DANTE POV

On the way back to the mansion, Alina kept murmuring something from the passenger seat.

"You didn’t have to spend so much... I would’ve been fine with something simpler-"

I cut her off without even glancing. "It’s done. Don’t overthink it."

She went quiet. Good.

I didn’t have the headspace for her polite guilt trip right now. My phone buzzed with a call from one of my men.

"Sir, update on the security log-"

"Talk."

"Lady Viella went out four nights ago. Around midnight. She used the east route from the estate and wasn’t with her usual guards. Exact same time we were investigating the abandoned property. (Alina’s house)"

Silence.

"Track down exactly where she went. Don’t stop until you get me footage."

"Yes, sir."

I hung up.

Viella... What the hell are you doing?

Every move is raising my doubts. If it’s you.....

---

We reached the mansion just as the sun dipped low across the lawn.

Before I could even walk through the doors, I spotted someone leaning against the marble pillar like he owned the damn place.

Lucian.

My Childhood friend.

Viella’s brother.

Which I only found out on our engagement day, by the way. That wasn’t a fun surprise.

"What are you doing here?" I asked dryly.

Lucian smirked, straightening up. "Wow. Can’t even meet my childhood friend now, huh? Cold."

He gave a nod behind me as Alina stepped out of the car.

His smirk widened.

"Oh? Still hanging around that maid girl? Interesting."

"What did I told you before. Dont mind in my business and specially dont think anything stupid"

Lucian laughed. "Please. I don’t think, I observe."

I shoved past him.

Inside, Alina greeted Lucian with a soft smile. He just waved it off lazily, trailing after me.

"So, you’re going to the party tonight?" he asked casually.

I nodded. "With your sister."

He let out a short laugh. "Viella? Hah. Where is she, anyway? Shouldn’t she be throwing tantrums and clinging to your arm by now?"

I shot him a glare. "Isn’t she your sister? Shouldn’t you know?"

Lucian shrugged. "Haven’t kept tabs on her in months. Honestly forgot she existed until your engagement party. Guess I’ll be reminded of her existence again tonight."

I didn’t respond.

"Anyway," he continued, "that girl, Alina... what’s her deal? Never seen you act so... human. Kinda cute. You really didn’t care when you first brought her in, remember? What changed? You fell for her something?"

"Shut up before I break your nose."

Lucian raised both hands in mock surrender. "Okay, okay. Damn. Mafia boss energy really comes in swings."

He turned to leave, then paused at the door.

"Just one thing, Dante."

I raised a brow.

"You might wanna start putting distance between you and Alina."

I frowned.

"What the hell does that mean?"

Lucian didn’t answer. Just gave a soft laugh and said, "Our world and hers don’t mix. You know that better than anyone. And one last thing...She doesnt seem like what she shows."

Then he disappeared down the hall.

I stood there, jaw tight.

He’s not wrong.

Alina’s fragile kindness didn’t belong in this world of blood, secrets, and gunfire.

And yet, the part of me that wanted to keep her-

.....

LATER THAT NIGHT

I got ready in a sharp black suit, perfectly tailored. The inner lining matched the silver of my cufflinks, and my black-on-black shirt was buttoned up all the way-no tie. Sleek and simple. Just the way I preferred.

Tonight felt... off.

There was an itch at the back of my neck, a pull in the air like something was about to shift-

I adjusted my watch, Thought to go and check up on Alina But then Lucian’s words echoed back.

"That girl doesn’t belong in your world."

Tch.

For once, I listened.

I left without her.

Instead, I drove to Viella’s place.

It used to be overly decorated-glittering chandeliers at every window, a golden fountain that screamed ’daddy’s money’.

But tonight, the mansion was dim.

I parked and leaned back in my seat, waiting for another one of her infamous tantrums or dramatic entrances.

But then I remembered the dress she picked. That... deep silk one with the slit and that neckline. I cleared my throat and sat up straighter.

A minute passed.

Then I saw her.

Descending the steps, not in a rush-just calmly walking

My breath hitched before I even realized it.

For a split second, I didn’t recognize her.

Soft, light eyeshadow, a dress hugging her in all the right places, hair loosely pinned with a few strands framing her face, and the scent-

That wasn’t her usual sickly-sweet perfume. It was... different like that day.

We locked eyes.

She didn’t smirk. She didn’t shout.

