Chapter 181: Defeating AC Milan and Then Facing Inter Milan

Chapter 181: Defeating AC Milan and Then Facing Inter Milan

By the time Vanessa woke up naturally, feeling refreshed and vibrant after a good sleep, Bruno had already left. He left breakfast ready on the table; she just needed to warm it in the microwave. As Vanessa was about to heat her breakfast, she heard a car in the yard and thought Bruno had returned. She quickly went to open the door.

Instead of Bruno, a Caucasian middle-aged man stood at the door. Frankly, he was quite handsome, with well-maintained shoulder-length hair, a slightly gaunt face, and strikingly fine features—high cheekbones, thin lips, and particularly those sharp, cold yet piercing eyes, which added a unique flair to his appearance. This was a man you couldn't easily forget.

Dressed in a fine light blue suit adorned only with a small silver tie clip and a black silk tie, he exuded an air of nobility that seemed only possible through generations of familial heritage.

With a benign and harmless smile on his face, he seemed eager to gain friendship and trust. However, the deeply ingrained pride and nobility within him made anyone feel inherently inferior and instinctively maintain a respectful distance.

Seeing this middle-aged man, Vanessa stiffened for a moment before speaking somewhat stiffly, "What are you doing here? You're not welcome!"

The man's face showed a hint of embarrassment as he replied, "Vanessa, my dear daughter, are you still angry with your dad?"

"I dare not be angry with you," Vanessa said sternly. "After all, you have the power to control everything about me..."

"Hey... so you're not mad at me," the man chuckled, asking, "So, won't you let me in?"

Hesitating slightly, Vanessa stepped aside, "Come in."

Once inside the living room, the man looked around, somewhat suspiciously, and asked, "Vanessa, have you got a new boyfriend?"

Irritated by the question, Vanessa retorted, "What? Don't I even have the freedom to date? Do you want to lock me up in a CIA cell?"

Ignoring her sarcasm, the man said seriously, "Vanessa, don't talk to me like that! I'm just concerned about you. I don't want you to mix with questionable people. It's not good for you."

His words only infuriated Vanessa further. "Questionable people? Are only those who serve American interests considered decent? Are all others questionable?"

This accusation unsettled the man, his eyes filled with anger as he demanded, "Tell me, who is this scoundrel?"

Ignoring her father, Vanessa sat down on the couch.

Meanwhile, Bruno, unaware of the events at Vanessa's villa, had taken an early train back to Udine. Although the team wasn't meeting until the next morning, he decided to return a day early to train extra. The saying goes, "Mastery comes through diligence." His skills might have been enhanced by the system, but maintaining training was essential.

His time with Vanessa was indeed wonderful, feeling completely at peace and in sync. However, his current priority was his career. He wasn't yet in a position to provide for Vanessa if their relationship went public. The likely outcomes were either being forced to end the relationship or giving up his career. Despite the West's claims of freedom of speech, that didn't apply to Vanessa's difficult situation.

At the Udinese training base, someone had updated the league standings chart in the locker room. The players saw it immediately upon entering:

1. Juventus, 32 points;

2. Udinese, 32 points;

3. Roma, 31 points;

4. Napoli, 23 points; ...

"Seeing this chart is wonderful; it starts the day off right," said Cancello, turning to ask, "Boss, did you make this?"

Bruno shook his head, curious about who did but admitted the chart was a great morale booster.

"That must be Antonio's work," Marcelo suggested.

"It wasn't me," denied Antonio Di Natale, the team captain.

Curiosity about the creator ensued, but it quickly dissipated. After all, it was just a chart. As they prepared for their next game against Inter Milan, the players' spirits were high, evident in their cheerful locker room activities.

The Udinese staff also enjoyed these days, buoyed by the team's excellent performance, which in turn increased the value of the Pozzo family's shares. The owner, Gianpaolo Pozzo, relaxed in his chair, basking in the afternoon sun, dreaming of potential glories: Serie A and Champions League titles—perhaps a bit ambitious.

As for the upcoming match, it was the highlight of Serie A's round, with all of Italy buzzing about the face-off at the San Siro against Inter Milan, now called Meazza Stadium. "Udinese is the litmus test," proclaimed Milan Sport. Turin Sport was more direct, noting Inter Milan's mockery of AC Milan's loss to Udinese and anticipating their approach against Udinese.

In these exciting times, Bruno and his teammates were unaware of their owner's musings, focused only on preparing under coach Guido Marin for their crucial upcoming match. A victory would not only keep them at the top alongside Juventus but also prove their mettle against another of Serie A's giants.