Here 's the Chapter 7. This chapter deepens the mystery, heightens emotional tension, and draws Aurora further into Leonardo' s world — unaware of the growing danger lurking in the shadows.
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Chapter 7 – The Crimson Invitation
The next morning, Aurora awoke with a strange weight on her chest — not a physical one, but an invisible pressure that seemed to pull at her thoughts.
Last night with Leonardo had stirred something inside her. The way he spoke, the way he looked at her — it wasn't just intrigue. It was something more dangerous. Something magnetic.
She padded across her tiny apartment in socks, clutching a mug of lukewarm coffee, staring at the glowing screen of her phone.
No new messages.
Not from Leonardo.
Not from Celestina either.
She hesitated for a moment, fingers hovering over her contacts. Should she call him?
Before she could decide, there was a knock on the door.
A sharp, deliberate knock.
She froze.
Peeking through the peephole, she saw a sharply dressed man in a dark suit — expression unreadable, posture militaristic.
She opened the door an inch, chain still in place.
"Yes?"
"Miss Russo," the man said. "Mr. Moretti requested this be delivered to you in person."
He extended a sleek black envelope through the gap. Embossed in crimson foil was the symbol of Leonardo's production company — Leone Studios — but it was also subtly marked with something else.
A lion's head with two crossed blades.
She took it with a hesitant nod.
"Is this… an invitation?"
The man didn't answer. He simply dipped his head and walked away, disappearing down the stairs.
Aurora shut the door, heart fluttering. She opened the envelope.
Inside was a thick, parchment-like card with cursive writing:
> Tonight, at 9.
Villa Belladonna.
Dress formal.
Come alone.
No other details.
Just his initials — L.M.
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9:00 PM – Villa Belladonna
Aurora's heels clicked against the marble steps as she climbed out of the black car Leonardo had sent for her. A valet opened the door with a bow.
The villa stood like a palace carved from midnight — obsidian walls, glittering chandeliers hanging from the arched entrance, ivy creeping up its sides like veins of silver.
Inside, the grand ballroom was a world of its own — golden lights reflecting off glasses, diamonds, and the polished floor. Men in tuxedos and women in silk gowns moved like royalty, wine glasses in hand, laughter like music.
Aurora felt underdressed in her simple black dress, even though it hugged her perfectly and shimmered subtly under the lights.
But it wasn't the grandeur that made her pause.
It was the people.
Some of the faces she recognized from film premieres and magazine covers.
Others... she didn't.
There was a heaviness in the air. Power. Money. Secrets.
And at the center of it all — Leonardo Moretti.
He stood near the bar, dressed in a black-on-black tuxedo, collar slightly open, drink in hand. As soon as he saw her, his gaze locked onto hers, and the noise around them faded.
He crossed the room slowly, every step deliberate.
"You came," he said, voice low.
"You invited me," she countered, unsure whether to smile or frown.
"I wasn't sure you'd accept."
"I wasn't sure either."
His eyes scanned her face — not her body, not her dress — her soul. "You look… untouchable."
She let out a breath she didn't know she was holding. "And you look like a man with too many secrets."
He chuckled, but there was no humor in it. "Come. There's someone I want you to meet."
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In the Shadows of Power
He guided her through the crowd until they reached a side room — quieter, darker, with velvet curtains and leather chairs.
There, a group of men sat around a poker table. One of them looked up and smiled — a cruel, calculated curve of the lips.
"Aurora," Leonardo said, voice unreadable. "This is Don Alessandro Vitale. He… funds certain projects for us."
Aurora extended her hand politely. The man didn't shake it. Instead, he lifted her fingers and kissed her knuckles, his eyes never leaving hers.
"Enchanté," he whispered, accent thick with Sicilian elegance. "You are even more beautiful than the rumors say."
Aurora tried to hide her discomfort.
Leonardo didn't.
"She's not here for games, Alessandro."
The Don leaned back, eyes glittering. "Then why is she here, Leonardo?"
Leonardo's jaw tightened. "Because I trust her."
That made Alessandro laugh. "You? Trust someone?" He looked at Aurora. "Be careful, cara mia. This man's trust is more dangerous than his enemies."
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On the Balcony – Later That Night
Aurora stepped out into the cool night air, needing space. The stars above Rome sparkled like secrets.
Leonardo joined her minutes later, offering her a glass of champagne.
She didn't take it.
"Why was I really invited?" she asked.
"I wanted you to see this world," he said. "Before you're pulled deeper into it."
She turned to face him. "And if I don't want to be part of it?"
He leaned in. "Then I'll protect you from it. Even if it kills me."
She blinked. "You're not joking."
"No," he said quietly. "I've lost too many people. I won't lose you."
Aurora's heart stuttered.
"But you barely know me," she whispered.
Leonardo took a step closer. "And yet… I haven't stopped thinking about you since the moment you fell onto that set."
They were inches apart now.
But before anything could happen — before the kiss that hung heavy in the air could land — a gunshot cracked in the distance.
Glass shattered. Screams erupted.
Leonardo immediately pushed Aurora behind a column, shielding her with his body.
"Stay down," he hissed.
Chaos exploded inside the villa.
And somewhere beyond the marble walls… someone watched them.
From a rooftop across the courtyard, a figure lowered a sniper rifle and murmured, "Target missed… but message delivered."
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End of Chapter 7