No One’s POV

"I ripped every single page! How come the story kept writing itself?!"

"Look at these pages, they were empty but now it’s neatly written by who knows what"

Alina’s voice tore sharp and furious.

"Shh. Lower your voice Alina before I cut your tongue."

The man inside the car didn’t even turn his head. His tone was cold, detached. "This isn’t your backyard-it’s Dante’s estate. Every corner here has eyes. Watch yourself."

Alina shuddered and instinctively clamped her mouth shut. The reminder chilled her whole body.

"Fine," she muttered, folding her arms tightly across her chest. "I’ll visit you soon. We’ll talk about this cursed book then. For now, you deal with it."

The car engine roared to life. As it pulled away, the man inside tilted his head toward the side mirror. His lips curved into a quiet smirk. In the reflection, the girl at the mansion window stood leaning out, confusion painted across her features as if she were piecing fragments of a puzzle she was never meant to touch.

"Dolcezza..." his voice was nothing more than a whisper, yet heavy with intent. You look adorable when you’re so confused. Makes me want to change the whole book just to watch you struggle.

---

Meanwhile inside-

Lucian shoved Dante hard enough to slam him against the wall. His fists curled around his collar, knuckles white.

"How dare you hide anything about Viella from me?!" Lucian’s voice trembled with fury. "You know I’m her brother! I should’ve been the first one to know about her. You know how crazily I been looking for her!!"

Dante didn’t flinch. He caught Lucian’s wrist and pried it off with effortless strength, his eyes narrowing to icy slits.

"Don’t cross your limit with me, Lucian. Don’t think I’ll tolerate disrespect-best friend or not. And since when did you start caring about your little sister?. I am her fiancee, The man she will be with forever."

Lucian’s jaw clenched. "Don’t push it. I’ve held back only because of our friendship, but my patience isn’t infinite. And since when did you start playing the role of a devoted fiancé, hm? I thought to you she was only a desperate attention seeker. You hated her, mistreated her"

Dante’s silence only fanned the flames. Lucian shoved him again.

"Speak, Dante! Where’s that lowborn maid you swore you loved?! The one you been obsessed with!! Answer me!"

Dante’s lips twitched into a mocking smile. Dodging the question. "Oh? And what about when you called your dear sister my loyal dog? What about the moment when you treated her worse than any maid as if she was never your sister?"

Lucian froze. His hand fell limp at his side. For a brief second, silence hung thick between them.

"...Silent now?" Dante’s voice cut like glass. "Very well."

A sharp crack split the room-

Dante’s fist connecting with Lucian’s jaw.

"Ouch." Lucian wiped his lip

"That was for holding my collar earlier" Dante said with a smirk.

Minutes later, both men sat opposite each other, breathing heavy, the tension still thick but no longer violent.

"So you admit it," Lucian muttered, rubbing his temple. "We’re both obsessed with her. Differently, of course. I never knew the feeling of having younger sister. She made me realize what I have been missing out. I want to treat her like a good older brother"

Dante leaned back in his chair, eyes shadowed. "I never realized her silence could bother me this much...The feeling from back then is now once again appearing...

Flashback

"Hey future mafia lord, What you thinking about?" Lucian stood in his college uniform inside a office. Infront of him was young Dante who had to take over his father’s business in such young age.

"Its nothing.." Dante sat there working on his paper yet his focus wasn’t there.

"Oh please I know you well Dante, I can see your behavior change these few days also I heard you asked for a information about a girl...hmmm?" Lucian started teasing.

Dante’s finger trembled. "Stay out of this Lucian"

"Oh please let me atleast see whos the girl who successfully caught your attention. Is she pretty?"

Dante nodded and Lucian started jumping around...yet deep down Dante knew he had big responsibilities to look after, love was dangerous for him.

Flashback End

"In the end, we both want her safe." Lucian’s tone was clipped. "But I don’t like how you kept me in the dark. That ends now. I’m taking her home with me."

Dante’s chair scraped back against the floor as he stood abruptly. His eyes sharpened, dangerous.

"...What did you just say?"

"I said," Lucian rose to meet him, voice firm, "I’m taking Viella home."

"If you dare-" Dante’s voice dropped low, laced with a warning.

Lucian scoffed. "What? You’ll hit your best friend again?"

"what was your name again?"

"You-!"

Before fists could fly again, a frantic knock echoed at the door.

"Boss!" a voice came muffled.

"Miss Viella is trying to escape!"

Both men snapped their heads toward the sound, their glares instantly forgotten. In perfect sync, they rushed out.

---

Viella’s POV

Run, girl, RUN.

(My mind playing that meme

"Why are you running? WHY ARE YOU RUNNING?")

That’s what my brain kept screaming as my legs burned, but oh no-I wasn’t running from the mafia guards this time. Nope. I was running towards something. Or more like someone. That fake-ass female lead.

"Run, Viellaaa!" I hissed to myself between gasps. "Catch that dang book thief!"

I could practically feel the guards closing in behind me, their heavy boots pounding. But I didn’t care. Not when I saw her.

Alina. Slipping into the mansion like a coward.

My eyes narrowed. Finally.

"Ohhh you’re mine now," I muttered, adrenaline rushing. I lunged forward-ready to grab her by her perfect porcelain neck and demand answers-

Only to be yanked back mid-step by two iron grips.

"What the-?!" I flailed, looking down at the hands pinning my arms. One on the left. One on the right.

And of course.

Of. Course.

I craned my neck up and was met with two deadly glares-Dante on one side, Lucian on the other.

"...uh." I gave them a tiny smile, teeth showing like a guilty puppy. "Hello?"

Neither answered. Instead, they both dragged me back, my heels screeching against the floor like some tragic mop being pulled away from freedom.

