The words hung heavily in the underground chamber.
"...depends on whether you're worthy of finding her."
Silence settled over the room once again.
Rafael's fists slowly tightened.
Every instinct inside him wanted to demand answers, to search every corner of the estate until he found Aria himself.
But he knew exactly where he stood.
This wasn't Velmora.This was Valoria.
And the man sitting before him wasn't someone who could be threatened.
Marco Ricci calmly watched Rafael's storm of emotions without saying another word.
Finally, Rafael took a slow breath.
"I don't care about being worthy in your eyes."
His voice was steady.
"I only care about seeing Aria."
Marco remained silent.
Rafael stepped closer to the massive table.
"I know she's here."
"You've been protecting her."
"You know exactly where she is."
His eyes burned with desperation.
"I don't want anything else."
"I just want to meet her..."
"...even if it's only once."
The chamber fell completely silent.
