Francesco was carrying Adele in his arms through the long corridors of his mansion towards his room. He kept his stare forward but from time to time he kissed Adele at the side of her head and whispered "You will be fine sweetheart. Its ok." The words could only be aimed for assuring himself that she was going to be fine. The gesture was calming to him but unsettling to Adele who was fearful that Francesco was going to somehow see through her and fund out she was faking her condition. Pretending to faint was becoming harder as Francesco kept caressing her body.

As Francesco reached his room, he instructed the guard to open the door for him. He entered, put down Adele on the bed gently and closed the door. He walked to Adele and sat on the bed next to her holding her hand.

Francesco sighed " Sweetheart..... Just when we were getting somewhere you fainted. But don't worry Adele. I would help you get over him. It's not your fault. None of this is. It's all O'Connor's fault and he will pay for his sins.

Adele was listening to Francesco with pain and disbelief. How could Francesco not be satisfied with what he had just done to O'Connor. He was almost dead after his multiple non stop beatings he had suffered. Adele was finding it hard to hold her tears back now. She knew one tear on her cheeks could give it away that she was faking being out cold. She was afraid. What was Francesco going to do if he found out. Just as to her horror a tear escaped her eye, there was a knock on the door and she heard the angelic voice of Costanzo " May I open this door? I have brought Angelo with me."

To Adele's relief, she felt Francesco getting up and letting go of her hand.

Francesco turned to the door and instructed " Come in."

Costanzo slowly walked in and gestured for Angelo to enter and as Angelo stepped foot inside, Costanzo closed the door.

Francesco spoke " Well, Angelo. It seems like I have a use for you. I was in the middle of my work and suddenly Adele fainted. I need you to wake her up and tell me when she would recover. How long anyone need for getting better after they faint."

Angelo had his eyes down cast and spoke sounding unsure and quite nervous " I .... heard from Costanzo that you ..... tortured Michael in front of her while this happened. I would say she must be in shock so she would surely wake up in the next hour but she needs to recover for a couple of days."

Francesco spoke in a hard tone " Nonsense." and walked to Angelo who was panicking now as his boss walked to him. Francesco put his hand on his shoulder and whispered " Wrong answer Angelo. Adele is a doctor. She wouldn't be shocked at sight of blood. I want to get a true diagnosis. Tell me what's wrong with her really and how long she would need to recover for or face the consequences of failure."

Angelo still kept his eyes down cast and swallowed hard " This is the reason. It's one thing for Adele to see someone get hurt but watching anyone get battered within inches of their life and especially when the victim is familiar can cause shock."

Francesco pulled his hand away and Without warning punched Angelo in the stomach making him groan in pain. He bent forward holding his stomach that was already bruised and bandaged from previous beatings at Francesco's hands the day before.

Francesco didn't let him recover and grabbed his collar and pinned him to the wall. He spoke with threat in his tone " You tell me the truth. What is really wrong with her? This is impossible. Adele is a doctor. She shouldn't care less about blood. I didn't kill anyone in front of her to cause her to faint. Crying while watching a bloodied O'Connor is natural and understandable. No thanks to you and allowing her to walk around with that moron O'Connor, she has feelings for him. But fainting is unacceptable since I did not kill any one in front of her. I know for sure That's the only pain she can't bear. Watching someone to die. So, I need to know what is wrong with her. She is to be the mother of my children in a short while. I need to know if she is suffering from any disorders so I can get her the best treatment. You don't understand Angelo. If you give me the wrong diagnosis and something happens to Adele or even my future heirs she would be carrying, I would hold you responsible since you are the doctor treating her when needed from now on.. If you want to be held responsible for any possible health problems she experiences in future for todays fainting episode, then give me this crap diagnosis you just did. I dare you. Now treat Adele properly. I expect a detailed diagnosis by the end of the hour. Do you understand?"

Angelo nodded weakly and Francesco let him go " Very good. Don't disappointment me or I would make you suffer beyond your imagination."

Francesco then gestured to Costanzo to follow him and walked out of the door. As both brothers left and closed the doors behind them with a loud bang, Angelo sighed in relief and walked to Adele's bed " You can open your eyes now. He is gone."

Adele opened her eyes and looked up at the ceiling while her tears were visibly falling.

