With the speed of 60mph, Leonardo’s car screeched into the underground lot of the Rossi Enterprise tower, the tires shrieking against the concrete. He barely threw it into park before he slammed the door and stormed across the lot, his boots pounding like war drums. His vision tunneled. His fists ached to hit something... someone.Moments later, Leonardo burst through the revolving doors of the Rossi Enterprise building like a storm tearing through glass. The receptionist at the front desk barely managed to look up before he blew past her, a blur of black leather and fury.“Sir! Sir, you need to-!” she called after him, but Leonardo didn’t even glance back.An unlucky employee, arms full of files, crossed his path just as he reached the elevators. Leonardo shoved her aside with a brutal swipe of his arm. She cried out, the papers flying from her hands as she stumbled to the floor. He didn’t stop. Didn’t apologize. His boots thundered against the marble floors as he stabbed the elevato
As the second tick by, Mr. Rossi stared at him in stony silence, the air between them growing thick and suffocating. The old man’s jaw worked, grinding slowly back and forth as he weighed the consequences laid so brazenly at his feet.Finally, he tilted his head ever so slightly, an almost imperceptible nod... like a viper sizing up its prey before striking."You overestimate your importance," Mr. Rossi said, his voice so calm it was almost a whisper. "Men like you are always so sure that the world will fall without them." He paused, then leaned in, close enough that Leonardo could smell the faint bite of expensive tobacco clinging to his breath. "It doesn’t."Leonardo’s expression didn’t flinch, but his hands curled into fists so tight that his knuckles blanched white."You’ve been useful, Mr. Varga," Mr. Rossi continued. "Valuable. I won’t deny that. But you're mistaking usefulness for irreplaceability." His lips twitched into a razor-thin smile. "And no man is irreplaceable."Leona
As his thought ran wild, Alejandro sat behind his desk, thumbing absently through a stack of reports he had no real interest in. The faint click of heels echoed outside his office door, and a second later, a bright, overly familiar voice called out."Alejandro! Surprise!"He looked up sharply, jaw already clenching. Vanessa... perfect hair... perfect smile, stood in the doorway holding a dozen shopping bags like trophies. She swept into the room before he could even tell her no."Miss me?" she cooed, setting her bags down with a theatrical sigh and brushing invisible dust from her fitted dress.Dropping his pen, Alejandro offered a tight, strained smile. "Vanessa," he said flatly. "What are you doing here?"She pouted... a practiced, pretty thing... and sauntered around his desk to perch on the edge of it, raising her hand on his thigh as she stroked it."I thought we could have lunch," she said sweetly. "And maybe... You could carry these for me?" She gestured at the bags. "And maybe
The heavy oak doors of the Rossi mansion burst open with a loud crack against the marble walls. Mr. and Mrs. Leontis stormed inside, their fury like a sudden winter chill that raced through the halls, causing the maids nearest the foyer to freeze where they stood.“Good morning, Mr. and Mrs. Leontis,” one of the braver maids greeted, dipping her head respectfully despite the obvious tension. “May I help you?”Mrs. Leontis didn't even spare her a glance. Mr. Leontis’s stride was thunderous, his cane clicking sharply against the polished floor, while his wife’s heels snapped with every furious step. They moved like a singular force, their anger pushing the staff aside with invisible hands.“We are here for Mr. Rossi," Mrs. Leontis barked, her voice traveling towards the end of the corridor. "Tell him to come down immediately.”“But ma’am, it’s quite early... breakfast isn’t yet—" the head maid began timidly."DO IT!" Mrs. Leontis snapped, her voice echoing up the grand staircase.Before
Mrs. Leontis squared her shoulders, her eyes burning with a fury that made even the marble floors feel colder."Did you know," she spat, voice trembling with rage, "That... That... That your grandson-in-law and our daughter Layla have a past?"The hallway froze.The air seemed to shudder under the weight of her words.Madam Rossi's spine stiffened as she turned to look at her husband. Mr. Rossi, usually the picture of calm command, looked suddenly tense, his jaw tightening. A muscle in his temple twitched.After a beat of painful silence, Mr. Rossi exhaled sharply through his nose."Follow me," he said, voice low and grave. He turned briskly toward his private study at the end of the hall.But Mr. and Mrs. Leontis didn't budge.They stood rooted to the floor, their faces twisted in outrage, their bodies practically shaking from anger."You dare to hide something like this from us?" Mrs. Leontis snapped, voice rising again. "From our family?"Mr. Rossi’s lips pressed into a hard line.
