The Gala

The Romano Estate had been unusually busy since early morning.

Staff members moved through the enormous mansion carrying boxes of flowers, invitations, decorations, and carefully prepared documents. Security had been doubled, and the normally quiet driveway was filled with black luxury vehicles arriving one after another.

Regina stood at the bottom of the grand staircase, watching the commotion with growing confusion.

"What is happening?"

Luca looked at her innocently.

"Nothing."

Regina narrowed her eyes.

"Luca."

"Yes?"

"What are you hiding?"

"Nothing."

Damian walked past them carrying a folder.

"We're having a gala."

Regina's eyes widened.

"A gala?"

Luca smiled.

"Surprise."

She turned toward her grandfather.

"Grandpa!"

Alessandro Romano was sitting comfortably in the library, reading a newspaper as though nothing unusual was happening.

He lowered the paper and smiled.

"Good morning, sweetheart."

"Why are there people decorating the entire house?"

"Because we're having a celebration."

"What kind of celebration?"

Alessandro folded the newspaper.

"The return of my granddaughter."

Regina stared at him.

"I don't need a celebration."

"I disagree."

"Grandpa, please."

"No."

The answer came so quickly that Regina almost laughed.

Alessandro stood and walked toward her.

"You disappeared from this family for three years because you wanted to live a normal life."

"I know."

"You wanted to be loved for who you were."

Regina lowered her eyes.

"And you were hurt."

She didn't answer.

Alessandro gently lifted her chin.

"But you're home now."

His voice softened.

"You're alive. You're safe. You're standing in front of me."

His eyes became emotional.

"That is enough reason for me to celebrate."

Regina swallowed.

"I don't want everyone knowing who I am."

"I understand."

"Then why are you doing this?"

"Because hiding is over."

Regina looked at him.

"I don't want people talking about me."

"They already are."

"What?"

Alessandro smiled.

"People have been wondering for years why the Romano family has no publicly known heiress."

Damian stepped forward.

"Grandfather is right."

Regina looked at him.

"You agree with this?"

"Completely."

Luca raised his hand.

"Me too."

Regina sighed.

"You three are impossible."

Luca grinned.

"We're your family."

Damian placed a reassuring hand on her shoulder.

"You don't have to hide anymore."

Alessandro nodded.

"Tonight, New York will know exactly who you are."

Regina stared at him.

"The gala will officially announce your return to the Romano family and your appointment as CEO of Romano Global Holdings."

Her mouth fell open.

"CEO?"

"Yes."

"Grandpa, I thought we were going to make the announcement later."

"I changed my mind."

"Without asking me?"

Alessandro smiled.

"If I had asked you, you would have said no."

Regina couldn't argue with that.

Damian chuckled.

"He knows you too well."

Luca laughed.

"She was always going to try to escape."

Regina crossed her arms.

"I am not going."

Alessandro raised an eyebrow.

"Excuse me?"

"I don't want a gala."

"Too late."

"Grandpa."

"No."

She sighed.

"You never listen."

"I listen very carefully."

"Then listen now."

Alessandro smiled warmly.

"I heard you."

"And?"

"No."

Regina stared at him.

The brothers burst out laughing.

"You see?" Luca said.

"Grandfather has spoken."

Regina shook her head.

"You're all terrible."

Alessandro approached her and kissed her forehead.

"I've waited three years to see you come home."

His voice became emotional.

"I don't care about the gala. I care about seeing my granddaughter standing beside me again."

Regina's expression softened.

"I know."

"Then let me be proud of you."

She hugged him.

"Fine."

Alessandro smiled.

"Good."

"But I choose my own dress."

"Of course."

"And I don't want anything too extravagant."

Luca and Damian exchanged amused glances.

Alessandro smiled.

"We'll see about that."

Across Manhattan, the atmosphere was completely different.

A small private pub tucked away from the busiest streets was filled with the sound of laughter, music, and clinking glasses.

Robin sat in a leather booth with two of his closest friends, Will and Liam.

A glass of whiskey rested in his hand.

Will leaned back in his chair.

"Have you heard the news?"

Robin looked at him.

"What news?"

Liam pulled out his phone.

"The Romano gala."

Robin raised an eyebrow.

"What Romano gala?"

Will laughed.

"You really don't know?"

