Mina Koreの小説

Romano’s POV“Aria?”Silence followed, I got no response, my grip tightened around the phone.“Aria.”When she finally spoke, her voice barely sounded like hers.“Someone was watching us.”Every instinct I had sharpened instantly.“What do you mean?”“I found a photograph.”She paused. “Of us.”I was already moving toward the door.“Dante.”He looked up immediately.“Get the car.”His expression changed the moment he saw mine.“What happened?”“Someone got into Aria’s apartment.”The room went silent and within seconds we were moving. I returned the phone to my ear.“Aria, listen carefully.”“I’m listening.”“Are you still inside the apartment?”“Yes.”“Leave.”My tone left no room for argument.“Go downstairs and wait outside the building.”A small pause followed.“Okay.”“Don’t touch anything else.”“I said okay.”For some reason, hearing her answer that way brought a small amount of relief.“Stay where people can see you. I’ll be there soon.”Then I ended the call, Dante glanced a

Aria’s POVI woke up disoriented. For a moment, I didn’t recognize the room.The ceiling was unfamiliar, the sheets smelled different. Sunlight poured through floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking Milan, then everything came back.The wedding, Luca, Sofia, Romano, the car, Romano offering me spending the night in his mansion, everything. My chest tightened instantly.I sat up slowly and pressed a hand against my forehead, yesterday felt like a nightmare. Unfortunately, it had actually happened, a soft knock sounded at the door but beforeI could answer, a woman stepped inside carrying a tray.“Good morning, Miss Vale.”I stared at her, she smiled politely.“Mr. Ciel asked us to make sure you had breakfast.”Of course he did, the thought should have annoyed me. Instead, it made something warm and uncomfortable settle in my chest.“Where is he?”“He left early this morning.”The feeling disappeared immediately. “Oh” Why was I disappointed? I barely knew the man.The woman left after pl

Romano’s POVThe car remained quiet after Aria got inside, the quietness was heavy and awkward; those kinds that followed a toxic conversation.Milan’s lights blurred past the tinted windows while she sat beside me still wearing the wedding dress she had run away in. Her hands stayed folded tightly in her lap as though holding herself together required physical effort.Most people fell apart after betrayal, but Aria seemed determined not to and seeing that interested me more than it should have. “You always pick up strangers from the street?” she asked suddenly.I glanced at her.“No.”“Then why me?”A reasonable question, I looked out the window. “You stepped in front of a car.”“That explains why you pulled me back.”Her gaze narrowed.“It doesn’t explain why I’m in your car.”A faint smile threatened to appear, she asked too many questions. “I haven’t decided whether that was a mistake yet.”For the first time since I met her, something resembling amusement flickered across her

Aria’s POV“You almost got yourself killed.”The stranger’s hand was still wrapped around my wrist, I pulled away immediately I realized. “I’m fine.”The lie came too quickly.His gaze moved over me once, taking in the wedding dress, the slipping veil, and the tears I hadn’t realized were still falling.“You don’t look fine.”Something about the blunt honesty made my chest ache.Behind us, guests continued entering the hotel where my wedding was supposed to happen in less than three hours. White flowers decorated the entrance. Everything looked beautiful but it was all built on fakery. My phone vibrated in my hand, it was Luca. The sight of his name made my stomach twist.I stared at the screen until the call ended.Then another came.And another.And another.The stranger noticed.“You should answer.”A bitter laugh almost escaped me, if I answered, what exactly would he say?What could possibly explain what I’d heard?The calls finally stopped and a message appeared instead.WHER

Romano’s POV “Do you know what your problem is?”My father’s voice cut through the room like a blade, I didn’t answer, I remained silent..I stood near the floor-to-ceiling window of his hotel suite, one hand inside my pocket while the city of Milan glowed beneath us. Midnight lights beaming around; a sight I was used to in a city that belonged to men like him– Men like us.Behind me, I heard a very loud noise, glass slammed against the table.“You have everything a man could want,” he continued. “Power, fear, control, respect. Fear. Yet you walk around like someone stole something from you.”My jaw tightened slightly.Enzo Ciel hated silence unless it came from him.“You called me here to insult me?” I asked calmly.“No.” His tone sharpened. “I called you here because you’re running out of time.”I looked over my shoulder slowly. My father sat in his chair like a king on a throne. Gray slowly took over his dark hair now, but age hadn’t weakened him not even a bit, if anything, it m

Aria’s POV“Where’s the groom?”The question followed me for the fifth time in less than ten minutes.I forced yet another smile at the wedding coordinator standing in front of me. “Probably with his groomsmen”. I knew he wasn’t because one of them had come to ask for him earlier. The woman nodded quickly and hurried off again while two makeup artists circled around me like mosquitoes. My veil had already been adjusted more than three times, my bouquet had changed positions at least six more.Everything was perfect.The ballroom downstairs overlooked the Milan skyline, covered in white roses and gold lights, it was Luca’s idea, he insisted because he wanted our wedding to feel “expensive.” Guests had already started arriving; my phone hadn’t stopped vibrating for the last hour.Congratulatory messages, pictures, voice notes, texts from family friends but no messages from Luca; I had texted him earlier to ask where he was, still no response. I glanced at the clock again, it was thr