The tension in the room grew as Rene stood frozen, the cold steel of the sword pressed against his throat. He could feel the bite of the blade deepen, the faintest trickle of warmth where it grazed his skin. But his body did not tremble. His eyes opened, burning with a fury as he kept eye contact with the old man, daring him.But at the sudden sight of blood from the cut on his neck, Maria, standing just behind him, did not hesitate for a moment. Her hand shot out, moving with a speed that startled even Rene. She grabbed the blade, her fingers wrapping around the hilt of the sword with a force that should have been impossible for someone of her size. The steel sliced into her skin, and a thin line of blood appeared across her palm.Rene’s breath hitched, his entire body seizing with rage. His jaw clenched, and his knuckles whitened as his fists tightened at his sides. The sight of Maria in pain, especially when it came from this man’s hand, was enough to push him to the very edge.Hi
Ignoring the eyes on him, Mr. Rossi sighed heavily, the weight of the moment pressing down on him like a boulder. He rubbed his temples, the beginning of a headache already blooming behind his eyes.“Give me time, Leontis,” he said, voice measured. “Let me think this through before we make any rash decisions.”“Time?” Mr. Leontis barked, stepping forward, his cane striking the marble floor with a loud crack. “The party is less than a week away, Rossi. Less than a week! A party where your family is supposed to throw your full public support behind Kia... behind this disgrace! And you dare ask me for time? Time is a luxury we do not have!”Mr. Leontis’s wife, standing just a few feet behind him, placed a delicate hand on his arm, but he shook her off. His face was flushed red with anger, his eyes sharp with betrayal. “We are talking about years... decades... of alliance between our families! Decades, Rossi! And you would risk it all for that boy?”Mr. Rossi’s jaw tightened, the lines of
The black SUV growled low as it rolled to a stop in front of the tall, back metal gate. Rene sat stiffly in the back seat, his fists clenched tightly against his thighs as he watched the heavy doors slide open with a mechanical groan. His chest tightened, his gut twisting like a coil.Home.Except it wasn't home. It was this place... the safe house that felt more like a tomb than a sanctuary. A place he had been dragged to in his worst moments. And now, they wanted him here again, like a misbehaving son called to the principal's office.The driver, Matthew, glanced at him in the rearview mirror, but Rene ignored him, his gaze glued forward. The SUV pulled into the wide courtyard paved with thick gray stones. The massive mansion ahead loomed like a specter under the dimming sky, windows black, silent as a grave.The car barely stopped before Rene shoved the door open. Matthew scrambled out too, hurrying around to the open door with a polite bow, but Rene was already standing, jacket co
A hush swept over the ballroom, heads turned. Glasses paused mid-air. Even the chandelier light seemed to bend its attention toward the entrance.She stood there... Catherina Ford.Grace was too small a word.She didn’t walk in, she arrived... poised like she owned the ground beneath her heels. Her dress was a deep emerald silk, folding around her like liquid elegance. Hair up in a classic twist, neck adorned with a single strand of pearls that looked like they'd been fished from the private vaults of royalty. Not a wrinkle in her brow, not a misplaced gesture. Only presence.And it was majestic.Mr. Rossi’s jaw dropped open, actually dropped, hanging loose like a broken hinge before he caught himself with a little cough and a half-step forward.“My God,” he muttered. “Is that-?”Gunnar turned toward the entrance as well, brow lifting in curiosity.Rossi's voice was low but urgent. “Gunnar… please tell me you invited her. We’re not… we’re not close enough to the Fords.”But Gunnar onl
The Rossi convoy pulled into the circular drive of the Grand Meridian, the most opulent skyscraper in the city... glass and steel stretching into the stars. Paparazzi flashes crackled beyond the velvet ropes, their lights bouncing off the tinted windows of the luxury cars. Valets and security formed tight lines, working in sharp, clean choreography.The first wave of family emerged... Mr. Rossi leading with Madam Rossi at his side, flanked by Jason, Antonio, Layla, Bianca, Princess, and the others.Then Maria and Rene stepped out next. He stayed by her side, arm tucked beneath hers, smile faint but present, expression unreadable beneath the golden lights of the entrance.The guards nodded. The family entered.But Alejandro didn’t.He stood off to the side, just beyond the corner of the building where the cameras couldn’t see, leaning against his Jaguar, one leg crossed over the other, a cigarette burning low between his fingers.His tuxedo was only half-buttoned, hair tousled like he'
Maria stood near the window, phone pressed to her ear, her back straight, voice low. She wore a floor-length gown of deep emerald, sleeveless with a high collar and a low, scooped back that exposed the elegant arch of her spine. The silk flowed like water over her body, and her earrings... a cute glimmer of green stones... brought the whole look together with effortless grace.She ended the call with a sigh just as the bathroom door behind her opened.Rene stepped out, adjusting the cufflinks on his crisp white shirt. But it was the suit that caught the room.He wore a midnight black tuxedo, tailored to precision... sharp lapels trimmed in a sheen of satin, shoulders squared, waist nipped, the cut hugging his frame like it had been made by hands that knew him well. Beneath the jacket, the subtle gleam of a black silk vest peeked through, layered over a charcoal-gray shirt with the top buttons undone just enough to be daring, but not vulgar. A small silver pin was fixed on his lapel, a