She brushed passed me

I stood there, still as stone, fixing my posture like that would reset whatever the hell just sparked inside my head.

I got in the car after her. The scent hit first.

Her perfume lingered. It filled the entire damn car.

Even the leather seemed quieter now.

My nose felt itchy.

She leaned back, her lips lightly glossed, her legs crossed. One perfectly arched brow raised as she caught me looking.

We had few words exchanged and her sassy remarks.

She smirked, tapping her nails against her clutch.

I looked ahead, biting back whatever was clawing its way into my expression.

This wasn’t the same Viella who used to yell about dress zippers or break her heels on purpose just for attention.

This was someone new.

And I wasn’t sure if I liked it-or...

The rest of the drive was silent. Tense.

I kept stealing glances at her.

Still wondering if this was the same girl who once screamed at a butler for bringing her orange juice instead of mango.

When she mentioned about 7 years ago, it unlocked a memory of the same girl I once fell for but unlike past this is different everything changed. I am no longer the same person nor does she.

....

When we arrived, I did what was expected- held out my hand like any respectable fiancé would.

Viella?

She walked right past it.

I blinked once. Did she just-?

I clenched my jaw, let my hand drop, and followed without a word.

We stepped into the ballroom- polished marble, crystal chandeliers, and a room full of people who smiled too easily. I’d seen enough of these faces to know how fake they were.

But I wasn’t here for appearances.

I checked the time and started mingling with the usual circle - business allies, old-money investors, and a few lesser syndicates pretending they had real influence.

From the corner of my eye, I noticed Viella.

She was standing behind me fingers scrolling through her phone, exchanging texts expression tight.

Nervous. Focused.

The moment she sensed me watching, she snapped her phone shut and gave me that blank smile.

Suspicious. Again.

But still no proof.

Was she chatting with someone? A new guy perhaps? for some reason these question made me feel uneasy.

I left the crowd and made my way to a private lounge.

Time to meet the one behind tonight’s invitation.

The host’s son - Elias Noir- wasn’t just some spoiled heir. He was the second-richest businessman in the city after me. Quiet, calculating, and never once showed his face in the press.

Tonight was his first official appearance.

I opened the door to see him lounging in a chair, half his face hidden behind a black mask like he thought this was a masquerade ball. He swirled a drink and smirked without looking up.

"Welcome, Mr. Dante. You’re a little late. But then again, you like making an entrance, don’t you?"

"A person like me who owns the whole city dont need to do such child play. Unlike you who loves to play riddle game Mr Elias." I replied coldly, stepping inside. " Now Let’s skip the games."

"Straight to the point. I like that." He poured a drink and raised it lazily. "Care for one?"

"Talk."

Elias chuckled under his breath and leaned forward. 𝓯𝙧𝓮𝓮𝒘𝓮𝙗𝙣𝒐𝒗𝒆𝓵.𝓬𝓸𝒎

"Relax. I just thought you’d like to know something interesting. A message landed in my inbox recently. Anonymous. Said you were looking for a... evidence. That might be a bracelet"

I didn’t move, but my fingers curled slowly.

"It also mentioned a name. Alina."

Now he had my full attention - and he knew it.

"Apparently, the person behind this message is planning something tonight. Said he’d be attending my party."

I stepped closer.

"If you know something, speak. Now."

He backed up, hands raised in mock defense.

"Careful now. I’m just the messenger. I didn’t send it. But I figured if someone wanted to play games with you, I’d rather be on the right side of it."

"This is your idea of being on the right side?"

"This is business, Mr. Dante. And I have guests to entertain. Or should I say I wanna entertain myself"

With that, he left, his mask catching the chandelier light as he walked off.

Coward.

I stepped out of the room and immediately dialed my men.

"Search the entire venue. If anything’s connected to a bracelet, find it."

"Yes, sir."

As I descended the stairs back to the main floor, I spotted her.

Alina.

She’d just entered the hall, wearing a soft blue dress that made her look even smaller than usual. I knew she came with Lucian, but strangely, I hadn’t seen him anywhere yet.

Then, instinctively, I turned.

And there was Viella. Sitting at the buffet table, casually munching on something.

She looked at me.

Said something I didn’t catch.

I frowned.

Lately, her obsession with food had become strangely constant.

Whatever it was, I didn’t have time to figure her out right now.

Not when there was a clue hiding in plain sight... and someone watching me from the shadows.

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TO BE CONTINUED