In the evening, Renata was taken to the church where the wedding was to take place. The space was filled with people— her father's associates, wealthy businessmen, social elites, and those who had gathered not out of love, but out of obligation and curiosity.
Her hands trembled at her sides as the music began to play, signaling her walk toward a future she did not choose.
Each step she took down the aisle felt forced as though her own body was betraying her. Her heart pounded violently in her chest, and her breathing grew shallow. She could feel the weight of countless eyes on her, judging her, watching her, witnessing her surrender. She lowered her gaze briefly, her lips moving in silent prayer.
'Please… Give me a way out. Please save me from this.'
Her vision blurred as tears gathered in her eyes, but she forced herself to keep walking. She had nowhere to run. Nowhere to hide.
As she finally lifted her head, her eyes fell upon the man waiting for her at the altar.
The old man, Giovanni.
Even through the thin veil, she could see the smile stretching across his face, which was full of lust.
When his tongue briefly passed over his lips, disgust washed over her. Her fingers curled tightly into fists beneath the folds of her dress as her body resisted the urge to step back.
Her steps faltered as she reached the altar. The distance between her and Giovanni was no more than a few inches now. Her body refused to move further.
Paolo noticed immediately and without hesitation, he placed his hand firmly against her back and shoved her forward.
The sudden force sent her stumbling a step closer to Giovanni. A quiet gasp escaped her lips as she struggled to steady herself, her hands instinctively clutching the sides of her dress.
"Dad… please," Renata whispered, her voice trembling as she turned her head slightly to look at him through the thin veil.
But Paolo had already turned his back on her as if his duty had been fulfilled. As if she were no longer his responsibility.
"You look breathtaking, Renata," Giovanni said. His eyes roamed over her face, her body, with shameless hunger. He reached out to grab her wrist.
But Renata immediately stepped back from him, practically protecting herself from his touch.
Whispers began to ripple through the hall. Guests leaned toward one another, exchanging curious glances and hushed murmurs.
Paolo's eyes hardened as he watched from a distance.
Giovanni's expression darkened slightly, displeased by her resistance.
"I've paid your father a great deal of money," he hissed in fury. "Do not embarrass me."
Renata knew at that moment only she could save herself. "No, I-I don't want to marry you. You're old enough to be my father and I am pregnant!"
The moment she uttered those words Giovanni's head snapped toward Paolo. Unable to control his rage, he stepped forward and held Renata's wrist.
"Ahh, let me go!!!" Renata's scream reverberated in the hall. "Someone, please help me!" She begged with pleading eyes, looking at the eyes in the hall but no one stepped forward because of Giovanni's terror.
"Start the vows!" Giovanni bellowed at the priest, who nodded in fear.
And just then, a violent gunshot echoed in the hall, bringing everyone's eyes to the door.
There stood a man, whom Renata recognized.
The father of her baby!
Domenico walked down the aisle. Though he looked calm, his eyes held something far more dangerous than anger. They held a gaze of wanting blood. He did not look at anyone else in the room. His gaze was fixed only on Renata, the woman who was carrying his baby.
Giovanni's face twisted with fury as he realized this stranger had no intention of stopping. "Stop him!" he shouted at his guards. "What are you waiting for? Stop him!"
But his men hesitated. Something about the man approaching them made even armed guards uncertain.
Before anyone could react properly, Domenico had already reached the altar. In one swift motion, he raised his gun and pressed the cold barrel firmly against Giovanni's forehead, making him freeze instantly. The confidence he had worn so proudly only moments ago began to crumble.
"Let her go," Domenico said. "Or I will empty this gun into your head."
Despite the calm in his voice, the threat in it couldn't be ignored.
Giovanni's grip on Renata tightened for a moment, his pride refusing to surrender so easily. "Who the hell are you?" he snapped, trying to sound fearless despite the weapon pointed at him. "She is mine. I am supposed to marry her. Guards, throw this man out!"
One of the guards gathered his courage and rushed forward, attempting to obey the order.
The sound of the gunshot came instantly. The guard collapsed to the ground, lifeless, before he could take another step.
Screams filled the hall. Guests stumbled backward, women cried out in terror, and men lowered their heads, afraid to even breathe too loudly. Panic spread quickly, but no one dared move toward the exit.
Within seconds, heavy footsteps sounded behind them as more men entered the church. They moved quickly and shut the large doors, sealing the hall completely. The message was clear. No one was leaving without Domenico's permission.
Domenico did not move the gun from Giovanni's head.
"I am Domenico Veronesi," he said.
