After finishing that delicious meal, I finally decided to do what I should’ve done from the start-look for Alina. If I was going to escape, I needed answers first. I needed to know exactly what was going on between her and Dante.

Melissa, the new maid, was more than happy to lead me down the hallway. I thanked her, waved her off, and found myself standing in front of Alina’s door. Oddly enough, it wasn’t locked.

Suspicious.

I pushed it open, slipping inside quietly. The room looked... normal. Too normal. Just like any other maid’s quarters-plain, tidy, ordinary. No silk sheets, no gilded vanity, none of the luxuries Dante had once thrown at her.

I frowned. Didn’t Dante give her the finest room at the beginning? Even when I first got isekai’d, he was already laying the foundation of his obsession with her.

But here... there was nothing.

I decided to ask Melisa and she told me Alina was moved to this room by Dante’s order.

Then my eyes landed on a small book resting on the desk. I leaned closer. Some pages were torn, others smudged or half-erased. My curiosity sparked.

"What kind of book is she reading...?" I whispered, reaching out.

Before my fingers could touch it, a hand shot out and yanked it away. My head snapped up-and there she was.

Alina.

Her eyes blazed as she clutched the book to her chest. "Don’t you think it’s rude to barge into someone’s room and touch their things, Lady Viella?"

I arched a brow, snatching my hand back. For some reason, her tone made my blood boil. "Don’t you think it’s even ruder to grab someone’s hand and yank it away? Especially if that someone happens to be your boss?"

"Only Lord Dante is my boss," she snapped back coldly. "I follow his rules, not yours."

Oh? How bold.

I smirked. "And I am his fiancée."

The moment the word left my lips, I saw something flicker in her eyes. A shudder. She looked down quickly, but not before I caught it.

Anger? Sadness? Something else? I didn’t know. But damn if it didn’t make me even more curious.

I opened my mouth to dig deeper when-

"WHERE IS SHE?!"

Dante’s furious voice shook the air outside.

I straightened instantly. Alina flinched, clutching the diary tighter.

I gave her one last look. "Remind yourself to keep your door locked if you don’t others entering without your permission." Then I walked past her and stepped out into the hallway.

The atmosphere was heavy. Maids and guards alike looked pale, trembling. And in the middle of it all stood Dante-his jaw tight, his fury simmering just beneath his skin.

"What do you mean she’s not in her room? Where is she-" His words cut off when his eyes landed on me.

Oh. Oh no.

His expression shifted instantly, and before I could react, he was storming toward me.

"Oh, shit. Is he gonna murder me?" I muttered under my breath, taking a step back. Then louder, "DANTE, I SWEAR IF YOU-"

Too late. His hand closed around mine, and without a word he dragged me down the hall.

Back to my room. AGAIN!

---

"Didn’t I tell you to stay in your room and not try to escape?" Dante’s voice was sharp, dangerous.

I blinked at him, arms crossed. "Uh, excuse me? Correction. You told me not to escape. Which I didn’t, thank you very much. Do you also expect me to sit here forever like a decorative plant?"

That was apparently the wrong thing to say, because the next second he shoved me back inside, his frame caging me against the door.

"If that’s what makes you stay with me," he murmured, eyes dark, "then yes."

I rolled my eyes, though my heart was beating fast. "You’re insane. I told you already, I don’t want to be with you. And newsflash-you didn’t want to be with me either. Now we’re equal."

He smirked, and I hated how much it made my stomach flip. "Oh, mi amore. Too late. Because now I do want you. I told you this before and am telling u this again, I wont mind telling you this everyday"

My sass froze on my tongue when he grabbed my hand and slid something cold, heavy, and very expensive-looking onto my finger. A diamond ring-

"You thought I wouldn’t notice how you threw away our engagement ring," he said, lowering his lips to brush against it. "But that’s fine. That one wasn’t even my choice. This one is. I chose it myself. And it suits you well like I imagined."

I stared at the ring, then at him, then back at the ring. Oh Lord. I could practically see the obsession burning in his eyes. My sarcasm was fighting for its life against my panic.

Then I noticed him leaning towards my hand and-

Kissed the ring on my finger.

"What... what are you doing?" I hissed, pulling my hand back.

"Nothing," he said, voice soft and menacing, "just admiring my beautiful fiancée. Make yourself comfortable, Viella. This will be your room from now on. . I’m letting you stay here... alone... for few more days. I’ll be back soon."

And with that, he unlocked the door-only to slam it shut behind him and lock it again from the outside.

I stood there, frozen, staring at the ridiculous sparkling rock on my finger. Then the reality hit.

"...The hell?" I yelled at the door. "Did I just get locked up again?!" I tugged at the ring. It didn’t budge.

"Fuuuuu-ckkkkkk!" I collapsed onto the bed, covering my face. "Of course. Of course my life turns into a luxury prison. Five stars, would not recommend (unless you’re some weirdo who’s into these)."

---

I turned toward the window, staring at it

"Hmm... maybe I can just climb down," I muttered, eyeing the drop. "Sure, I’ll probably break a leg or two, but at least Dante won’t get to keep me as his luxury pet. Priorities."

I pressed my face against the glass, scanning for any kind of foothold or ledge. Then-something moved.

Wait. Hold up. Is that... Alina?