The evening of the party had arrived.Beyond the grand windows of the Rossi estate, the sky bled into twilight, a deep indigo shroud setting the stage for the storm that loomed unseen. The Rossi residence shimmered with golden light, and distant voices echoed in the halls.The party.The celebration no one could stop.In the master bedroom on the top floor, the world was quieter... thicker with tension.Madam Rossi stood before the ornate mirror, a dark sapphire gown hugging her figure like silk. Her hands were at her sides, clenched and still. The diamonds at her ears glinted like ice, and the sharp bones of her face gave her a statue-like elegance. Yet the furrow between her brows betrayed her.Behind her, Mr. Rossi was finishing the final touches. He moved with an eerie calm, slipping the delicate chain of her necklace into place around her neck. His fingers were steady as always. Precise. Cold.“Your hands haven’t aged,” she murmured, watching his reflection. “Even after all these
The dining room was uncomfortably quiet without Maria and Rene.Jason sat at the head of the long table, his hand around a half-filled glass of wine, his eyes dull and unblinking. Layla sat beside him, unusually still, her perfectly styled hair tucked behind one ear, a forced smile frozen on her lips. Juan and Antonio were seated opposite each other, eating calmly but watching everyone else with barely disguised suspicion.No one spoke unless necessary. Only the soft clinking of silverware and the occasional shifting of chairs filled the room. A storm brewed behind every glance, every twitch of a brow, every sip of water. It was the kind of quiet that could split open at the slightest provocation.Abruptly, Layla’s phone buzzed sharply against the table, slicing through the silence. She flinched. Glancing down at the screen, her stomach turned."Dad."She cleared her throat gently, offering a courteous smile to the table.“Excuse me,” she said, her voice smooth, though her fingers gri
Rene tilted his head slightly, the faintest curve of a smile teasing at the corner of his lips. He gave a soft, contemplative hmm, as though the matter were merely an intellectual exercise. The silence dragged, intentionally, until even Madam Rossi’s fork stilled halfway to her mouth.“I must say,” Rene began, voice light, polite, dangerously unbothered, “you make a compelling case, sir. Betrayal, dishonor, public shame… It’s almost Shakespearean.” He set his water glass down with an elegant clink. “But there’s just one problem.”Mr. Rossi’s eyes narrowed to slits.“I didn’t betray anyone,” Rene said, voice sharpening beneath the charm. “I didn’t cheat. I didn’t lie. And I certainly didn’t ask to be used as some sacrificial pawn in your public relations game.”Jason scoffed quietly, just loud enough to be heard. “You act like you’re above the family, like none of this matters to you.”Rene turned his gaze slowly, lazily, toward Jason. “Oh, it matters. Just not the way you want it to.”
The early morning light spilled through the sheer curtains, casting pale gold streaks across the floorboards. Rene stood shirtless before the mirror, the soft scratch of gauze brushing against his ribs as he wrapped the bruises with practiced ease.The muscles in his shoulders twitched slightly at every pull, his face set in quiet concentration. The wound, though shallow, was enough to remind him of the night before... of passion, of pain, and of the call that followed.He barely flinched as he secured the bandage with a strip of medical tape, the sting long dulled. The quiet was broken by a knock on the door.Maria stirred from the bed, tangled in the sheets. Her voice was groggy, but steady. “I’ll get it.”She padded across the room, pulling his shirt over her shoulders, and cracked the door open. One of the younger maids stood there, neatly dressed with her hands clasped in front of her. She dipped into a polite bow.“Good morning, Miss Maria. Your grandfather requests your presenc
Suddenly, Rene rose from the bed, reaching for his belt and unbuckling it. He tossed it aside, then pulled his T-shirt over his head, throwing it across the room as well. His jeans followed quickly after, and when he threw them all aside, his boxer was the only piece left.Rene stared at her for another moment, his eyes flickering down her body. Then, he smiled faintly, a little selflessly, “What now?" Staring down at him, Maria’s breath hitched. Her eyes moved over the bruises on his ribs, the faint marks across his skin. Her hand reached out instinctively, trembling slightly as it hovered near his side.But Rene stepped forward, catching her wrist in his hand and gently lowering it. His touch was warm, patient, but there was finality in it.“Don’t look at me like that,” he murmured, his voice low with a hint of pleading. “Not today.”Maria opened her mouth to protest, but he silenced her with a kiss, soft at first. His lips brushed hers like a question, not a demand. She exhaled ag
Staring ahead, Gunnar reclined on the leather couch in his private office, one ankle resting casually atop his knee, a tumbler of untouched whiskey in one hand. The room was dim, bathed in the warm golden hue of late afternoon light. The only sound was the faint ticking of the antique clock mounted above the fireplace.Across from him, Rene sat stiffly, one arm draped over the couch’s backrest, the other nursing his ribs with deliberate restraint. A thin bruise was forming along his jawline, still fresh from his father’s rage. He wore it like an afterthought, uninterested in pity."Will you tell me who did that?" Gunnar asked, lowering his gaze to the cut."No," Rene said casually.Just then, Gunnar’s phone buzzed on the table between them.He glanced down at the screen, then back at Rene. “Your grandfather-in-law is calling.”Rene smirked faintly, though his eyes remained dull. “Answer it.”Gunnar hesitated only a moment, then tapped the screen. “Okay, boss.”He placed the phone on s