"No."

Liam turned his phone around.

A digital invitation was displayed on the screen.

THE ROMANO FAMILY CORDIALLY INVITES YOU TO AN EVENING OF CELEBRATION HONORING THE RETURN OF R ROMANO, GRANDDAUGHTER OF ALESSANDRO ROMANO, AND HER APPOINTMENT AS CEO OF ROMANO GLOBAL HOLDINGS.

Robin stared at the screen.

"R Romano?"

Will nodded.

"Apparently the Romano granddaughter has returned."

Robin took another sip of whiskey.

"I didn't even know they had a granddaughter."

"Neither did most people."

Liam laughed.

"That's what makes this interesting."

Will leaned forward.

"Apparently she's been living privately for years."

Robin looked at the invitation again.

"How old is she?"

"Twenty-five, I think."

"And she's taking over Romano Global?"

Liam nodded.

"That's what the invitation says."

Robin whistled softly.

"Interesting."

Will grinned.

"You should go."

Robin laughed.

"Why?"

"Because you have been trying to get a meeting with the Romano brothers for years."

Liam nodded.

"They've rejected every proposal you've sent."

Robin's expression tightened.

"I know."

"Maybe this gala is your chance."

Robin leaned back.

"Damian and Luca Romano don't exactly welcome outsiders."

"Exactly."

Will raised his glass.

"Which is why you need an invitation."

Liam laughed.

"You have one now."

Robin looked at the invitation again.

The thought of finally getting access to the Romano family intrigued him.

If he could establish a relationship with them, it could open doors that had remained closed for years.

The Romano empire was enormous.

Their investments stretched across technology, real estate, finance, luxury brands, and international shipping.

A partnership could make the Moretti empire even more powerful.

Robin's eyes narrowed thoughtfully.

"I'm going."

Will smiled.

"I knew you would."

Liam leaned forward.

"Maybe you'll finally get that business deal."

Robin smiled.

"That's the plan."

Will laughed.

"Only the business?"

Robin gave him a sideways glance.

"What else?"

"You know what else."

Liam joined the laughter.

"Come on, Robin. A mysterious twenty-five-year-old billionaire heiress returning to New York? You don't want to meet her?"

Robin laughed.

"I don't even know what she looks like."

"Then go find out."

Robin took another sip of whiskey.

"Maybe I'll score one or two points with the Romano family."

Will raised his glass.

"Now you're thinking."

Robin smiled.

But there was another reason he wanted to attend.

Curiosity.

Who was this mysterious woman?

Why had the Romano family kept her hidden for so long?

And what kind of woman could walk into one of the most powerful families in New York and immediately take control of a global empire?

Robin had spent years trying to get close to the Romano family.

Now, for the first time, they were opening their doors.

He wasn't going to miss the opportunity.

That evening, preparations at the Romano Estate continued.

Regina stood before a mirror while her stylist arranged her hair.

She looked at the woman staring back at her.

She barely recognized herself.

Not because she had changed physically.

Because something inside her had changed.

She was no longer the woman who waited for Robin to come home.

She wasn't the wife who sat alone at an anniversary dinner.

She wasn't the woman who cried silently after being told she wasn't wanted.

She was Regina Romano.

Granddaughter of Alessandro Romano.

Sister to Damian and Luca.

Future CEO of Romano Global Holdings.

And tomorrow night, the entire city would know her name.

She took a deep breath.

"Are you ready?" Damian asked from the doorway.

Regina turned.

"I'm nervous."

Luca appeared behind him.

"Good."

She frowned.

"Why is that good?"

"Because it means you care."

Damian smiled.

"And we'll be beside you."

Regina looked at her brothers.

"Promise?"

Luca stepped forward.

"Always."

Damian nodded.

"No matter what happens."

Regina smiled.

"Then I'm ready."

Outside the estate, the first vehicles carrying gala preparations began arriving.

Across New York, invitations were being accepted by politicians, billionaires, businessmen, celebrities, and powerful families.

And somewhere in Manhattan, Robin Moretti was preparing to meet the mysterious Romano heiress.

He had no idea that the woman he was about to meet was the same woman whose heart he had broken only days earlier.

The woman he had divorced.

The woman he believed had walked away with nothing.

His ex-wife.

Regina.