The weeks flowed extremely slowly and uneventfully. Milano decided not to give Veronica unnecessary suppositions about Susan and not to dismiss his secretary. After all, Milano's such behavior could bring Veronica to considerable suspicions and she could end up thinking that Milano did it because he definitely cheated on her with Susan. Of course, he understood that trust was a significant thing in a relationship, but some specific actions could indicate that he was hiding something from Veronica. Even Milano had lied to her about what had happened at work, but he did it because he didn't want to harm his child and his Amazon. That's the reason why he remained silent and acted calmer than he ever did before.

But this didn't sit well with Veronica. Every day she saw his politeness and overly suspicious softness in attitude to her that wasn't inherent to Milano's nature. Maybe Veronica was contradictory in her judgment as to what Milano should be like, but still such a change in her Demon's personality was like a snow on the head. Home care distracted her from her thoughts but did not bring Veronica complete happiness, and sadness began to torment her day by day.

Susan had calmed down in her desire to punish Veronica. She had to leave urgently to her mother, who was seriously ill. Susan did that, of course, not because of her good motives, but for profit. Mother promised her that if she took good care of her, Susan would get all the inheritance. Susan was ready for anything just to take a tasty piece of the cake, but now she was getting the whole pie! So she would wait for the right hour to strike back at her rival, Veronica so that she never recovers. Susan was sure that she will succeed.

Lucenzo and Francesca whilst preparing for the wedding, agreed about as to how the celebration in the Veneziani house would go after their wedding. Francesca's parents helped her future family in everything, especially in the interior designs of the houses. Cutlery and furniture were bought straight off the ice because many guests were expected – relatives from Lucenzo and Francesca's sides. Lucenzo's mother-in-law couldn't get enough of her future son-in-law who helped them and wasn't tired at all, although the coming wedding deeds were enough and his hands were full. He willingly helped his older brother as well, so that Milano could quickly finish their building projects and could spend more time with Veronica.

Francesca, in turn, admired Lucenzo's energy and his unwavering faith that they would get everything done on time. Solicitation with each other was now limited to light kisses or hugs when Francesca's parents were away from them. For the bride and groom, it was agonizing, but pleasant at the same time, because they knew what was waiting for them when the wedding preparations were finished and everything was ready. They would belong only to each other.

Deciding to visit Veronica and see her firsthand, because they mostly only communicated by phone, Francesca drove to the Veneziani mansion one afternoon. She had a free day and she wanted to give a pleasant surprise to Veronica, because she knew that her friend was bored there. She had no friends and no one's support.

"Hey! Long time no see." She said to Veronica and handed her a small package that had a pleasant smell of chocolate. Veronica greeted her and smiled slightly, thanking Francesca for her attention. Since the last two months she had settled down in her Italian's house, she was constantly drawn to sweets.

The girls entered the house and then went up to Milano's room, deciding to talk about urgent matters. Looking around, Francesca gasped, noticing the erotic paintings hanging on the wall.

"Milano created a room in his own repertoire. How do you live with it?" Francesca asked Veronica ironically, taking off from her shoulders, a white cambric tippet and laying it on the chair. She mostly liked to be casual – light blue jeans and a white cotton blouse.

Veronica chuckled, supporting her about her estimation of Milano's depravity and slightly embarrassed by the topic.

"Yeah, I'm just taken for granted."

"You have an angelic patience, dear..." Francesca murmured sitting in an armchair by the window. Despite the fact that all her thoughts were about Lucenzo, she was also worried about Veronica. She looked very tired and depressed. Francesca was alarmed about that.

"What's going on with you, Nike?" Francesca began to question her as an older sister. "Share it with me, dear. I can't stand to look at your haggard face..."

"It's all right, Fra... really. I am very happy." Veronica artificially painted the picture of joy on her face, even though she wanted to cry. Maybe it was the hormones due to her pregnancy, or it was concern about the fact that Milano had ceased to be hot or maybe the main reason was that Milano stopped sleeping with her. Was it only because he was cautious not to hurt their baby, or was it something else?

Francesca incredulously looked at Veronica, slightly squinting one eye.

"Yeah." She nodded. "I see how happy you are. You are so happy that you're about to cry!"

Veronica didn't answer. She just got out of bed and stepped up to the window. She didn't want to share what was on her mind with Francesca. She couldn't upset her either. Veronica saw happiness in her friend's eyes and she didn't want to ruin it with her troubles.

"Honey..." Francesca called her, getting up from the chair and putting her hands on Veronica's shoulders. "What is it? Tell me. I can keep a secret."