Angelo walked to Adele and towered over the bed " Adele what's the matter? You are lucky Francesco didn't see your tears or he could have known you were awake somehow. Now why are crying? It's over now. You are out of that cellar."

Adele sat up and looked up at his brother " It's not over. Not for me. I am reliving what happened to Michael down there. I remember every hit and every groan of pain. He was suffering and it's all because of me. I did that to him. I hate myself Angelo. If it wasn't for me opening my mouth Francesco wouldn't have gone crazy and wouldn't have tortured Michael like that. I am scared .... Of what Francesco will do next." She then broke down sobbing harder.

Angelo sat down at the bed and whispered " Come here. Don't cry Adele. Things are not as bad as you think." He then slowly moved closer and embraced his sister tightly while rubbing circles on her back as she sobbed. He then spoke gently " Adele. It's all right. Please. You have to be stronger than this. As I said things are not as bad. Costanzo told me that him and Antonio would try to convince Francesco to set Michael free and if he refuses then ..... they will break him out of here."

Adele stopped pulled away and looked at Angelo with wide eyes " No?? Really? Are you saying this only to make me feel better or Costanzo really said that?"

Angelo sighed " Why would I lie to you Adele. You can ask him yourself at dinner time. Costanzo knows how much it must be hurting you to know he is getting tortured because of his feelings for you. He told me that he is fully aware that you must feel guilty and he told me to convince you to stop blaming yourself for what's happening to Michael. It's not your fault Adele. You are an intelligent girl. Come on. You should stop crying and stop feeling so miserable. All you have to do according to Costanzo is to .... try to ... give Francesco a chance to prove to you how much he loves you and make you love him. That's Costanzo's belief and I agree with him. Adele, a mob boss loves you. He has connections in every state and around the world. You can't run away from him. You can't hide from him. But you can try to at least return the guy's affections. He worships the ground that you walk on. He loves you like crazy. How hard is it to show him some love. Costanzo was telling me this while he looked exhausted and frustrated. He told me that he had begged you to try to love Francesco and instead you trigger his jealousy somehow enough to see blood and go after Michael. If you hadn't provoked him the way you have, then Michael would have been on his way to Antonio's home in Oklahoma and he was going to let his family visit him and was going to work on getting him released somehow...."

Adele looked down " Are you trying to say its all my fault. But I know that already. I know I ruined everything. I know I caused Michael so much pain ..."

Angelo spoke " I am sorry for repeating myself but my intentions are not to make you feel guilty. I am trying to remind you of what goes on around you and who does what here. Leave Michael to Costanzo and Antonio. Costanzo told me how he has promised you already that he would get his cousin to get Michael off the hook and I know for a fact he will do it tonight at all costs by all means. Just forget about Michael. Just try to work on your relationship with Francesco. That's what Costanzo thinks is the solution and I trust his judgment. I know it's hard but please try Adele."

Adele nodded and sat down in silence. She then was startled when a knock on the door came. She laid down quickly and was intending to pretend to faint but Costanzo's voice put her at ease " It's me. Can I come in?"

Angelo spoke " Come in."

Costanzo carefully walked in and closed the door behind him. He turned to Adele "Hey. How are you feeling?"

Angelo spoke " Shouldn't you be in that meeting with Francesco?"

Costanzo spoke " Shouldn't you be writing up a report on Adele's diagnosis right now. You need to use your imagination and make up some excuses like stress and trauma as cause. I don't know. You are the doctor. But you don't have long to write it. Sit over there at Francesco's desk and make up something and since you asked, I paid my respects to Francesco, handed my reports in and excused myself from Francesco's meeting to check up on Adele. My work is mainly admin and paper work anyways. I don't need to be there that urgently."

Adele spoke "by paying respects you mean, you kissed his hand?"

Costanzo nodded " It's part of formalities. Anyone who works for him must pay him respect when meeting him or when reporting to him. He is the boss. You will get used to people worshiping Francesco everywhere he goes pretty soon." He then turned to Angelo " Man. Hurry. You have to write that report."

Angelo sighed and got up. He walked to Francesco's desk and grabbed a paper and pen. He sat down and got on with his report.

