Rihanna woke up to a soft light seeping through her window, only to find Matteo sleeping beside her after insisting last night that he stay close. She placed a gentle kiss on his forehead, tucked him in well, then quietly left the room and headed downstairs.
She was surprised when one of the maids told her that Leonardo had left early in the morning for work, while Maria had gone to visit her sister. Something unspoken seemed to linger in the corners of the mansion… loneliness. But the day would go on.
She spent her time with Matteo, between the garden and the playroom—laughing, running, and taking pictures of him. Yet, she couldn't shake a strange feeling that had been growing inside her since her arrival.
By evening, Matteo fell asleep quickly after such a long day. Gently, Rihanna carried him to his room, then returned to her private suite. She took a warm bath that eased her mood, then chose a soft, silky blue pajama—subtly flattering her femininity without excess. She tied her hair into a simple bun and stepped onto the balcony, gazing at the clear Italian sky.
At that very moment, Leonardo was standing far away, surrounded by men from his old world, when a new message arrived from the same unknown number. This time, the picture was familiar… the body of a woman standing on the balcony of his mansion, her black hair glistening in the light, the pajama almost tracing her curves. His heart pounded with anger and jealousy. Who's watching her? he thought. Without hesitation, he got into his car and sped off like a storm.
Within minutes, he was at the mansion. He climbed the stairs to her suite with brisk steps. He didn't knock.
He opened the door slowly… there she was, just like in the picture, unaware of his presence. The faint scent of her perfume drifted to him, soft yet igniting something inside that had almost gone dormant.
He spoke quietly, though his voice carried a trace of tension:
— "Do you know that outfit could make a man lose his composure?"
She turned to him in surprise, her gaze quick, unsettled, yet she said nothing.
He took a step toward her… then another.
— "Is this just ordinary sleepwear? Or were you expecting something?" he continued, his tone less sharp now.
She replied in a soft voice:
— "It's just sleepwear, nothing more."
Silence hung between them for a moment, then he moved closer, looking into her eyes as if searching for a hidden answer.
He raised his hand, brushed a strand of her hair, and murmured:
— "Sometimes, I need to be sure you're not just a deal."
She didn't respond… but she didn't move away either.
But… who sent the picture? And why now?
Was Rihanna truly safe within the walls of the mansion?
And would Leonardo's jealousy drive him to protect her… or to uncover secrets that could change everything?