The name alone changed everything.
Giovanni's face lost all its color. His eyes widened with fear, and his body began to tremble uncontrollably. The arrogance he had carried only moments ago disappeared completely. His fingers loosened instantly, releasing Renata's wrist as if he had been burned.
Then, Giovanni dropped to his knees in front of him.
"Please… forgive me," Giovanni said, his voice shaking. "I did not know. I swear, I did not know."
Renata stood frozen, her wrist still aching, her mind struggling to understand what she was seeing. This was the same man who had forced her, threatened her, and ordered everyone around as if he owned them. Yet now, he was kneeling like a frightened servant.
She slowly turned her gaze toward Domenico.
The entire hall had fallen silent. The guests who watched her suffering now stood motionless, their faces filled with fear.
And in that moment, Renata realized that the man standing before her was not just the father of her child.
He was someone far more dangerous than she had ever imagined.
If this was truly God's answer to her prayers, Renata felt no relief.
Only a deeper fear settled into her bones.
She had begged for someone to stop the wedding, and begged for a way to escape Giovanni. But she had never imagined that her salvation would come in the form of a man who could take a life without hesitation.
She had seen it with her own eyes. He had pulled the trigger without remorse, without even a flicker of hesitation.
A man like that could not be gentle, and could not be merciful.
Her heart pounded harder as Domenico slowly turned his gaze toward her. His dark eyes settled on her face as if nothing else in the world mattered.
Renata's breath caught in her throat. Fear took control of her instincts, and before she could stop herself, she took a step back.
Domenico's expression did not change, but his eyes followed her. Without saying a word, he handed the gun to the man standing behind him. The man accepted it immediately, lowering his head in silent obedience.
Renata's body tensed as Domenico stepped closer.
She wanted to run, but her feet refused to move.
Before she could react, he bent slightly and lifted her into his arms.
The sudden motion stole the air from her lungs. She gasped softly, her hands instinctively pressing against his chest. She could feel the strength in his arms. It was not the touch of a man asking for permission. It was the hold of a man who had already made his decision to keep her by his side.
"I've been searching for you since that night," Domenico said, his voice low but clear enough for her to hear every word.
Renata's heart skipped a beat.
"And now," he continued, "no one will stop me from having you by my side. Not even God."
He turned without waiting for a response and began walking down the aisle, carrying her as if she belonged there. The guests quickly stepped aside, lowering their eyes, unwilling to meet his gaze. Fear followed him wherever he walked.
Renata was unable to move her gaze from his face until he settled her into the backseat of the car before climbing inside.
"Did he hurt you?" Domenico asked. His hand moved toward her wrist, his fingers hovering over the darkening bruise left by Giovanni's grip. His touch was careful as if examining something that belonged to him.
Renata's breath caught the moment his skin brushed hers.
Fear surged through her instantly, and she pulled her hand back, pressing it protectively against herself. Her body shifted away from him, trying to create distance in the confined space of the car.
"Please… let me go," she said, her eyes pleading with him, though she already feared she knew the answer.
Domenico did not look offended by her rejection. Instead, he watched her closely. "Not until you give birth to my child," he said firmly. His gaze dropped briefly to her stomach before returning to her face. "The baby you are carrying is mine."
Renata's lips parted in shock, but no words came out. Her thoughts spiraled, confusion and fear tangling together. Before she could gather the courage to question him further, Domenico turned his attention forward and gave a simple nod to the driver.
The engine started immediately.
Around them, the other vehicles began to move as well, his men already inside, forming a silent convoy. The church disappeared behind them as the car drove forward, taking her farther away from everything she had ever known.
Renata's hands trembled in her lap. She felt trapped, powerless, sitting beside a man who had taken control of her life. She forced herself to look at him. "Who are you?" she asked. "You killed a man… in front of everyone."
Domenico leaned back against his seat, completely at ease, as if nothing that had happened was unusual. He fastened his seatbelt calmly before turning his head toward her. A faint smirk formed on his lips, not out of amusement, but out of confidence.
"I am the man everyone fears," he said. "The one they warn their enemies about."
His eyes held hers, causing a shiver to run down her spine.
"That old man begged for his life the moment he realized who I was," he continued. "But I do not give mercy to men who touch what belongs to me."
Renata felt her breath grow shallow as his hand lifted again. His thumb hovered near her cheek, close enough for her to feel the warmth of his skin, but not quite touching.
"I will make sure he suffers," Domenico said. "Men like him do not deserve a quick death. Also, I promised you that night. I'll return to you once my work finishes."