"I feel that Milano and I have become estranged from each other. Work is paramount to him and I'm certainly not arguing about that. But he often comes home late. And it seems to me that he has a mistress. But what can I do? I'm not even his wife. Maybe he is just biding his time to dump me. He has played enough, and now I'm probably a hassle to him. Somehow it is necessary to get rid of any unnecessary thing." Veronica pronounced every word with pain, as if a nail was being hammered into her heart.

"You must admit that Milano won't change in one second." Francesca sighed, understanding the feelings of her friend. "Oh! If you only knew him like I did, you would have realized what I'm talking about."

"If you're talking about his former state of a womanizer, I know that. Although I'm not sure that he has ceased to be one."

"You have to be strong, Veronica and eliminate all his exes. Trust me, Milano has a fervent affection to you and I can see it. Moreover, you have something that nobody can take away from you... your child. Even if Milano leaves you, although I don't want to think like that, I'll help you with everything. But before that, I will unleash Lucenzo on him!"

The girls laughed, but it was short-lived. Veronica became sad again.

"I would have walked out the door, Fra... I'm suffocating in here." Veronica said, her voice barely audible.

"Did you eat today? Why are you so thin? And why the fuck is Milano not watching out for you?" Francesca dispersed, noticing what Milano had made out of the beautiful Veronica. She didn't look like herself. She was like a shadow.

"We don't sleep together anymore. I think he's very tired. Moreover, the child." Veronica whimpered, wiping her nose with a handkerchief which Francesca gave her.

"That's no reason to worry, honey. The reason to worry is that you're not eating at all. OMG, look at you!" Francesca reproached her, stroking Veronica's thin shoulder and feeling the protruding bones of her body.

"Food sticks in my throat..."

"Sweet Nike, you're very precious to me, so you have to take care of yourself for the sake of the baby." Francesca touched Veronica's belly, gently smiling at her. "If not for you – Milano wouldn't ever have come for the dinner and it could have put us in a difficult situation with his brother – and thus, my fiancé, and I don't think my parents would have been happy about that. They could have broken the engagement, seeing the levity of Lucenzo's elder brother. So, thanks to you, in a few months, my happiness will become a reality. Ask all you want, Veronica. I will try to fulfill it." Francesca raised her head, pretending to mull it over for the future. Veronica grinned.

"Please humble the sexual appetite of Milano Veneziani." She suggested, and Francesca burst out laughing, hugging the girl warmly. Veronica really was a saint.

"I'll try. If I could, I would take all his mistresses and send them to Sicily to the mafia clan! That is the greatest place for them, those whores!"

Veronica laughed in return, hoping that her sadness would disappear like the morning fog. But then she felt that something was wrong with her. She suddenly faltered; a sharp pain pierced her belly. Veronica grabbed the hand of her faithful friend, who flew up to her in perfect time.

"Holy Mary! You are pale as death! What are you doing, Veronica?"

Veronica only smiled sadly and slowly started to settle on the floor.

'My God! She looks so bad!' Francesca was horrified by Veronica's condition. 'I will wallop Milano for sure when he comes home!' She finished the thought and quickly helped Veronica to the bed, covering her with a warm blanket. 'Veronica is trembling. Does she have a fever? I will call a doctor immediately!'

Half an hour later, the doctor was already at her place. She asked what Veronica had eaten and what she did last time, and Francesca had nothing to say to her. She felt awful that she was so inattentive to her friend and didn't know anything about her daily life. Now she was thinking, 'did she eat at all? And if not – she's just crazy! She's going to kill herself and the child!'

Examining her, the doctor issued disappointing forecasts: Veronica could lose the baby if she continues to scoff at her body. Judging by the bags under her eyes and her leanness, Veronica worked the whole day. Apparently, servants and housemaids weren't at home to help her and Francesca was so outraged that she was ready to break anything on Milano's head if he came there right then!

After the doctor prescribed the drugs and a certain regime for Veronica and left, Francesca decided to inform her fiancé, Lucenzo. She was furious, realizing that all those weeks, Veronica was tormented and Milano didn't even move a finger. She couldn't blame Lucenzo, because he was helping her for the wedding and was very busy. However, Francesca had the determination to chastise him as well. After all, Lucenzo was next to his brother and his girl and he didn't notice how everything was hard for Veronica and she turned into a skeleton.

Accepting the incoming call of his beloved woman, Lucenzo soon came home. He flew into the room, and his eyes froze in mute horror. 'What happened to Veronica? And why is she lying flat on her back?'

