Mr. Romano stood before the massive glass window of his office, staring out into the storm-dark sky that loomed over the estate. The city lights below blurred into streaks of silver and gold, but his mind was nowhere near calm.
His only daughter — his pride, his heir — was gone.
No word. No trace.
Only blood on the ground where his men had fallen.
He slammed his fist on the desk. "Find her!" he barked, voice cracking like thunder. "Search every damn inch of this city if you have to!"
His men bowed quickly and scattered, leaving the powerful man alone with his rage and fear. He took a deep breath, but it trembled. It had been years since anything had broken him like this — not since his wife's death.
A knock at the door.
"Come in," he growled.
His brother — the same uncle Alessia had accused before — stepped in, his expression oddly calm. "Brother… you're exhausting yourself. She'll be found. Perhaps… by the right people."
Romano turned sharply. "What's that supposed to mean?"
The uncle shrugged. "You know how the game works. If the Vitale boy wanted her dead, he would've done it already. Maybe he's keeping her for leverage. Maybe for something else."
Romano's eyes narrowed. "You know something."
"I know you've been blind," the uncle said coldly. "You've made too many enemies, and now your daughter's paying the price."
Romano's gun was in his hand before his brother could blink. "Don't you dare speak about my daughter like that. If you know where she is, tell me now."
The uncle smirked. "Would you shoot your own blood?"
Romano stepped closer, the barrel pressed against his brother's chest. "For my daughter… I'd burn the whole world."
The uncle laughed lowly, unbothered by the threat. "Then you better prepare to start with your own house, brother. Because the war you started has already entered it."
Just then, one of Romano's loyal guards rushed in — breathless, terrified. "Sir— we found a note outside the estate gate."
Romano snatched it from his hand. The handwriting was the same as the ones Alessia used to receive with the flowers.
She's safe. But the next move you make will decide whether she stays that way.
— L
Romano froze. The paper trembled in his hand. "L…" he whispered. "Lorenzo Vitale."
The uncle smirked again, quietly stepping back. "Seems the game's no longer just about power… it's about who she trusts."
Romano looked at him with eyes darkened by fury. "And you— if I find out you had anything to do with this, you'll regret the day you were born."
His brother didn't answer. He only smiled faintly as he left the office — a smile that said he already knew something Romano didn't.
The storm outside roared louder.
And deep inside, the king of the Romano empire finally felt the fear of losing his crown — and his daughter.