I squinted, practically gluing my forehead to the window. Yep. Definitely her. Miss Sunshine herself. And what’s she doing? Creeping around the yard

My mouth dropped open. "Oh, you sneaky little-"

A sleek black car pulled up quietly. Alina glanced around, then went right up to it. Someone inside rolled the window down, but from my angle, I couldn’t see who it was.

Then it happened. She handed over the book. The exact one she had practically ripped out of my hand earlier.

I gasped, nearly knocking my forehead on the window.

"I knew it! That stupid diary-thing wasn’t just some stupid dump. No wonder she didn’t want me touching it!"

My pulse quickened as the man in the car accepted it, his face hidden in the shadows. Alina bowed her head slightly-like she was reporting to him. And then the car drove off.

"Okay... either I’m hallucinating from stress, or Alina isn’t as saintly as she pretends. And that book is definitely.... something."

I chewed on my lip, pacing in my so call room

"Oh great. Just great. Dante’s obsession, Alina’s shady side quests, and now mysterious men taking secret diaries. And me? I’m stuck in here like Rapunzel without the hair."

"Dang it, I can’t even follow them..." I muttered, biting my nails in frustration as the car disappeared from sight. My chance of finding out the truth? Gone. Just great.

Suddenly-click.

The door swung open.

"Jumping off from the window will only lead you to heaven, mi amore," Dante’s voice came out less colder than usual.

I froze, then slowly turned my head. He was leaning on the doorframe, jacket casually slung over his shoulders, eyes burning holes into me. His hair was wet seems like he just took a shower.

I crossed my arms and leaned against the window sill, chin tilted up. "This is your second time saying I’ll end up in heaven. You think I will?"

He smirked, stepping inside with that infuriating confidence. "If you go there, I’ll just have to drag you back down to hell with me. After all, where else would my angel belong but by my side?"

My face heated. "Oh my God... you really rehearse these lines, don’t you?"

"Only for you," he murmured, closing the distance, his gaze fixed so intently on me

I rolled my eyes dramatically and turned toward the window again.

"Don’t roll your eyes at me, Viella."

"Oh, here we go," I muttered under my breath. "Bipolar much? One second you’re threatening me, next second you’re calling me your angel. Make up your mind, mafioso."

In a blink, he was right in front of me, caging me against the window. His hand brushed my cheek, tilting my face back toward him. His breath was warm against my ear when he whispered, low and sharp:

"My mind is made up, Viella. You. Are. Mine. Even your sass can’t save you from that."

I swallowed hard, refusing to flinch. "And what if I don’t want to be yours?"

His lips curved into that dangerous, obsessive smile. "Then I’ll simply have to make you want it."

I shoved lightly at his chest, pretending nonchalance. "Yeah, good luck with that."

But the way his eyes darkened at my defiance?

His hand drifted closer to my face, slow, deliberate, brushing along my cheek like he was memorizing it.

I smirked. Bad idea, I know. But something evil sparked in my head.

And then I bit him. Hard.

Nothing. Not a sound. Not a flinch.

Uh.

Dante’s eyes went from dark to storm-cloud dark. He just glared down at me

"Ah...hah...haha..." my laugh came out awkward, high-pitched, and absolutely unconvincing.

"Vie-" he started.

"AHHHH!" I didn’t let him finish. I shoved him, somehow, and bolted for the door like my life depended on it.

Stairs. Carpet. Hallway. My hair flying. My brain screaming WHY DID I DO THAT?! My legs giving out

Behind me: the steady sound of Dante’s shoes on the floorboards. Not running. Just coming. Like a horror movie villain who knows you’ll trip.

I turned a corner and slammed right into a chest.

Dead. I was so dead.

"Viella."

That voice. Familiar.

I blinked up. "Lucian?"

He caught me before I could fall. His eyes were wide,"Viella?"

I looked back. Dante was there. Of course. Coming down the stairs, arms crossed

"LUCIAN SAVE MEEEE!" I squealed, diving behind him

For a second Lucian went stiff- then he actually wrapped his arms around me. And for one weird second, a dull pain throbbed in my chest that didn’t even feel like mine. Viella’s original emotions? Ugh, not now.

Dante stopped at the bottom of the stairs, arms still crossed. His expression was unreadable, but his eyes flicked to where Lucian was holding me.

He started walking closer, slow and heavy. "If you’re done hugging my fiancée," he said, voice low and even, "please step aside."

Lucian looked at him sharply. "What’s going on, Dante? And Viella..." his eyes cut to me, disappointed and looked back at Dante

"How come you didn’t tell me anything, Dante?"

"Because he freaking kidnapped your little sister!" I yelled from behind Lucian’s back

Lucian raised an eyebrow. "Care to explain?" His voice was flat, but his grip on me didn’t loosen. "And you, Viella..." his eyes narrowed. "We’ll talk later."

My mouth snapped shut. Fine. Better to be quiet than to get caught in crossfire.

Lucian exhaled through his nose, let go of me then turned and started dragging Dante toward one of the side rooms. Only Lucian could do that to him, and Dante actually followed without a word.

I peeked out from behind the doorframe, my heart hammering

"Yah," I whispered to myself, smirking. "Something only he can do... Hehe. Whatever. Now I can sneak around more."

And just like that, while my overprotective brother had the mafia boss cornered, I slipped down the hall, ready to find out what Alina was up to. Or maybe actually escape . I mean i dont think my men are weak enough to not find me right?

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TO BE CONTINUED