kneeled by her side and held her hand in his. "He is Angelo De Luca. Of course, he will cause trouble."

Mrs. Ronin's eyebrows scrunched.

Jarred patted her hand. "We spoke about this. I told you that he will not let you go easily, especially when he finds out that you are with me. I also told you that since he didn't show up for twenty years, I can pull some strings and make your marriage invalid."

Mrs. Ronin looked at Jarred gratefully. "I know. But if I don't clear this up with him, I will not be able to sleep peacefully. I will always fear that he will come back into my life and cause a mess."

"You know that he is interested in your kids. He will cause a mess one way or another. The only question is when."

"My kids made it clear that they will deal with their father on their own and that I should stay away. And I want to clear up my mess by myself because I am the one who created it."

"But you are not by yourself.", Jarred said in a soft voice before placing a gentle kiss at the back of her palm.

Mrs. Ronin ran her fingers through Jarred's hair and smiled. She knows that he is by her side. Jarred is the kindest man she ever met. At the same time, he is decisive and protective, and he does not lie to her. She is aware of his dealings with shady people and that more than often he is doing ruthless things which she does not approve of, but she knows that it's necessary. And he treats her as an equal.

He rubbed her bare ring finger. "Donni, when can we tell the kids that you are going to be Mrs. Jarred Smith?"

Mrs. Ronin sighed. She knows that he is eager for her to wear the engagement ring he gave her a few weeks ago. She accepted it, but she said that she will not wear it until she talks to her kids. But before that, there is one more thing… "When I clear up things with Angelo."

He looked at her in disapproval. "What if it takes a long time?"

"How much is a long time? Days? Weeks? Months?"

"Days is more than I can handle.", Jarred said honestly.

"Let's wait a bit more and see what Angelo has to say. OK?"

Jarred leaned closer and placed a gentle kiss on her lips. "I can't say 'no' to you."

…

~ East Sicily, Angelo's villa ~

11:12 AM

Angelo is in his study.

"Capo, here is the report you requested…", a man in a sharp black suit said while putting a thick folder in front of Angelo.

Angelo nodded in acknowledgment and he waited for his subordinate to leave the study before he looked at the folder.

Two days ago, he received documents from Donatella. She is asking for a divorce.

A long time ago, he was expecting this. And then the years passed, and he forgot. Donatella Ronin was the only woman in his heart and mind, and he didn't need any document like a marriage certificate to remind him of that.

When he got the documents two days ago, first he was in disbelief. But then he drifted into memories of when they got married and those few happy years before his life became a mess, and that corrupted everything they had. When Angelo came back to reality, he became suspicious: why now? Donatella was fine for more than twenty years to be his wife on paper, at least. It didn't impact her in any way.

The scarce reports he regularly gets for the last twenty years told him that in the last three months, she is spending time in Los Angeles, and he didn't think much about it because all four of their kids are there. But when he saw the request for a divorce, Angelo felt that he is missing something.

And this is where this report comes. It should contain details about Donatella, her whereabouts in the last few months, credit card transactions, any photos, and security footage… in short, Angelo wants to know what she is doing in the last three months.

Angelo promised that he will not snoop into her life, but that was under the condition that stays in Seattle. And she is not in Seattle anymore, so he feels that he is not the first one to break the deal.

Reluctantly, Angelo opened the folder.

His eyes widened and he held his breath when his sight fell on the photos. It is his Dona. She is even more beautiful than he remembers her. She is smiling and she looks happy.

Angelo went through more than a dozen photos before his eyes narrowed suspiciously. He sees the same man in almost every photo. Who is he? Somehow, the man is familiar but… no, it can't be him.

Angelo started reading the documents which have information about the photos: date, time, location, people shown, and any other relevant information.

It didn't take him long to figure out that the same name is frequently shown, next to Dona's, and it confirmed Angelo's initial guess which he hoped was wrong.

Angelo's jaw clenched and he said through his teeth: "Jarred Smith…"

He forced himself to stay calm and to go through all the information in the folder.

Dinners, lunches, events, she even accompanied him to a number of business meetings.

"What is he thinking!?", Angelo shouted when he saw a photo of Dona shaking hands with Hugo Delgado, a notorious arms dealer. Why is Jarred bringing Dona close to these dangerous people?

Angelo exhaled. It seems that Dona is even staying at Jarred's villa in Los Angeles.

And then it all clicked: Jarred Smith. He is the reason why Donatella is asking for a divorce.

Angelo stood up, put his hands over the photos and papers on his desk, and violently pushed everything to the side. But throwing all that to the floor didn't calm his rage, not even a little bit. Angelo grabbed whatever was in his arms reach and started throwing it randomly.

Eventually, Angelo ran out of things to throw.

"Giacomo!", Angelo shouted. "Giacomo!"

"Yes, Capo!", Giacomo called breathlessly when he rushed into Angelo's study. He saw the mess, but he didn't dare say anything.

"Arrange a meeting with Jarred Smith."

Giacomo paused. "From California?"

"Yes!", Angelo growled.

Giacomo nodded, but it looked more like a bow and he left the study swiftly.

Angelo grabbed a bottle of amaretto and poured himself a glass which he downed within a second. He poured himself a second glass and plopped on his chair while breathing heavily.

---

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