"What's the matter?" Lucenzo quietly asked Francesca, without disturbing Veronica's sleep and tenderly kissing his woman in the ear. But Francesca didn't accept his kiss and started to gesticulate desperately.

"As if you don't know what is going on!"

Francesca was shocked with how Milano had ruined the lives of not only the kind Veronica, but her, and his brother's too. Why was he so heartless? Why was he so blind and didn't want to see what was under his nose? Escape from liability didn't mean getting rid of it.

"No, I don't know, honey..." Lucenzo was puzzled, scratching the back of his head. "Veronica feels good, doesn't she?"

"Like hell she feels good!" Francesca barely held back her scream, knowing that Veronica needed to relax and not get nervous. Sleep will help her recover quickly. "Let's get out of here. I want to talk seriously and then beat Milano at the doorstep!"

Lucenzo gently opened the door and he went out with Francesca into the dark corridor.

"What the hell?!" Lucenzo was afraid of Veronica's plight. She didn't look good and his bride was extremely exerted. Most likely something serious happened and it dejected him a lot.

"You lived under the same roof with the future bride of your brother and couldn't see what was eating at her? And why is she so frail? I'm asking you!"

Francesca fanned her nostrils; her wrath poured out like a fire of emotions straight at Lucenzo.

"Calm down, baby!" Lucenzo drew her aside, trying to hug her. "I didn't think that Veronica was having a bad time, because their relationship was established. They have ceased their quarrels."

Lucenzo believed that since Milano and Veronica weren't shouting at each other, it was the good sign. However, in this case, it was solely backwards. It was a wake-up call and a hint of their imminent breakup.

"Damn it, Lu! It doesn't mean that if the relationship has no fights, it's good! Maybe it's much worse than it seems!" Francesca shouted, not understanding why Lucenzo behaved like a silly child and didn't see the obvious facts. His brother and Veronica didn't have a smooth rapport, and their affair could end soon, like a fairytale.

"Oh, no..." Lucenzo moaned like he admitted all of Veronica's pain which she had felt all these months. "Did Milano lie to me all this time saying that they are fine when I inquired about their relationship? Darn it!"

"Apparently, yes. But that's not good enough. We need to discern it ourselves!" Francesca complained, almost whining from the turmoil that had occurred in the Veneziani family. Moreover, it was her first quarrel with Lucenzo. After all, they have never bawled out. They solved everything amicably, but now it had gotten complicated. And the devil Milano was guilty in all of that.

"I understand your condition, but the one who is responsible for this is my brother! I will go to the office and haul his ass here! But if he can't come, I will beat the shit out of him right in his office! I swear to you. I'll do it!" Lucenzo's eyes were bloodshot, and his fists were clenched. He was on edge, not believing that he could actually initiate a fight. Milano affected even his virtuous brother. Milano's mental demons were so strong that they were hurting not only him, but also his family and loved ones.

Looking at the transformation of her fiancé, Francesca was scared. She had never seen Lucenzo so impulsive.

"Lu, I'm sorry. I flew off the handle. Veronica's condition acted at me strongly and what she might..."

Not finishing the sentence, she stepped up to Lucenzo and began to cry. He hugged his girl, gently touching her hair and soothing her.

"Oh my God, Fra. Please don't cry. Your tears tear my soul into pieces..." Caressing her back, Lucenzo whispered to her.

"The doctor said that Veronica could lose the baby if she keeps tormenting herself with this diet and unlimited work. It could happen..." Francesca hiccupped from incessant sobs. Her soul ached for Veronica.

"What? Is it true?!" Lucenzo's glance turned into a dark purple flame, ready to escape to the surface. Would peace never come in their house?

"Yes!" She replied fast. "The doctor said that Veronica always worked, and perhaps overworked, although in her pregnancy state it's harmful and contraindicated. Now her condition is unstable."

Lucenzo whined, realizing that the misery never disappeared in the Veneziani family. It only left them for a short time, then came back again, playing pranks with every member of their family. "What would we do now?"

"We should take care of Veronica, and not upset her, to create the pre-requisite for this. Otherwise, the chance that the baby will be born healthy could be small."

Francesca was crying again. She is quite attached to Veronica and didn't wish this awesome and pure girl any suffering due to her love for Milano. Francesca wanted to make up for those days that she was unable to visit Veronica. She promised herself, in the future, she will be closer to Veronica in any way. She scolded herself for being so selfish and she didn't differ from Milano. How could she blame him for his coldness towards Veronica, when she had sinned in this as well?