Costanzo smiled sadly and sat down on a chair next to Adele's bed and took a deep breath " Are you ok? I am so sorry my brother hurt you this way. I wish I could have stopped him sooner. I had no idea what he was planning when he dragged you down there."

Adele smiled sadly " Don't worry, I am ... better now. It's Michael I am worried about. But Angelo told me you are .... planning on saving him ... tonight. Are you really going to do that?"

Costanzo nodded " Antonio will try his best tonight. If he fails then we would find a way to break him out."

Adele spoke sounding concerned " But where are you going to send him? Everywhere he goes, Francesco would try track him down for sure. He would be in danger put there."

Costanzo spoke " There is one place that would be safe for him but of course we hope, Francesco agrees to Antonio's reasoning and let Michael off lightly by his own orders."

Adele spoke " Where is that one safe place?"

Costanzo sighed " Where do you think? My uncle's house in Las Vegas. Michael is father Rwan's nephew. He would keep Michael safe even if it means creating more tension between himself and Francesco. The second place would be my fathers house. But Antonio would hate that. You see, my father and Antonio are not on good terms. My father went crazy when he found out my uncle has a son and had requested to raise me too. But it was too late. My father only realised Antonio existed when he was eighteen. By then we both were legal and on our way to college. So yeah. He used to clash at thanksgiving and Christmas dinners afterwards with him every year ... until Francesco took over of course. Ever since Francesco took over everything, my uncle and my father are no longer welcome to any gatherings we have. It's something I hope that .... you will change. They are bad people but they are the only family we have. Antonio hates it as well as I do. If you can convince Francesco to forgive my uncle and my father, it may help. That would mean he has a heart. Do you think you can do that?"

Adele sighed " What if I make things worse by bringing it up?"

Costanzo spoke " You won't. It's as bad as it gets. The minute my mother is found, Francesco would order the deaths of both of them. That would destroy Francesco's soul even more if he kills two of his closest relatives."

Adele looked down and contemplated to ask Costanzo something but she wasn't sure if it was the right time to bring it up.

Costanzo spoke "You look too deep in thought. Is something bothering you? Was it something I said?"

Adele looked up and shook her head "No. Its nothing..... Its just something I want to know about you.... about the one who broke your heart. I am sorry. Its just that Francesco once told me you used to love someone and it didn't work out. Then Georgina said to me, something happened when you took her to see your uncle. She didn't tell me what it was but I am curious to know about it. Was your uncle at fault for your relationship difficulties? Is he to blame for what happened back then? Does he deserve forgiveness from you?"

Costanzo's expression suddenly changed to distraught. He sighed and bent forward holding his head in his hands. Costanzo whispered "Adele. Don't. Please don't ask about her. I really don't want to talk about her."

Adele spoke softly "I am sorry I brought it up. I shouldn't have asked. I really want to know what's happened. I was wondering if anyone can help you. Can I help you?"

Costanzo looked up with sadness and spoke "You can't help me. No one can. She is gone. And no. My uncle had nothing to do with it. It happened by a combination of events that day I took her home. But please don't bring her up. I am sorry if I am not keen on sharing information of my past but it hurts to think about her. I can't even say her name without feeling the pain of how she left me.

He then got up and walked up to Francesco's liquor cabinet and poured himself a shot of vodka and drank it in one go. Costanzo put the vodka bottle back in the cabinet and walked back to Adele "Never mind. Lets change the subject." He then turned to Angelo "Did you finish off the report."

Angelo nodded "Almost."

Costanzo spoke "Good. Write at the end of it that going for a walk can help her. Make up something about it being good for oxygen getting to her brain."

Angelo raised an eyebrow "Why?"

Costanzo spoke "Because I am taking her on a walk after you go downstairs and hand that report to Francesco."

Adele spoke "Really. What kind of walk?"

Costanzo spoke "I want to help you surprise him. How about setting up a picnic for him next to the lake at the compound? After his meeting, you can take him there and maybe it would change the mood between you too."

Adele was so touched by this gesture of Costanzo. He had lost his beloved and Francesco was not even allowing him to go near his second chance at love, Elize, just because her father was a senator. Now, Costanzo was so keen on making Adele's and Francesco's relationship work so they didn't have to suffer the same pain that he was enduring. The pain of heartbreak.