LOGINEveryone had heard everything by now, and they all understood who was truly in charge.
While Rita and Alberto were busy arguing, Luciano, growing bored of their family drama, looked around and asked one of them in his deep, cold voice, “Who can show me the way to the CEO’s office?”
One of the men quickly stepped forward. “This way, Mr. Mancini.&rd
The next day, Rosa went to meet her attorney. He was both shocked and thrilled to see the evidence they had obtained against Alberto and Rita. Now, he was completely confident that they would win the case at the very next hearing. He assured Rosa that he would try to secure the earliest possible date for the next hearing.After Rosa left his office, the attorney made a call to Luciano.“Mr. Mancini, I have good news,” the lawyer said as soon as Luciano answered the call. “Miraculously, we’ve obtained solid proof—a confession video of Alberto Bellini and Rita Bellini, in which they admit to all their crimes, including how they had Carlo Bellini and his wife murdered.”Hearing this, Luciano froze.The color drained from his face, and for
Samuele smiled faintly.“Because I’m a good reader, Rosa,” he said. “And I can read your face. It tells me you have something… something that makes you confident about your victory.”His words caught her off guard, but she quickly masked it with a frown.“Faces can lie,” she said. “Didn’t you read that too?”He nodded, a soft smile still on his lips.“They can,” he agreed. “But I know my heart wasn’t lying. It’s never deceived me.”Rosa looked at him—and this time, she really looked. She didn’t shy away from his gaze as her eyes lingered on his face.Then she exhaled softly.“Okay, fine… you’re right,” she admitted. “I happened to find something that could turn everything in my favor. And finally… I’ll get what I’ve wanted for so long—justice for my parents… and those criminals behind bars.”“What is it that makes you so confident?” Samuele asked calmly.Rosa bit the corner of her lower lip. She was conflicted.She hadn’t even told her attorney yet—and she wasn’t going to tell Samuele
She hesitated for a moment, then met his eyes.“You never have to be scared of me either,” he continued, his voice lowering. “I can’t stand seeing that fear in your eyes.”His hand slowly dropped.“If my presence makes you uncomfortable… I’ll stay away,” he said after a pause. “But I need you to know this—no matter what happens, I’ll always be there for you.”A faint, almost sad smile touched his lips.“Even if it’s from a distance… I’ll still watch over you. Okay?”“You don’t have to,” Rosa said quickly, shaking her head, her eyes wide with shock.She couldn’t bear the thought of him waiting for her… because it would be an endless wait.She was going to leave eventually—without staying in contact with anyone.Samuele was a good man, and Rosa didn’t want him to end up heartbroken.That was why she kept refusing him so firmly. She knew he might be the best man she could ever find… but she also knew she wasn’t good enough for him.A woman like her—scarred not just in body, but in heart
Rosa stood alone on the dark road, beneath a flickering streetlight, waiting for a ride.One by one, her ride requests kept getting canceled. She had been waiting for far too long, but no taxi passed by.This area—where she had come to meet Laura—was in the opposite direction from her home. Walking back would take at least two hours.And at this hour… in the darkness… she knew better than to take that risk.So she stayed where she was, standing under the faint neon glow spilling from the restaurant behind her—drawing what little comfort and courage she could from it.Suddenly, a car pulled up beside her.Her body tensed instantly.
Laura’s lips quivered, tears spilling down her cheeks.“I’m sorry, Rosa… I swear, I didn’t know that… that they would—”Her voice broke. She covered her mouth, unable to finish the sentence.“I hated you,” she admitted, shaking her head. “And… I still do. But I never wanted Uncle Carlo to die. He deserved to live—longer than any of us.”“Stop lying!” Rosa snapped, slamming her hand on the table in front of her, her voice rising despite the quiet restaurant. “You hate me—and you hated my father too. How could you all do this? You’re monsters… all of you.”Her chest heaved, her heart twisting painful
Rosa paid the taxi and stepped out onto the quiet street.Neon lights flickered above the restaurant, their glow cutting through the late-night darkness. The place looked almost empty—like it was on the verge of closing.She tilted her head up, staring at the sign for a moment, and then took a deep breath.She still couldn’t understand why Laura had asked to meet here.They had never been close. Not even as children. Laura had never liked her—not as a cousin, not even as a person.And Rosa had never known why.What had she ever done to deserve that kind of hatred?She exhaled slowly, the cool night air brushing against her skin, then tightened her grip on her sling bag.Whatever this was… she needed answers.Pushing the door open, she stepped inside.The soft chime of the bell echoed faintly in the near-empty space. Only a couple of tables were occupied, and the staff was already beginning to clean up for the night.Her eyes scanned the room.And then she saw her.Laura sat at a corne
The entire store went still.Heavy footsteps cut through the silence, each one deliberate… commanding.The polished black leather shoes that stopped just inches from her own came into Rosa’s tearful view first. Slowly, she lifted her lashes, her eyes tracing the tall, imposing frame before her. Bro
Suddenly, there was a knock on the door. Luciano clicked a button on the adjacent wall, and the door opened. Rosa realized the room was specially designed with security for Luciano. Then she realized the hotel must also be owned by him. Oh God—where could she possibly go, since more than half the ci
Rosa felt uneasy when she found a pair of intense blue eyes staring back at her with recognition in them, followed almost instantly by a flicker of annoyance that tightened the man’s already cold expression.Luciano Mancini sat in the middle, the other two men positioned on either side of him. For
She swallowed the lump in her throat. She knew she couldn’t refuse him—the ruthless Italian don would never take a “no” from her. More importantly, she knew she couldn’t give that devil any reason to doubt her. So she composed herself, trying to forget that a dead body was lying only a few feet awa