"I'll talk to Milano." Lucenzo picked himself together, took the car keys and went down the hall.

"No need to put our personal lives on public display. Let me call him first and then we will gather our wits about what to do next."

Francesca used the phone that sat on the coffee table in the living room, making sure not to wake Veronica up with her chatter. As always the call in his office was taken by Milano's secretary.

"Romano Industries. Signore Veneziani's office."

"Please, call Milano Veneziani to the phone." Francesca said firmly.

"How shall I introduce you to him?" Susan wondered.

"It's his sister-in-law, Francesca Lascatti. Tell him this is serious business."

"Just a minute, madam." Francesca heard a rustle of papers and then the alarm sounded. Susan pressed the button of the intercom and told her boss that a certain Francesca Lascatti was calling from his home, without mentioning the importance of the call. Forgetting to cover up the speaker of the phone, probably doing it intentionally, Susan passed on the message from Milano on speaker when he said he was very busy and will call back home later. Francesca was enraged by Milano's frivolous behavior and without waiting for the secretary's answer, she dropped the call in that moment.

Hearing the short beeps, Susan was a little amazed by the unfinished conversation with Francesca, but she was pleased with that outcome in the secret depths of her soul. She suspected that the call was about Veronica; otherwise the future daughter-in-law of Signore Veneziani would never call him at the office. Every circumstance played into Susan's hands and could affect Veronica life's aggravatingly, because Susan was going to her mother and for a long time she won't be able to control the situation concerning Veronica. She was happy that her rival would be defeated indefinitely.

Francesca was seething with anger. She kicked the chair and swore at Susan with such abusive words which Lucenzo had never heard in his life. Concerned about the noise, he went downstairs. His beloved's face was burning as if she had been in the boiler room.

"Fra, what did Milano say to you?" Lucenzo asked her.

"Nothing! He told Susan that he is very busy. But the thing is that this slut – his secretary, didn't even tell him that it's an important call!"

"Francesca, you have such a dirty tongue!" Lucenzo scolded her playfully with a smile, not expecting her words.

"I am not in the mood for humor, Lu! I'm going to Milano to give him a piece of my mind and talk about his secretary too! And kick out all the demons from your brother!" Francesca was waving her fists, not holding back her Italian temperament.

"Fra." Lucenzo straightened her. "Breathe in deeply. Chill out. I'll decide this."

"Oh no! That bitch, Susan, will want to catch you too! I know these bitches. Trust me, Lu." She didn't want to let Lucenzo go. Susan was the one who broke up their family circle and danced on its dead coals. She was the one who wouldn't stop at anything until she gets what she wants.

"Lovely, please stay with Veronica. She needs you more than me. Moreover, in the condition in which you are in now, it's better if you don't get behind the wheel. I will be distressed for you." Lucenzo shook his head, advising Francesca to listen to him. "I'll go to Milano and I will say everything that's needed to be said. Moreover, I know Susan. I have seen her couple of times when I helped Milano in the office."

Francesca menacingly frowned. "She's a vixen! Stay away from her, Lu!"

"Don't worry, my little goldfish. I'm only yours."

After those tender words from Lucenzo, Francesca's heart eased up, especially when he kissed her before leaving the house. Francesca returned to Veronica, sitting next to her bed, and waiting to feed her as soon as she woke up.

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Author's Note: 3373 words

Copyright © OlgaGOA

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Hey, sweets!

So Veronica is feeling awfully about relationships with Milano that became so cold for now. She feels that Milano something hides from her. Could she have a lot of courage to fight with Milano's demons and patience to understand him? Or she will give up at last?

What about Francesca and Lucenzo? Would they help Veronica to balance her relationships with Milano?

We can only wait what happen next ;) Ya?

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Thank you for your endless support! I really appreciate it xox

Don't forget to comment, vote for chapters, share my book with social nets and also don't forget to write about your first impressions after reading xo ♔

Thanks for love, my besties!♡♡♡

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FATEFUL ITALIAN PASSION 2 OST ♪: Andra - Why

Lyrics:

If you don't love me just say
I'll never stay in your way
Nobody hurt me this way
Give me a reason to stay

I wonder, wonder, wonder why
I wonder why x2

Why, why do you hurt me?
Why, why does it hurt?

Can we just stop with the blame
We're turning love into hate
I know we won't be the same
We've got no reason to wait

I wonder, wonder, wonder why
I wonder why

Why, why do you hurt me?
Why, why does it hurt?

This song will show you sadness of MILANICA's relationships

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