"Wait-no! That Alin-"

"Shut up, Viella."

They both said it. Together. Like synchronized mafia twins.

I blinked. "Wow. Adorable duet, guys. Totally terrifying, but still-"

"Viella." Dante’s voice dropped low, a warning. Lucian’s grip only tightened.

"Okay okay fine-ow, my arm! Ugh, you both are literally kidnapping me right now. Again! Does this mansion have no human rights policy?!"

No response. Just more dragging.

"Hey! At least hear me out! I saw her! She was meeting so-"

"Inside," Dante snapped.

"Now," Lucian added.

And just like that, I was hauled off like contraband, my glorious chase cut short.

---

Silence. Heavy, suffocating silence.

And me? I was stuck smack in the middle of two mafia giants glaring at me like I’d personally insulted their mothers.

First of all-hello? Can someone explain to me how my life became a live-action mafia soap opera?

Lucian’s voice finally cracked the tension. "First you fake your death, now you’re running away again? What’s your problem, Viella?"

I blinked up at him. My problem? Oh, I dunno. Maybe the fact that I’m stuck in a homicidal romance plot with a yandere mafia boss and a suddenly overprotective brother? But sure, I’m the problem.

(It’s me Hi! Am the problem it’s me)

Meanwhile Dante stood silently, eyes locked on me like a hawk waiting to pounce. That man didn’t even blink.

Lucian’s hand shot out, grabbing mine. "You’re coming with me."

Before I could even process, Dante moved like a shadow. His hand caught Lucian’s wrist mid-air. His voice was calm, too calm.

"Don’t you dare take my fiancée anywhere, Lucian."

My brain went boom. What fiancée?! Oh right. Me.

No. No, if Lucian dragged me away now, I wouldn’t be able to discover Alina’s secret. I still needed to investigate that cursed book. Think, Viella, think.

I forced a nervous laugh. "Uhhh yes-Dante is right! I’m all good here actually. You know, besides, I don’t wanna get bitten by your snakes." I shuddered dramatically. "Reminds me of Luciano."

Both Dante and Lucian froze. Even the staff looked up from whatever they were doing. Dead. Silence.

Lucian stepped closer, pressing a hand to my forehead like I was a malfunctioning toaster. "You don’t have a fever... did you hit your head somewhere?"

Dante immediately shoved him back. "Stop being so close. And you heard her-she’ll stay here. With her fiancé."

I bit my lip, trying not to laugh at how much he loved saying ’fiancée’ lately. Like it was a brand name.

Lucian crossed his arms. "Then I’m staying too."

I nearly choked. "What?!"

"I’m moving in. I don’t care."

What the hell. With two watchdogs on me I couldn’t sneak around at all. My investigation would be dead before it started.

I put on my best ’sweet fiancée’ smile. "Uh, Lucian, you know what-there’s no need, okay? I can visit you... right, Dante?"

Dante arched a brow at me, the corner of his mouth twitching. He nodded once.

"I don’t have extra room for you"

Lucian looked at him with disbelief and glanced around Dante’s mansion filled with many guestrooms

"Sure" Lucian rolled his eyes.

"Yesss, seee?" I squeaked. Before either of them could react, I hugged both-quick, awkward, like someone hugging two angry statues-and bolted back toward my room.

"I’ll see you both laterrr! I need my nap!"

The door slammed behind me, my heart still hammering.

Outside, the two men exchanged a look, the kind of look that could start a war. Both of them sensing the same thing.

Something about me wasn’t adding up.

---

It was already midnight, and the tray of food sat untouched on the little table. I poked at it with a fork, pouting. "Midnight dinner for one... how romantic," I muttered.

Neither Dante nor Lucian had shown up. Not even a single knock. Suspicious indeed.

So, naturally, I asked the maid where they were. She bowed politely, hands trembling.

"Lord Dante and Sir Lucian left for something urgent, my lady."

Something urgent? Oh, that was my cue.

The moment she left, I ditched the spoon, threw on a robe, and slipped out of my room. I tiptoed down the hallway. What I didn’t notice was the blinking red light from the corner-yep, the camera.

But I didn’t care. I had a mission.

I was halfway toward Alina’s room when I heard footsteps. Crap!

Without thinking, I dove behind a pillar, holding my breath.

Then I heard her voice.

"Yes, I’m heading towards the backdoor. I’ll meet you at your house."

Wait. That voice. I knew that voice.

Alina.

Oh-ho, the innocent female lead is out here having midnight meetings? Sneaky little cinnamon roll

I crept after her as quietly as I could, hugging the pillar. For someone who wasn’t born rich, she sure knew this mansion’s layout better than me. She didn’t even hesitate-every corner, every hall, straight to the back door.

Before she could notice me, I made the world’s dumbest decision. I slipped into the trunk of the car she was getting into.

The lid shut.

I blinked.

Then I heard the click.

"Wait... wait, did she just-DID SHE JUST LOCK IT?!?!" I whispered-shouted

"Nice, Viella. You absolute genius. You wanted to investigate, not audition for how to die in a trunk."

The car engine roared.

I froze, lying flat, heart racing.

"Okay, okay, deep breaths. Maybe I’ll survive. Maybe it’s only ten minutes away. Maybe-"

Thunk!

The car hit a bump, my head smacked the roof.

"YEP, I’M DEFINITELY DYING. THIS IS HOW THEY’LL FIND ME-LADY VIELLA, MAJESTIC AND DEAD IN A TRUNK. AT LEAST I’LL DIE FABULOUS."

I groaned, rolling my eyes at myself.

"If Dante finds out about this... he’s gonna lock me in a tower. Or worse, marriage."

The car kept going. I had no idea where I was headed-just that the plot was thickening, and so was my bad luck.

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TO BE CONTINUED