THE DE LA VEGA DAUGHTER

Camila De La Vega hated family dinners.

Not because she disliked her family, but because every dinner seemed to come with an announcement she was expected to accept without question.

Tonight was no different.

She sat at the dining table, barely touching her food. Her father had been unusually quiet since she arrived, and that alone was enough to make her suspicious.

Esteban De La Vega was not a man who struggled to speak. He was used to giving instructions and having people follow them.

"Is something wrong?" Camila finally asked.

Her father placed his glass on the table.

"We need to discuss something."

She sighed. "I knew there was a reason you invited me."

"Camila, this is important."

"Then say it."

Esteban exchanged a brief look with the man seated beside him. Camila recognised him as one of her father's business associates, although she couldn't remember his name.

Her father turned back to her.

"You are getting married."

For a moment, she thought she had misunderstood him.

Then she laughed.

"That's funny."

"I'm not joking."

Her smile disappeared.

"Excuse me?"

"The arrangement has already been discussed."

Camila pushed her chair back slightly.

"An arrangement? What arrangement?"

"Your marriage."

She stared at him, waiting for him to explain that this was some terrible joke. But his expression remained unchanged.

"Who am I supposed to marry?"

"Luciano Russo."

The name meant something to her. Even people who had never met him knew who Luciano Russo was. He was wealthy, influential and had a reputation that made people careful around him.

He was also Italian.

Camila shook her head.

"No."

"Camila."

"I said no. You cannot just decide that I'm going to marry a man I've never met."

"You will meet him."

"That isn't the point."

Esteban's expression hardened.

"This marriage is important to both families."

"Then let the families get married."

"Watch your tone."

She stood up.

"You cannot expect me to sit here and act like this is normal. I'm not a business deal, Papa."

Her father said nothing.

That silence made her angrier.

"Have you even considered what I want?"

"This is bigger than what you want."

Camila looked at him in disbelief.

"Of course it is. Everything always is."

She picked up her bag and walked away from the table.

"Camila, sit down."

She ignored him.

For once, she wanted him to understand that she wasn't a little girl who could be told what to do.

The Russo residence was quiet when Luciano arrived.

He handed his coat to the housekeeper and walked into his office. Matteo was already waiting for him, seated on the sofa with a folder in his hands.

"You're late," Matteo said.

"I had a meeting."

"With De La Vega?"

Luciano loosened his tie.

"Yes."

Matteo placed the folder on the table.

"His daughter knows?"

"She will."

"And what happens if she refuses?"

Luciano gave him a brief look.

"Then we have a problem."

Matteo opened the folder.

"Camila De La Vega. Twenty six. Educated in Madrid. No public scandals, no known criminal connections. She keeps a small circle and doesn't seem particularly interested in her father's business."

Luciano glanced through the photographs.

"Does she know anything about the agreement?"

"Not from what I've gathered."

Luciano stopped at one photograph.

Camila was standing outside a building, speaking to a woman. She looked directly at the camera, though she probably hadn't realised anyone was taking her picture.

"She looks stubborn," Matteo remarked.

"That isn't a crime."

"Didn't say it was."

Luciano closed the folder.

"What does Esteban want?"

"Security. Influence. And apparently, a connection to our family that goes beyond business."

Luciano leaned back in his chair.

"There's more to it."

Matteo nodded.

"I thought so too."

For a few seconds, neither spoke.

Then Luciano asked, "Did you find anything about Valeria De La Vega?"

Matteo's expression changed.

"Not much. Her records are incomplete. She died years ago, but some details surrounding her death don't add up."

"Who handled the records?"

"That's what I'm trying to find out."

Luciano looked towards the window.

His father had kept certain things from him. He knew that much. But he had never expected those secrets to involve the De La Vega family.

"Keep looking," he said.

Matteo nodded.

"And the marriage?"

Luciano picked up his glass.

"Let it happen."

Camila spent the rest of the evening in her room.

She had called Isabella twice, but her friend hadn't answered. Instead, she paced around the room, trying to understand how her father could make such a decision without even discussing it with her.

Her phone finally rang.

"Where have you been?" Camila asked as soon as she answered.

"Hello to you too. What's happened?"

"My father has lost his mind."

Isabella laughed. "What did he do this time?"

"He has arranged my marriage."

There was silence.

"You are joking."

"I wish I were."

"To whom?"

"Luciano Russo."

Isabella went quiet again.

"Wait. The Luciano Russo?"

"How many do you know?"

"Camila, that's serious."

"I know."

"Have you met him?"

"No."

"Does your father know you are against it?"

"He knows. He just doesn't care."

Isabella sighed.

"What are you going to do?"

Camila sat on the edge of her bed.

"I don't know yet. But I'm not agreeing to this."

She ended the call a little later and walked towards the window.

The city looked peaceful from above, almost as if nothing could possibly go wrong.

But Camila had a feeling that her life was about to change in ways she couldn't control.

Luciano was still in his office when Matteo returned.

"There is something else you should see."

He placed an old photograph on the desk.

Luciano picked it up.

It showed his father standing beside a woman. The picture was old, but the woman's face was clear.

Valeria De La Vega.

Luciano stared at it for a long moment.

"Where did you get this?"

"From the old family archive."

"Who else has seen it?"

"Nobody, as far as I know."

Luciano turned the photograph over.

There was handwriting on the back.

Some promises are never meant to be forgotten.

He read it twice.

"Find out when this was taken."

Matteo nodded.

"And Luciano?"

He looked up.

"There's a name written beside your father's in the old records. Alberto Vittoria."

Luciano's expression became serious.

"Find him."

Matteo left the office.

Luciano remained seated, looking at the photograph.

He had agreed to marry Camila De La Vega because he believed it would settle an old matter between their families.

But now he was beginning to wonder whether the marriage was the reason the matter had remained buried for so long.

And whether Camila knew that her family had been keeping secrets from her.